Zero Color

Hope some of you seasoned pros can help

Other than angels, I'd never had cichlids until early this year. My LFS had a tank full of tiny BP's, smaller than my neons, for $3. I bought three, since I'd read how smart and social they are with their favorite human. I put them in a 20L with some plants and a betta log . . . and did not see them for weeks. If I moved the log, they scrambled to hide between the impeller tube and tank wall. Most boring fish I ever saw! So, I decided that I was done with babying them, giving them special food and care, and moved them to my community tank about six weeks ago. Ain't nobody got time for spoiled, bratty fish!

Sadly, one died. However the other two began to flourish, getting more courageous each week. Hard to be shy when you live with goofy corysead: Finally, this week, they are showing me the personality and intelligence I'd read about! They come to the front of the tank when they see me, dash to the top if they see that I have food, and follow my finger in curiosity when I slide it in front of them. Pretty cute kids, actually!

BUT, even though they are several times the size they were when I got them, they have absolutely no color. None. Not even a hint of anything but black with a hint of gray. Are there BP's that stay black their whole lives? Is there something missing in their diet? I've read on here that some specimens turn black if stressed or fearful, but mine seem to be completely past all that. Or, are they still too young?

Thanks for any guidance/reassurance you can provide!

 

Absolutely adorable. Never really heard of a black parrot fish but there are many color forms of them. I'd expect some color by now so looks to me they will stay chocolate brown forever.

 

They are showing juvenile colors, it should fade to their adult colors as they age. The two parrots I have are bright orange, the one I have vented as female also has pink along the belly.
Some parrots aren't the bright orange and most of the ones that are dyed are lighter colored naturally (until they are dyed of course). This is the color they normally have.
https://preview.ibb.co/b3M0bx/20180417_200743.jpg

 

At what age? Mine must be over six months old now. Haven't vented either, but one is visibly larger. They, so far, are very bonded, showing no aggression toward each other or most of the other fish, except for the angel in that tank.

 

Size not age, once they reach 3-4 inches they should start changing color (the ones in store are usually 2-3 inches in size and most of the ones that are regular blood parrots have some hormone treatments so the color comes out more, just like peacock cichlids that have a bunch of color when they first come in that they shouldn't have until they get 3-4 inches, hormone treated to bring out the color).

 

Thanks so much! My favorite little fish store (not a big box) only stocks from reputable breeders. Thus, their juvenile fish, most species, look pretty bland. BUT, I feel confident that they've been raised ethically, with no dye or unnecessary hormones. Guess I'll just have to be patient - they definitely aren't 3" yet.