Food and color

[5ivedrops]

I noticed as my ryukin is growing it's losing the bright red color and turning more orange. I feed pro-gold, new life spectrum, blood worms and peas. Does diet effect color? And, am I missing something (perhaps Hikari) to keep the reds in my fishes?

[small_ranchu]

Sun light is another import factor to get good color. Does your tank have direct access to sun light?

[5ivedrops]

Yes, my tank sits in a large window sill and I have no backing on the tank so the light gets in. The window faces south. Here's a picture: The red Ryukin 6 months ago and now.

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr160/5ivedrops/DSCN0774.jpg

http://i479.photobucket.com/albums/rr160/5ivedrops/DSC_4238.jpg

[SeaWitch]

What a beautiful ryukin! I've noticed that since I put my fish outside, their colors have become more vibrant. I'm not really sure how much of a part genetics play in fish keeping their colors.:youtellme: I have heard that food and sunlight play main factors, though. I hope you get it figured out!:exact:

[small_ranchu]

Does diet effect color?
I would try to feed them Saki-Hikari brown bag for a couple of months and see the result.

[bekko]

Your tank is too clean. If it was grungy with hair algae growing off the walls the fish would have better color.

-steve

[WakinAZ]

It should be easy to get algae growth on the back wall since it faces south, just don't scrape it. This would provide a background of sorts: a tank that is open on all sides can kind of freak out some fish, leading to stressed-out, pale colors. Krill can help enhance reds also.

Eric

[*Ci*]

Your tank is too clean. If it was grungy with hair algae growing off the walls the fish would have better color.

-steve

Steve, why is this? Because they will eat the hair algae?

I have recently added pure spiralina powder and seaweed to my gel food. Does anyone think these foods will help enhance colors in my orange/red fish?

[fish don't sweat]

It is keratin that makes living things colourful. Keratin is a natural protein and dye. Feed your fish a high keratin diet and they will start to colour up very quickly.

[Virginia ranchu]

I think you mean Carotene

[fish don't sweat]

I think you mean Carotene

Yes that's right Carotene.

I wondered if anyone would notice my deliberate mistake. Well done Virginia ranchu:-*

[marlin08]

Sunlight and hikari foods with the color enhancers ( beta carotene, etc) have turned a couple of my orange/whites into super red/whites and the full oranges a deeper orange and the bronze into black. I need to take some pictures, since they've been outside it's been amazing...

[bekko]

A diet high in caratinoids will give the white a pinking tinge.

-steve

[marlin08]

Thanks for that information, Steve, I will watch for that on my fish with white.
I know the Hikari Lionhead that I am currently feeding has carotenes, but I don't know how much compared to other foods which contains color enhancing ingredients...

I will also say that the sunlight seems to have played the most significant role in deepening my fish's colors...