Top 5 Reasons Why Fish Don't Color Up [African Cichlids that Stay Gray!]

Why don't fish color up? Why do they seem to stay gray for far too long?

Watching a fish color up is one of the things I enjoy the most about keeping African Cichlids. Anyone that has grown-out African Cichlids knows the frustration of waiting for months and months and not seeing any color on a fish we are certain is a male. In this video I get into 5 reasons why some will not color up and why it can seem sometimes like our African Cichlids are staying gray forever.

What's been your experience with fish coloring up or taking to long to do so? What did you conclude was keeping your fish gray and drab looking and not being that spectacular fish you thought you were buying? Share your thoughts below along with any tips you might have about getting fish to show the best color.

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[BenOchart]

Thank you for stopping by!
For more fish keeping videos with tricks, tips and hacks, check out these playlists:
For "My Best Fish Keeping Tips" click here:
For tips and tricks with Fluval FX canister filters go here:
For tips and tricks with SunSun canister filters go here:
For videos on water changes and controlling nitrates, click here:
For videos on general canister filter maintenance, click here:
My Top 10 most popular videos of all time:
What products do I use and recommend to keep my fish healthy and tanks looking great? Visit my Amazon store at:
You Rock!

[cat_family]

M searching video like that this is perfect video for mine and my queries so thank you I love people like you who share genuine experience with us it's appreciated so thanks for sharing love you God bless you stay safe stay happy and stay blessed

[VinnysAquatics]

I just got a dozen locally bred cichlids, I have no idea what they are so I’m going to post a pic in your Facebook group and hopefully you’ll know? Love those clown Loaches btw! Have a great day brother, always a great watch ty 👍

[YugiL.]

nice explanation! will be sharing this video to my fish buddies. what I do to get my male to color up faster is put them with females and fish that are smaller. otherwise if I'm not in a rush, I just let them do its thing.

[lisathewhitewolf]

So...what color of substrate is good, then?

[MorganBrown]

We had an unplanned mating between a really nasty (but regal) blue male peacock and a red female peacock, perhaps 4 years ago. We were able to save the brood and now have about 30 fish from that mother and father. Of the 30, perhaps 8 have blue heads but subdued yellowish bodies. Most of the remaining 20 fish are small and gray. I'm a bit surprised that not a single male offspring has matched their father's vibrant blue color. Some are about his size. "Big blue" is still the alpha male!

We have several other smaller tanks. I am thinking of moving the alpha male to his own tank and seeing what happens in the big tank, color-wise. Do you have any other suggestions?

[eddiewaters]

What color substrates impact color? I have blck sand with a bag or two of white sand added to mix with the black and contrast.

[sirgerbilmacintosh]

Yeah I have quite a few male haps in with a bunch of mbuna for about 2 years now and none of them colored up yet. I hope they will eventually but I'm worried they might just stay colored down with the mbuna in there. We'll see.

[cat_family]

My friend My question is some of my fish are too much small than dominant male but they coloring up what's reason behind so thanks

[Matagot]

I wondered why my guaranteed peacock male hasn't colored up. Well, he now has a mouth full of eggs.

[prasadamrutkar]

My yellow peacock and blue peacock not showing colours at all please do help if possible

[PULAG]

Ik honestly trying to identify a grey with black stripes cichlid. Guessing its female, not sure if its Mbuna or what, though. It's quite aggressive though.

[eyadjamus]

Would you recommend colour feeding my Cichlids? I have heard differing opinions on this, 1 store owner tells me to do it and I'll love it. He even claims it will increase the fish's immune system. While another store owner tells me it will stress my fish and shorten their life span.

[D]

My fish was in a smaller tank with smaller fish and was super colorful that when I moved him to the bigger tank I thought he would keep his colors but he lost them and now I’m afraid he’ll never get them back

[umairrashid]

I'm facing same issue with same specie. I'm worried

[breeamethyst]

My Peacock cichlid is brownish yellow. I think it’s a male Juvenile

[petervandieren]

The food also influences coloring of your fish.

[ezekielthornton]

Another great video ben, you mentioned a rounded anal fin. Is that a sign of it being a female? If so what are some other features that could point to a fish being female or male. I'm still learning. You have been one of my favorite persons for info.

[AmericanProspector]

Some fish just grow small or never color up.

[Younotus]

If you want to color your fish. Feed high quality foods