Questions about my New gorgeous Black Skirt Tetras

We have four beautiful black skirt tetras in our 10 gallon tank, and we plan on adding at least two more next week. We are in the process of cycling our 55 gallon tank now (foolish new aquarium owners who thought a 10 gallon would be sufficient!). All of the skirts display vivid colours, however, when we turn on the light, all but one lightens up. So, I wonder if I should leave the light off for good….we have live plants in there, so a bit of a conundrum (though I am willing to take the plants out if it means a better quality of life for my black skirt babies!). Is there a way to dI'm the light (i.e. something we can place over it), or shall we just remove the light altogether?

Also, the smallest of the pack tends to keep to herself and is generally lighter in color, particularly during feeding time - while the others appear to school at most times and display a vivid black skirt…could she be sick or stressed?

 

Tetra's turn a lighter color when everything turns dark, a lot of fish display this, sort of like night camo. All tetra's even Rainbow Sharks do this. When the lights turn back on it often takes a minute to five minutes, varies with the fish, to regain day time coloration.

Also, tetra's may in lighter color due to diet. Tetra's are omnivores but they do lean more on the carnivorous side. Frozen foods like brineshrimp, bloodworms, daphia etc are good side foods other then the staple diet of flakes.

 

Welcome to FishLore Laurel!!

She could be either one.
Sick or stressed.

Many fish lose their color with the lights out.
Mine get quite pale then color up when the light are turned on.

Fish do well when we simulate night and day.
That one is not getting her color back is concerning.
Best you can do right now is keep an eye on her.

Good luck!

 

We have been feeding flake based food, so we will definitely try brine shrimp or blood worms. (I hate to knowingly "kill" another species, but hey, if it means a healthier and happier life for my skirt babies, I'm completely in – tee hee! ). As for the color change, they seem to gain their color when the light is off, and turn pale when it is on…

 

I have been reading that you can transfer old filter and substrate "gunk" from one tank to another...does this really work, and if so, does this mean you can cycle without fish and without the addition of store bought ammonia?