Peacock colouration

Question
QUESTION: I have a cichlid tank. All the cichlids are of size 3 inch. All these have beautiful and bright colouring. 2months ago ive added a few peacocks of the same size 3 males and 2 females. in the shops they were brightly coloured. but in somedays in my tank they lost all the color(male peacocks). no blues on the males body the blue color turned black and no shine on their body. All the rest cichlids are brightly colored. even the female peacocks are nice and shiny. Only the male peacocks lost their colouration. What might be the problem.And what measures do i take?

ANSWER: Hi Manish,
  As I said previously, cichlids display colors for many reasons, typically to indicate their status in the tank, level of dominance, mating situation, etc.  Basically, the males no longer feel like they are in the position to mate and so have lost their mating colors.  This could be because another fish is more dominant than them, or something like that.

 It is also possible that they were being fed a lot of color enhancing food in the shop before you purchased them. Doing so tends to make the fish very bright for awhile, then they loose their color (possibly for a long time).

-- Ron C.
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks a lot. i think that was the perfect answer to my doubt . Ur the best. :)
Please suggest me a good food brand for my cichlids. I stay in INDIA. So please advice my some internationally available brands so that i can purchase them . Some of the brands available here are. Sumo Red, Hi red, Aini ,Ocean Free.

Answer
Hi Manish,
  Unfortunately it is really hard for me to know what is available to you.  Here, in the United States, I use Tetra brand fish food, e.g., TetraMin or TetraCichlid.  Hikari foods are also good and available in many countries. I have never heard of the brands that you list.

-- Ron C.
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>