AboutChris Robbins Expertise I have 25+ years of personal experience as a pet
store employee and manager in the family pet store
business. The main part of our business was
Freshwater Fish. I can answer questions on; Fish care, diseases,
parasites and fish identification, feeding your
fish, breeding and sexing your fish, setting up
your aquarium, cleaning your aquarium, and
"what`s this weird stuff in my tank/on my
fish" questions. I am not an African Cichlid expert, Plant expert or Brackish Expert. No Pond or Saltwater Questions Please.
Experience I worked in and managed my family's fish and pet and fish store for 26 years and maintained the 35 aquariums. My experience also has included occasional in-home consultation and aquarium maintenance for my clients.
Expert: Chris Robbins Date: 4/5/2008 Subject: chicklid-parrotfish
Question I have a 55 gallon aquarium with some tropicals as well as 2 parrot fish. They were very bright orange when I first got them in January, One of them is now fading color very fast, he is fading out white. Can you tell me what I can do to help him?
Thanks, Cathy
Answer Hi Cathy;
Maybe he is being bullied by the other parrot? Parrots are in the cichlid family and can be territorial and aggressive. They need at least a 30 gallon tank just for one because of their potential size and temperament. Does he seem to be getting thin and not eating? That can be a sign of bullying too. Fish can be very subtle in their intimidation of others. Watch your fish from a distance and see how they interact. Also look for signs of illness such as spots, blotches, redness, eyes protruding, swollen belly, etc. If a fish is sick it may lose color.
If he seems to act healthy and has a good appetite it may be normal for him to develop a much lighter color. Some parrot cichlids are naturally colored a bright orange or reddish color but will change as they mature. There are many however that are artificially dyed. They lose the pretty colors over a period of months. Here are some web pages about them;
