> I think mainly in rainbows
> we're looking at lose of color rather than increasing color. And color
> enhancing foods can greatly effect this. But if you get a fish with a
> differing color pattern then just don't breed it. ...
> You may find you're picking out the most colorful males
> to maintain the color in the fish, because it seems to be fading. But
> don't pick out only the most red fish because you think they look
> better. There are often black lines, color spots or what ever to keep
> track of also. When you really get to know your fish these things will
> stick out, in particular when they're different.
Something else I don't recall having seen anyone bring up is that the fish look
very different color wise depending on what else has been happening in their
lives, changing tanks, tank mates, tank colors, or lighting, planted or not,
when the last water change was, can all affect the color of the fish. I know
it's amazing to me the difference in fish color that will occur on one fish
depending on what it's doing and where it's at. I would suggest that part of the
washed out color that is seen in store fish is that they are just really
stressed. I find that in shipped or even across town bagged fish, rainbows and
others, that they are usually really pale when you pull them out of the box or
bag and it often takes several days or even a couple weeks before they settle
down and start coloring up more.
Rhonda
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