How to make cardinals glow?

[aqualover]

Ever notice why those cardinals that are meant for sales always look so pale in coloor as compared to those that they showcased in their display tanks? Is it the food that they ate or the water parameters or simply a different grade.

[bossteck]

My bet is on the level of stress.

In a sale tank, the fish will naturally be more stressed, due to the smaller tank space, as well as lack of hiding place. Compare this to the tank condition in a show tank, where there're plenty of plants to provide cover.

[Sunfire]

Some fish can turn pale when stressed. Besides, LFS aquariums are not exactly very nice places to be in, if you're a fish, you're squeezed with about a hundred others in the same tank with very little place to hide and you get traumatized everyday by big green nets snatching away your tankmates away every other hour. It's a wonder they don't just jump out and die.

In my experience with tetras, don't overfeed, don't overstock the tank and have plenty of vegetation and change water regularly. They would grow nice and fat and red.

Besides, you don't really want to pick out lousy fish for your display aquarium if you're operating an LFS right?

[taygu]

Yes, stress is the main casue for all fishes to turn pale or "black".

For Tetra, I think the lighting have some effects too but I have yet to try

[Tetra Lover]

I fully agree with Sunfire on his statement:

'In my experience with tetras, don't overfeed, don't overstock the tank and have plenty of vegetation and change water regularly. They would grow nice and fat and red.'

My cardinal tetras which I bought from C328 are beaming with colours in my tank. My tank maintenance routine include 25% weekly water change and plenty of plants for them to take cover...

[benny]

pH also plays a part in bringing out the color of these tetra when you've conditioned them properly.

Cheers,

[ronald_t80]

hi all. my question here may not be related BUT just want to check if its safe to use those "black light" for planted aquarium? I saw a lfs @ bedok using it in a tank full of cardinals.....very nice....

[hwchoy]

also do not forget that like most characins, cardinal tetra displays a "night coloration" which is basically pale version of their day colours. Some characins like pencilfishes can display a distinct pattern (e.g. stripe changing into bars) during day and night.

hi all. my question here may not be related BUT just want to check if its safe to use those "black light" for planted aquarium? I saw a lfs @ bedok using it in a tank full of cardinals.....very nice....

this "black light" is it a UV lamp?

[ronald_t80]

i think its a UV lamp.....the uncle said its those light people use to check our currency notes type.
Wonder isit harmful to the fish or plants?

[KeIgO86]

I bought my cardinals in a bag of 50 and they seriously don't look like cardinals at all when in the bag with weird yellow coloured water. I guess it was medicine. They were all pale and whitish. But 1 hour after introduction into my planted tank, they looked like cardinals already! Solid blue and red stripes.

Anyway, from my observation, they tend to prefer slightly dimmer lights and also warmer coloured lights. ea. 6500K. They tend to lose their colouring when under stronger lights and bluer lights ea. 8000K and above. Well at least its so for my cardinals.

[Cacatuoides]

the addition of Dennerle S7, essential trace elements and vitamins, help boost the fish immunity and appetite.....it helps bring out the color of the fish too!!

[ronald_t80]

Yep...i agreed with Cacatuoides, S7 can also be use if you want your fish to mate...especially for apistoes . BUT heard from some lfs that Dennerle stuff have rise price liao...

[Cacatuoides]

Not sure about the point of mating but many fish lovers have used it to enhance their fish colors....especially for arowanas and various cichlids....

Haven't got news about Dennerle raising their price, is it just one lfs that you saw the increased in price?

[ronald_t80]

Yep yep....positive about the price rise. Too bad i cant put the price here BUT i can said it rise around another 25-30%....do your maths....hehe