Damsel changing color.

[kingtoad]

I purchased two damsels today. They were doing great all day, exploring the tank, weaving in and out of live rock, and eating. The bigger damsel started chasing the smaller one about. I could see every once and a while they would do that, but they mainly stuck together. I had my light on a timer and it shut off. I went out for a bit and when I came home I turned my light back on. One of my damsels, the bigger one, the one that was chasing the smaller damsel is turning into a dark purple. Is this bad? I found the other damsel and he's hiding in rocks with the same light blue color he had when I got him.

 

[mdisalvo55]

When I first got my damsels they both turned dark purple. I don't know why they get darker but nothing ever went wrong with them so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Blown 346]

All fish will change to a darker color once the lights are out for a certain time. If you turn the lights back on you will seethat they are darker than normal. After a couple of minutes of the fish adjusting to the light they will go back to natural color.

 

[dchao]

Re: Damsel changing color.

This is called a night/fright response which can be observed in the middle of the night or when the fish is under excessive stress/fright. Actually, most fish do this too.

 

[petermai]

when i had damsels, every morning when the light kicks in...they'd turn pale on me. tip for the future...when you're ready to take those sucker out. turn the light on suddenly then go after them with a net. they're almost completely blind in the morning. good luck.

 

[Pandora]

Chromatophores on the scales are what are responsible for your fish's coloration. To some degree, they can lighten or darken these in response to stress & other environmental cues (such as if they want to show territoriality). Most fish are lighter when you get them, because they are still stressed, I think you will find in a few days that the darker is really the healthy coloration of both (what species is it?). The bigger one just made himself feel at home sooner because he realized he is the dominant damsel in the tank.

 

[kingtoad]

Thanks, everyone. That is very useful information to know. I'll keep it in mind.

They both turned into a much darker and brighter blue than they were yesterday and the bigger Damsel is no longer dark purple. They both also appear to be doing fine.

Thanks again!

 

[llewoh05]

ive gotta question. my lfs started me off with a yellow tailed damsel. that was 6 months ago. i went and bought a clown lastnight and seems like he just hangs in the upper right of the tank. (its only 10gal). when the damsel swims over the the right side the clown darts upward.

could having the damsel and clown pose a problem. or is there some kinda ritual the fish have to go through to let eachother relax and move freely.

 

[smcnally]

IMO, a clown (true or false percula) and a damsel, are both very territorial fish. I would think they would be very aggressive towards each other in a 10 gallon tank.

 

[beek daeve]

My blue damsel used to change colour to purple frequently during night/day frequency. Very interesting, but he had to go back to the LFS, little bugger he was!