Color -Enhancing Foods Bring Out The Natural Beauty In Aquarium Fish

Why do aquarium fish come in so many vibrant colors?  All aquarium hobbyists have probably asked this question at one time or another.  Aside from providing an attractive visual display inside our aquarium tanks, the stunning palette of fish colors serves several practical purposes in nature.
 

• Coloration in fish is often used to attract attention during the mating season.  The male guppy, or example, develops brilliant colors to attract females.Other species, such as the Turkeyfish, which is armed with poisonous spines, use their coloration to warn would-be attacks to stay away. Species such as the weedy sea dragon, the pipe fish and the sea horse use their coloration to camouflage themselves, so they cannot be seen by a potential predator.

• The color of a fish is due primarily to two factors, pigmentation and light reflection.  Fish skin contains pigment cells called chromatophores, and light reflecting cells called iridocytes.  Unlike most other animals, many species of fish have the ability to change their colors, often over a very short time period.  Fish can make this quick change because their pigment cells contain different types of pigments ranging from black or brown to reds, yellows and oranges.  When these pigments move from the central core of a cell to its surface in response to a “message” from the fish’s nervous system, the animal will appear to change colors.  Many species will take advantage of this ability to “blend” into their backgrounds.

• Fish lack the ability to synthesize their own pigments, so they must obtain pigment compounds from their diet in order to maintain their coloration. This presents no problem in nature, where fish can graze freely to obtain a variety of pigment-rich plant, algae and bacteria.  In the aquarium environment, however, it is up to hobbyists to ensure that their fish are receiving a diet that has the ingredients needed to maintain their beautiful natural coloration.

• Pet Supplies “Plus” has a variety of fish foods that will help your fish maintain their natural coloration.  These foods have natural and synthetic pigment compounds that can be safely absorbed by aquarium fish.  It is usually possible to see a change in the coloration of your fish within six to ten weeks of putting them on a color-enhancing diet. The sales staff at your local Pet Supplies “Plus” store will be happy to help you select the color-enhancing foods that will allow you to enjoy the true colors of your aquarium fish.