Color changing in subadults

[GrayLadyPat]

When I inherited the kids, there were two of them that I had almost decided were red turqs...

Well, now that they are a few months older, one has changed his color. He is now almost a yellow base color (background?), with red streaks on all of his fins except caudal, which is clear, and of course, the characteristic turquois running rampant. Anyone have an idea what kind he (she) may be?

Yes, I know he's stunted, and not by any means a show fish, but I like him. He is almost but not quite 5" now. He was just shy of 3" when I put him into the tank.

[ROOK45]

I'd say red turq.

[camuth8]

Red Turquoise. Sometimes, turks will change color at different times. I had a Brilliant Turquoise that would be a light blue with blue stripes, then a forest green with light green stripes, then a blue with red stripes. That's probably what you're seeing in your Red Turk.

[Larry Bugg]

Red Turq

[GrayLadyPat]

Thanks... As I said, I kind of thought that is what he/she is, but with all the different color variations that I have seen, I had never seen the "yellow" version... I think it's kind of cool

Cheers!

[John_Nicholson]

One thing to remember is that some people will use something ( either hormones or natural color enhancers ) to bring out certain colors in an effort to sell more fish. My guess is whatever he was being fed is what brought out its red color. Now that you are feeding something else it has faded.

-john

[ROOK45]

Remember cichlids colors change like night and day.

[GrayLadyPat]

One thing to remember is that some people will use something ( either hormones or natural color enhancers ) to bring out certain colors in an effort to sell more fish. My guess is whatever he was being fed is what brought out its red color. Now that you are feeding something else it has faded.

-john

My friend was feeding the same things I am. This is one of the originals that I inherited when my friend passed. I thought maybe it was my lighter colored "natural habitat" background. The rocks you see behind him are a photorealistic background paper.