Ahli Cichlid

Question

White Fish   QUESTION: Why is my Electric Blue Ahli Cichlid turning white? He's practically lost all his pigmentation. We have 3 Ahlis, and we've had them for about 3 months. They're the only things in the 55 gallon tank besides a small catfish, and a large sucker fish, and about 4 small sucker fish.

ANSWER: Hi Paula,
 Is it possible that the other fish are bothering him?  That would be the most likely explanation for his color change.

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


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

QUESTION: I don't think so. But i guess it is possible. Would it just be the stress that makes him lose his color? And if so, do you know about anything i can do for him?

Answer
Hi Paula,
 Stress can absolutely make him loose his color.  Adding more structure (wood, plants, rock) to break up the space in the tank, can help reduce stress greatly.

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