Greying

[adampetherick]

Am i right in thinking that the alpha fish will grey out in a tank, the largest one I have has much lighter stripes than all the others?

Also is it a regional variation for some fish to have a lighter orange thin line between the stripes and the rest of the body?

Finally do all species grey out when fighting, I've seen it on the yoyo's I've got with one completley loosing all it's markings while "fighting" another? As well as observing a tiger barb tonight who's body went a solid colour 1/2 way between the dark stripes and rest of it's body

Thanks
Adam

[shari2]

I don't know that I'd say ALL species grey out when fighting, but in many agression/territorial issues will bring out color changes, either to brighter or darker.

yoyos in particular will go silver (lose stripes) when annoying each other. Modestas will darken to almost black when the alpha is clearly defined in the pecking order.

As for clowns, they will get 'greyer' with age. It seems the colors get less bright and many will develop a whitish line down the center of the black stripes or outlining them, or both. With clowns, you tend to have two different color types seen in the trade. You can look at the article in the old forum to get the picture.

hth

[USFMarine]

Even though one of my loaches is about an inch longer, and quite a bit more plump than the others, his colors are no different. The big one is probably about 4.5 inches. Maybe they aren't mature enough yet for the "alpha" to grey out.. I don't know, but I don't an "alpha" in my tank yet; its been set up for about 1.5 years.

When fighting, yes they look greyer, but they also look shiny when mad! Mine look shiny silver when fighting (you can still faintly see the stripes). All of their fins will be standing at attention and you will definitely see different behavior.

How long until my loaches start clicking... I had loaches a few years back and they clicked...hmm... my loaches clicker things are broken it appears..

Marshall

[adampetherick]

Was just curious about Barbs greying out, thought it was just a loach thing as they don't have scales as such, thought scales would be a permanant colour...

[Martin Thoene]

This is all terribly head-banging stuff, but.....

http://www.molbiolcell.org/cgi/content/full/9/7/1613

Martin.

[wasserscheu]

... just recently I noticed my alpha also remaining grey for a long time. until now ghe/she? did change that color only temporary, but the last 3 weeks stays like that ... I like the "normal" color better...

age: about 1.5 years, size: now 4"

same time I notice one of the 2 smaller clowns showing off, a lot in the "all fins spread" postion, and the anal-fin getting an orange frame,... some other fins have holes (perhaps 3) in the size of a needle, could be spined...
The other 2nd smaller one is completely relaxed... seems to be clear in his position, the alpha is much bigger than all others...

Wolram
PS: ... need another coffee to get into Martins link