FishProfiles.com Message Forums

i have two rainbow snakeheads which have lots of black specks on there fins ,it looks as if they are loseing there colour the specks look as if they are under the skin it doesnt look like its a parasites as with white spot or velvet were you can see them on the skin if you get my meaning ,the one that first got it has turned darker with all the specks and they are loseing colour around the gills ,its like they are loseing there colour and i can see the pigments on the skin, ive done water tests nitrate 25 ,nitite 0, ph 7.2 ammonia was little high so ive done a large water change they are showing no sighns of ammonia poisioning such as rapid breathing or hanging under the surface they seem fine still eating i just cant under stand whats wrong ive asked around a few fish shops and no one has ever seen this before i was thinking it could be a internal pariste that is lowering there imune system so they are loseing colour but the bellys arent hollow does any ne have any suggestions why they are loseing colour,thanks
martin

Any idea why your ammonia is high? An established tank should have no ammonia showing on the tests. I would suggest that your fish are stressed and that is why you are seeing colour changes in your fish. How high was the ammonia?

---

Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Some snakeheads are e to melanism as they age, its not uncommon for them to become less colourful with age and some either lighten or darken generally. Lots of fish will suffer from blackened heads etc from excessive feeding of bloodworm. Is the diet variety good or are they only eating a few items? Trace arsenic can also cause blackening of tissues, where do you get the water that fills the tank? I suppose it could be a blackspot infection, but if it was that advanced the fish would be noticeably ill by now.Ammonia should be zero BTW, even with large predatory fish you have to make every effort to keep that reading at zero. If it takes more filtration and a bigger tank to get on top of it, or more regular water changes, thats what you have to do. If the snakeheads are ripping apart large feeder fish make sure that you pick up the spare pieces immediately, and skim the water surface for fish oils. A water change is also a good idea within 48 hours of a large feed. My arowana generally requires a water change after every large feed.