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i hear oscars change colour depending to mood i have noticed that whn i get up in the morning my oscar is a very dark colour but as time goes on during the day he gets a much lighter shade to his skin can anyone tell me what this is all about?? are they like a "mood stone" it respect that there colour reflects there mood? which colour means what?

I personally believe all fish can change their color.

I have noticed my fish fade in colour when they are sleeping or at night when the light goes off, and their colours really stand out just after they eat

I think it is the same with all animals, just more noticeable with fish becuase of their mulititudes of skin color. I know when i wake up in the morning i am definiltey a lot more pale and don't have as much color in my face versus noon. So i think it is just the cycle of the day...

My own opinion, formulated through some reading and observation of my 2 Oscars, is that they use it to communicate. We talk... and fish change colour to achieve the same goal.

The reason your fish is darkest when first woken, i suspect, is because this is it's "night camoflage". My Oscars are the same when i first wake them. They do seem to show the greatest contrast of their colours at this time. My guys are tigers, which means the orange is deepest, they have their black spots "turned on" and everything in between is that dull green colour they seem to use.

At other times, i watch them hunt and they will change colours as a decoy or to assert dominance - one O over the other - so the pecking order is not confused.

I know them pretty well now (and i bet they think likewise of me) so i'm often able to pick their 'mood' by their markings... Other times they just seem to patrol the length of the tank turning colours on and off to attract attention.

Ahhhh... the joy's of owning big messy Oscar fish. What can i say, i'm an addict

This is common at night their colors fade. And in the morning after the lights have been on for awhile they are usually just fine. Also their colors can change if they are angry, sad, scared, or shocked (Not a good thing).

Sometimes the "eeek the lights have gone on" factor means the fish goes dark in colour in the AM.

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~