Tropical Fish Forums

[Illusia]

Hi there. My auratus changes colour from brown to white the change only lasts about an hour then its back to brown again then a few hours later it changes to white. Can any one tell me why? Is it a bad sign or is it completely normal? I know they change from yellow or blue to brown as they mature but to white?

Any help will be very appreciated
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200L Community

[Illusia]

OK I see I have had lots of views but no replies. I'm a little worried about my fish now his colour changes are more frequent and when he changes (to white) he swims frantically up and down in one corner. Really is this OK?
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200L Community

[markus]

hey I understand how you feel, maybe he is stressed? I don't know though, Its just a thought.
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just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

[Bob]

I think a lot of people would be a bit confused by what fish you have.

Are we talking about a Malawi Cichlid in a mixed community tank ?

Melanochromis auratus

The word auratus can also be used for other fish like Goldfish or a marine fish called a Snapper.

I will assume you mean the top one, in which case it is a Mbuna Cichlid, these are normally kept in Mbuna only set ups, as they prefer very specific conditions, not normally found in community tanks.

They can be aggressive, and it could be your fish is becoming sexually mature and starting to feel the need to become a little more nasty.

Bob

[Illusia]

He's a Melanochromis auratus

He is already mature. I rescued him from the tank of a very frustrated person who bought him coz he was pretty then he got older turned brown (not so pretty) and killed almost everything in her tank. She then put him in a vase to calm down. So I thought he would do well in my tank so I took him off her hands. At first he was a bit of a bully but mt RTBS and yoyo loaches put him in his place and he is quite peaceful a little rough but not aggressive.

Here is an older pic of him/her? When I first got him/her



Weren't we all just talking on another thread?
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200L Community

[Bob]

I would try and find someone with a Mbuna tank who can give this fish the very specific conditions they need, I think although what you did was done with good intentions, it may not be a good idea, to keep this fish in a mixed community tank.

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile52.html

http://malawicichlids.com/mw09002a.htm

Bob

[Illusia]

Truth is bob I hadn't really intended on keeping him, but I have become attatched to his character. My water params are actually pretty bang on for this fish. He thrived when he came into my tank, he grew well, he eats fine and swims well and now this colour changing thing. I'm gonna look for another home for him, but a home not the lfs, they won't take him now coz he is brown.
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200L Community

[Bob]

Good excuse for another tank I reckon

Bob

[Illusia]

You read my mind Bob you read my mind
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200L Community