Where does all the red go?

[danotaylor]

Tom I had a similar experience in 2018 with albino red covers. They were stunning coming from the supplier who had imported them and QT them before reselling. Over the course of the next few months they faded out to a peach color. I was very disappointed cause they were crackin fish when purchased, and expensive. In the same purchase I bought 2 red melons. They kept their vibrant red color the whole time I owned them. I thought it was just related to the strain at the time.
The red melons are in the left of this pic and the red covers middle towards back…

IMG_3060.jpeg

[Willie]

@Willie,

Are you saying if you fed color compounds, you screwed the original coloration even after you stop feeding it? If so, I think I messed up an albino Millenium gold that I got in February. It turned orange without noticing it but stopped feeding vibrabites about a month ago.

Precisely, the gold coloration can be overwhelmed by red food dye.

[Willie]

For anyone thats interested in how colors work in ornamental fish..

Please read ...

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FA192

University of Florida did a very good article on it

Precisely the combination I used to try to get more color into my discus, and it didn't have any effect. Interestingly, their poop went from brown to jet black. Maybe if I had sliced up the fish, the flesh would have turned redder?

[pitdogg2]

That my friends is why I'm a wild Discus color guy through and through, no bubblegum colors for me...