Question:

German Blue Ram/bolivian Ram?? Bizzare color change??

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I am reposting this question, because I only had one response and it wasn't really what I was looking for. Since this question was posted yesterday - the ram I am speaking of is still the dark color - but ate well this morning and still no other signs of illness. I am assuming he is ok - but this drastic quick color change is driving me crazy - can't figure out what is going on.

I have had 3 rams for about 5 months - they were all young when purchased (about 1") and haven't grown too much. They were labeled as German Blue Rams when purchased, however after looking at pictures, I decided they must be Bolivian Rams (they are white with some red on the fins, some black markings and some yellow). They look just like the Bolivian pictures. This morning - all fish, including rams were fine) This afternoon, a few hours later, I happened to see that one of the rams has had a color change. He is a grayish/purple - much darker, almost looks like a different fish in my tank. He still has the coloring, but the white has changed to the purple (but seems to be a 'healthy color'. The others look fine. This color change has happened within a two hour time period. He is acting normal, breathing normal, in his usual 'terratory' in the tank. He is in a 75 gallon with angels, pristillas, and clown loaches. My water is fine: 0 ammon., 0 nitrite, 20 nitrate. Normal water changes are weekly - due tomorrow. His diet has no changes - cichlid pellets, shrimp pellets, flakes, and occassional frozen (bloodworms, krill, community mix). No sign of any disease whatsoever. What is going on with him? Is it possible that he is a blue ram and didn't get his coloring until now? do blue rams change colors this drastically when mature? I am stumped - no idea what to do for him, or if this is normal. The only change I can think of is I changed the filter pad and carbon 2 days ago in the canister filter. Please help.

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  1. All indications point to your fish being healthy. Fish, cichlids in particular, change color all the time. I would not worry about his health.

    The main thing that I would be concerned about is what species he actually is (cichlids are commonly mislabeled in the pet store), if in face he is actually a he. s*x can make a huge difference in the coloration of cichlids as well. Also when some cichlids are ready to spawn, they drastically change color. Take the Texas cichlid for example http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/sp... compare the pictures of the parents with fry to the ones of the fish without. Major color change.

    As far as the rapid color change, the convicts that I own change color the instant food is dropped into the tank. I can tell how happy mine are just by how dark their colors are.

    All in all if he is acting normal, just enjoy the color show :)  

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