Neon Tetra Color

[Thrasherfan]

Hi,

When I first brought home some neon tetras to add to my tank that already had some neon tetras in it, I noticed that the new neon tetras blue was a much "bluer" - in fact almost a purplish color (I thought it looked quite beautiful, actually) - than my existing tetras. After a few days the new neons blue color faded into the much lighter, almost aqua blue like the rest of my tetras.

Is there a way to encourage the dark blue in neons? Or are they supposed to be aqua blue?

Thanks for any help.....

Eric

[Lady Hobbs]

Neons are bright, bright blue. I noticed when I picked mine from the tank, all were colored up nicely but after transporting, some were all washed out looking. The fade when they are stressed. You may want to check to make sure your water contains no ammonia. And hope you are not seeing the beginning of Neon Tetra Disease but I don't think it's all that common. Hardly ever hear of it.

[jeffs99dime]

it could also be the strain of your particular neons too. just a thought. not all fish are going to be as "brilliant" as others you may see.

[Thrasherfan]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I think my tetras are pretty healthy - They stay a pretty bright aqua color most of the time (unfortunately I do stress them out from time to time - its pretty obvious - they start to look transparent and get very sluggish). I was just wondering if you could encourage "brilliance" or "color changes" or "enhancements" in them...

Thanks again...

Eric

[Lady Hobbs]

They are what they are. I fed my gourami's color enhanced food and it kept them colored very nicely but the wee bit that neons eat.......? Mine are all the Jumbo Neon's are are very brightly colored. Wonder if that makes a difference?

[kyodo]

I have a few neons and i have found like my clown loaches there color is very dependent on what i feed them.... If i use flake only all there color starts to look dull, But if i use frozen comunity food then they become very bright and i have noticed this in my clown loachs as i sead as well as my tiger barbs and rainbow shark.. just a thort

[kimmers318]

I second Hobbs.....neons should be bright, I don't recall ever seeing mine washout and they have been popped in and out of tanks around here several times. Going along kyodo's thoughts they could also probably use some variation to their diet. Due to the variety of fish here I feed several different foods, many frozen (spirulina brine, mysis, comm. mix, bloodworms etc) plus use varieties of bottom foods, shrimp pellets, algae and tropical tabs etc. Check out your water parameters, give us some tank stats on size, maintenance, filter etc and maybe we can pinpoint the problem.

[jman]

They are what they are. I fed my gourami's color enhanced food and it kept them colored very nicely but the wee bit that neons eat.......? Mine are all the Jumbo Neon's are are very brightly colored. Wonder if that makes a difference?

hahaha ya it gets pretty hard to make them change.
the fish are fine

[jeffs99dime]

it basically comes down to their water quality and diet (colors)