Chameleon Angel

[Carping]

Hope you guys can help with this strange phenomenen I have noticed in my angel (silver with black stripes down the body, think they are called the "marble angels").

I had it in a small tank (120 liter, 3 footer) with a bunch of other fish. While in the small tank, I never noticed anything strange with the angel. Last Sunday I commisioned my big tank (400 liter, 6 footer) and transferred my angel to it.

These last couple of days I have noticed that this angel has the abbility to make his stripes dissapear at will. One moment he has full stripes (4 a side from top to bottom of body and fins) and the next moment the one side will have only one stripe halfway down his body and the other side will have a small stripe on his face :amazed: .

Anybody ever seen or heard of something similar with angels?

[Risen]

Stripes Probably when stressed

[Carping]

Nope Risen, not stressed at all.... Only got 2 small algea eaters, 1 betta male, 2 tetras and a glass catfish with it in the tank.
And when an angel is stressed or feel threatened, it lowers it's dorsal fin. This angel is totally relaxed when it changes it's stripes. If it was stress, it should have happened in the small tank and not the big one

[sarf]

Hi carping..how long did you let your six foot cycle before you added the angels?large volumes of water take longer to cycle..water which is not mature can stress fish

[Carping]

I had it cycling for 2 weeks before I added some plants. Cycled it for another 4 days before adding the fishies

[LanceP]

Carping, I have the same angel and it does the same colour change regularly. Not sure why this is but he's been doing it for a long time and he's fine.

[Carping]

Well, at least I know now I'm not loosing my marbles LOL. Would be interresting to know what triggers these changes. The first time the stripes dissapeared, I thought it was something to do with him growing up. But when the stripes re-appeared I thought I was busy going nuts and my eyes were playing tricks on me

[Zafgak]

Hi carping - Angels use their stripes in the wild to communicate mood etc. The stripes can be darkened or lightened at will - eg in the wild when a predator is around the stripes will darken as a warning, to the babies or other angels, and to improve the camo effect.. Many fish have this ability. The stripes can also be an indication of the fish health..

[Philfarm]

I would have also said its a sign of stress but Iv heard and seen angels change color completely is when exposed to continuous high light, they start to turn very plain "cant remember what its called but pretty interesting"

[Zafgak]

Eskimo - correct on that one, if you raise angels in good light for very long periods ie. 20-24hours the stripes can be lost...

[Carping]

Zafgak and Eskimo, it might be a combination of many influencing factors that you guys have mentioned. I have a "daylight" light in my tank with a small "plants" light in the corner. Both on from abot 6 in the morning to about 7-8 at night.

My angel doesn't loose its coulor, it changes the stripes from visable to nothing. He manages this about 5 times in the space of 10 mins sometimes.

[Zafgak]

Your light regime seems about right 12-14 hours is OK - I would say the angel is healthy but MOODY ---:bigsmile: get the angel a couple of buddies to swim with, may ease the moodiness

[veegal]

Your light regime seems about right 12-14 hours is OK - I would say the angel is healthy but MOODY ---:bigsmile: get the angel a couple of buddies to swim with, may ease the moodiness

Yip, angels are shoaling fish so I'd suggest not keeping less than 3 together....

[Asgar]

Carping,

The angel makes its stripes lighter/ darker according to its mood. There is nothing wierd about your angel.

[Carping]

Thanks guys for all the info. I took 2 small angels from my small tank and added them to the big tank. Now the big angel seems to be happy.
At first the big angel was nipping at the newcommers on Saturday, but by Sunday morning he had established himself as the "troop leader" LOL. Ther small ones follow him wherever he goes. But he is still changing his stripe intensity......Guess he just wants to show off LOL

[veegal]

Great to hear Carping. Angels will always be happier with friends of their own kind :) He's probably making sure they know HE'S the boss LOL

[Gert Combrink]

Yes it is true - you all still have your marbles! (punn!)
Angels (especially good strains) have the abbility to change the colour of their stripes!
That is one of the main caractristics of the Scalare angels - and why I breed them!
The pair also change the darkness of their stripes when pairing up.
When raising the fry, the female in most instances, darken all her stripes, while the male adjust the intencity of his front stripes to light - almost not visible.
Glad you all could realise the importance in keeping good quality strains!
and not "ninja turtles" -like the Prof will say!

[veegal]

Glad you all could realise the importance in keeping good quality strains!
and not "ninja turtles" -like the Prof will say!

Aiiii - you calling my angels ninjas??? LoL - they are BEAUTIFUL ninjas then!!!

[Gert Combrink]

Nooooo... I was not talking about your beautifull angels!

[veegal]

Nooooo... I was not talking about your beautifull angels!

You almost had to run even faster than you already are..... :bigsmile::p