Tiger Oscar Changing Colors?

M

Mturner615

Large Fish
#1
Dec 8, 2005
190
0
0
35
Harrison Twp. Michigan
#1
In my 45 hex I have a tiger oscar and a convict. I had a firemouth in there too, but I relocated him to a different tank bc he was being bullied by the others, but the oscar's colors are fading...

Any idea why? Stress? I know it's not bc a poor diet. The tank gets fed a variety of frozen food each day, and 20 feeder fish are added to the tank every few weeks.
 

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iexiak

Medium Fish
#3
Jan 13, 2008
97
0
0
#3
oscars change colors based on their mood. im not sure but i believe light grey means peace and the darker means that hes aangry.

though if the orange is fading that may be bad...
 

R

radmobile

Small Fish
#5
Feb 8, 2009
37
0
0
#5
I used to have an oscar years ago. When he was happy he'd be a light color almost grey/green and when he was threatened his dark black color would come back. That was my experience with mine don't take it as fact.
 

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iexiak

Medium Fish
#8
Jan 13, 2008
97
0
0
#8
yeah mturner, ive had my oscar for about a year now, and they do indeed change colors. but it should really only be the black/gray parts that change...if the orange is changing i think thats a bad sign.
 

misterking

misterking

Superstar Fish
#9
Aug 12, 2008
1,124
0
0
Manchester, UK
www.facebook.com
#9
How's the oscar's general behaviour? I think if it were stressed it'd show in other ways on top of colour fade.

I think it's pretty common for cichlids to lighten/darken periodically. My angels, rams and discus used to do it all the time throughout the day. I wouldn't think it's anything to worry about as long as it's behaving as it generally would i.e eating well, swimming normally etc, but I'd definately keep an eye on it just in case.
 

unwritten law

unwritten law

Superstar Fish
#11
Sep 2, 2008
1,471
0
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36
DC
#11
Yeah a 45 hex isn't anywhere near as much room as a regular 45. My fish definitely do change colors and get darker when stressed so I'm guessing that's it. Maybe pictures would help.
 

M

Mturner615

Large Fish
#12
Dec 8, 2005
190
0
0
35
Harrison Twp. Michigan
#12
Behaviorally, the oscar's fine. He's a pig and always acts hungry, but I think that's most oscars lol. He doesn't seemed stressed at all. His color just appears a lot more faded than when I originally bought him.

He's in my tank at work, so I'll take a picture when I work again on Thursday.
 

I

iexiak

Medium Fish
#14
Jan 13, 2008
97
0
0
#14
actually now that i think about it, this could mean that your oscar is being attacked.

oscars will fade when they are attacked, which where they are from means that they dont want to fight. however cichlids from other regions dont recognize this and will continue attacking...

when your at work look for signs of battle damage.
 

jo3olous

jo3olous

Large Fish
#15
Aug 6, 2008
909
1
0
Philadelphia, PA
#15
If that 45hex isnt long enough (i'm guessing it's tall) then there isnt much territory amongst the 2. and both can be quite territorial, i see the convict being a bit meaner btw the 2 so your oscar might be backing down, pretty much explaining what iexiak said
 

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