Lemon Tetra Has Silver Body

Please help. Just got some lemon tetras last Friday and their bodies were a lot more yellow at the store than it is now. My tank has a high ph due to my naturally high ph tap water (8.2). I was hoping they’ll get their colouring back by now, but no luck. The yellow on their fins are bright and they’re active and swimming around.

Is this normal? Will they get their yellow colouring in time?

TIA!

 

It could be a difference in lighting from what the store had, too. They might go back after a while - sometimes tetras can take a couple of weeks to really color up. Some don't like really bright lights. Do you have driftwood or a source of tannins in your tank? Sometimes dark water will make them more comfortable and show their colors off more. Or at least a dark substrate. I have a pretty clear-water, brightly lit tank with black pebbles and a black background, and my diamond tetras (not the same, I know) look gorgeous, but it took a little while. I haven't had a lemon since I was a kid though...just my thoughts on tetras in general.
If I, personally, had naturally hard basic water I would be looking toward species that were suited to that. It's easier to get fish that match your water than to try to force the water to accommodate fish. You'll always be chasing numbers.
Edit: looked at your profile...if they are in your bowfront I imagine they will come around. Planted tanks and tetras, you can't go wrong really

 

It could be a difference in lighting from what the store had, too. They might go back after a while - sometimes tetras can take a couple of weeks to really color up. Some don't like really bright lights. Do you have driftwood or a source of tannins in your tank? Sometimes dark water will make them more comfortable and show their colors off more. Or at least a dark substrate. I have a pretty clear-water, brightly lit tank with black pebbles and a black background, and my diamond tetras (not the same, I know) look gorgeous, but it took a little while. I haven't had a lemon since I was a kid though...just my thoughts on tetras in general.
If I, personally, had naturally hard basic water I would be looking toward species that were suited to that. It's easier to get fish that match your water than to try to force the water to accommodate fish. You'll always be chasing numbers.
Edit: looked at your profile...if they are in your bowfront I imagine they will come around. Planted tanks and tetras, you can't go wrong really

Thanks for your input! Yes, I’ve got driftwood and Indian Almond leaves actually in it too. I was trying to use that to lower the pH - no luck. I’ve also got black gravel and a black background. It’s mainly the yellow stripe on their bottom fin that is very bright. And their red eyelids.

I didn’t get my water testing kit until about a month after my aquarium has been set up. I didn’t know my pH was that high and I already had Harlequin Rasboras in it and they were doing fine.

I’m hoping that tetras will eventually get use to the high pH and still thrive. Would be really nice to see the yellow on their full body.

 

The PH in my area is also 8.2. I've successfully kept numerous varieties of Tetras, even Discus in it. Your Leamons should color up. Feed high quality foods like Omega One Super Color Cichlid flakes. About the only problem in keeping acidic, soft water loving fish in hard water is that they probably won't reproduce.

 

The PH in my area is also 8.2. I've successfully kept numerous varieties of Tetras, even Discus in it. Your Leamons should color up. Feed high quality foods like Omega One Super Color Cichlid flakes. About the only problem in keeping acidic, soft water loving fish in hard water is that they probably won't reproduce.

This is great! You’ve given me hope - thank you! I’m feeding them Omega One Super Color MinI Pellets right now. I’m ok with no reproduction since my tank will be pretty close to capacity anyways.