honey gouramis changing color?

[kimmers318]

I purchased 2 small honey gourami's about 2 weeks ago. They have spent most of their time hiding in a hanging plant although I have been able to see that they are eating daily. Today was the first day they have visited the front of the tank. They were a vivid yellow and about an inch at the time of purchase. One of them is developing dark blue/green spackling spots around mouth, behind eyes and on pectoral fin. Can I assume this is just the natural color changing that will occur as it matures? It doesn't look like something is growing on him. Of the 2, one is thinner and longer (that is the one developing the coloration) and the other is definitely rounder. Both of their tail fins have reddened up considerably and they seem to be adjusting well. The rounder one that isn't spotting up is just getting darker thru the horizontal line in center of body. I have looked at dozens of pics, read articles on breeding, but no one specific discussed the color changes these guys can go thru as they mature. Call me an overprotective mom, but just want to make sure!

[rollie]

I don"T think they are changing color. i have them and had spawn them and had never seen them change color. now when the male get readly to spawn he will change color. so maybe he want to spawn. could be something wrong, but don"t think so. just keep your eye on them.

[kimmers318]

Remember, these are just juveniles, only about 1 inch at time of purchase. I have seen and read many different descriptions of the coloring of the adult honeys, but no information on juvenile to adult coloring. They were completely vivid yellow at purchase....now they are both developing red tail fins, common for their coloring, and have read comments from people who have adult males that have a "dark blue underbelly" and another comment that their gouramis are displaying "beautiful maroons, blues and an almost purplish color near the tails". If adults are slightly differently colored than juveniles their color must change sometime, and I am just curious if this is what I am seeing.

[rollie]

there are many different colors of them. could be they are becming full grown. but i had never in my life seen yellow ones. and i had spawn alot of them. must be at least 50 or more colors of them.,that i know of .

[kimmers318]

Would some pics help? I am getting ready to do my water change and could probably put them into my specimen tank for pics since they don't stay up front too often.

[rollie]

pictures would help. that way, everybody see them, and maybe some one elc might be able to help. there is alot i have not seen. been in this hobby for over 30 years now.