Caper Posted May 10, 2005 Report Share Posted May 10, 2005 Hi...me AGAIN! Re: neon tetras...not the black neons I was late getting home this evening; therefore, fish were late getting fed. Plus the lights were not on in the tank. I was mortified to see that the 3 neons color was faded! After I fed them, their color is back. This isn't neon tetra disease is it? I read about it...but it didn't say their color comes and goes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted May 10, 2005 Report Share Posted May 10, 2005 I always find that in the middle of the night my Cardinal tetras (similar looking fish to neons) lose their colours. I was pretty worried the first time I saw it too, but I'm fairly sure it's just a natural thing for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aqua Posted May 10, 2005 Report Share Posted May 10, 2005 I've found the same with most fish of colour (:lol:).. When you first turn the lights on in the morning, they're practically translucent. I wouldn't worry about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley Posted May 10, 2005 Report Share Posted May 10, 2005 I'm wondering how long you have your tank lights on for Caper. Maybe they think it is night time all the time You said you were late getting home....but the lights on the tank werent on when you got home (or at least that is how i read it) I turn on the lights on my tanks about 7.30 am and turn them off about 10pm...the only time i have them off for longer than that is if i have a green algae problem (or in the case of the wee tanks i havent had the light tubes till today so had been sharing a light between three tanks). I also find the neons lose colour when shifting....i.e. they look very pale when you get them home from the shop in the bag. My black widows change colour rapidly all the time...sometimes they can be quite dark other times a very pale silver grey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted May 10, 2005 Report Share Posted May 10, 2005 The Harliquins I have in my tank also change their color very quickly in response to stress. When evrything is "honky dory" they are very red/ pink with black triangle on them, stress them out a bit and the red can disappear almost instantly. Best seen in the LFS, if you see a nice red/ pink fish, wotch and see what happens when they go to net it... I like to think the redness is a "happyness indicator" on my harliquins - cheap test kit ! :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted May 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2005 Whew...thanks all! Thought there was something wrong with them. There color has been fine ever since. But from what you all have said, it is nothing to worry about. Hummingbird...about the cardinals, I haven't seen any here since I've had my tank. I've read a bit about them. Are they about the same size as the neons? Shelley...I usually have my lights on about 8 hours...do you think that maybe that is not enough? When I got home late the other night...I don't have my tank in direct sunlight...but that day it was dark and dreary...so Huey, Lewie, and Duey...lol...probably thought it was a looooong night :lol: I've been looking to see if I can get flourescent bulbs (my tank has incadescent). We had a couple of really nice days here (not hot, but warm) and with the lights on, temp in tank went from 72 to 76. One night it was almost 78, so I took a baggie with ice cubes and put it in to take temp back down. THANKS to Caryl I knew what to do! DiverJohn...can't get test kits for nitrites and nitrates...are there any fish to indicate that :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted May 11, 2005 Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 Cardinals are a little bigger than neons. You can tell the difference between the two by looking at the red. Neons have a red stripe that stops halfway down the body but in cardinals the red stripe goes right along the whole length of the body. 78F (25.5C) is nothing to worry about. In fact most people keep their tanks at anything from 72F (22C) - 80F (27C). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted May 11, 2005 Report Share Posted May 11, 2005 If they aren't already I suggest you get a timer for your lights, they are cheap and your tank will run better if the lighting is regular and on for a good period (12+ hours). As far as getting fluros, if you dont mind what it looks like and have covers on your tank, go to an elecrical wholesaler and buy standard office type fluro fitting, it will be 1/4 of the price of a proper fish tank one, pick up some tubes at the same time they will be alot cheaper to. You will proberly have to get a power cord installed into the fitting, but if you buy it at the wholesalers and speak to them nicely they might do it for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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