bubbler

Question
QUESTION: Christy,

i just got an air pump and two bubble stones for my existing 25 gallon tank.  the tetras love the bubbles, they're forever swimming through and around them My angelfish just kind of stay in a corner.  are they stressed out or scared by the two bubblers? or is it just because they're not used to them yet?

thanks,
hardy

ANSWER: Hi Hardy
They could be, and they might get used to them.  It might be bothering them as well because of their longer fins.  It may be making it difficult for them to swim.  Does the air pump have an adjustment on it to turn it down?  If so, try that till they get used to it.  Or, you could try only using 1 air stone for now.  Or, depending how you have them set up, move them off to the side of the tank and see if the angels venture out from the corner.  If it's set up where the whole surface area of the tank is being agitated, it may be disturbing them.  Just play around with it a little bit and see how they react.

Christy

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

QUESTION: thanks for your advie. I went on a trip for a few hours today, and when i came back, they were all swimming around normally.  I have another question though: can angelfish change colors? not drastically, just from paler to bolder.
i ask this because my silver angelfish sometimes looks almost one solid color, but other times (when i feed them, or when he's playing in the plants or chasing the tetras) his colors are even better than the day i bought them.  any ideas?

thanks,
hardy

Answer
Hi Hardy
Well that's good it's worked out then!  For the colors, that's common for a lot of fish.  A lot of times when they're stressed for whatever reason-being bullies, water quality, temperature, etc., some will pale, some will get stripes, some will show their colors more.  Some foods will make their colors show more, usually shrimp will do that.  Breeding or mating can make them change a bit, I have a jewel cichlid, and they're known for turning a fiery red, a lot when they mate/breed.  I only have one, and he'll do it when he's defending his territory lol.  I'd say it's normal as long as the water quality is good and nothing else appears to be stressing them, or no other symptoms are showing.

Christy