Does aquarium gravel color effect fish pigment IYO?

[dempsey6]

I'm starting up a new tank and have chosen the black gravel but i've noticed in my friends 55 with black gravel that the fish are EXTREMELY dark (jack dempsey, firemouth and a couple african cichlids).

Now I don't know if that's because of what he feeds them or due to the color of the substrate.

:huh::huh::huh:

 

[BioHazard]

Yeah, the substrate DEFINITELY has an effect on the color. Light colors tend to leave the fish looking washed out, and dark colors tend to leave the fish looking brighter.

 

[jpappy789]

Darker substrate definitely makes the fish stand out more...not sure if it actually is a physiological change though or just a visual effect to the human eye.

 

[blue2fyre]

Yup dark substrate makes a difference. The lighting as well will make a difference in your fish's coloring.

 

[BioHazard]

Darker substrate definitely makes the fish stand out more...not sure if it actually is a physiological change though or just a visual effect to the human eye.

I've always heard that they feel safer on a darker substrate, and so they brighten up more, but I agree that I'm not sure how much is just a trick of the eye for us. I think it can depend on the fish, a LOT. But dark gravel is definitely the way to go, as a default.

 

[dempsey6]

wow well that's surprising because my friends tank is black gravel but the fish are also very dark, not brighter.


That could also be because he feeds them cichlid sticks only I guess.

 

[blue2fyre]

I use to have play sand in my mbuna tank and the fish looked washed out. Once I switched to black sand the same fish were way brighter and more colorful. It also depends on diet, lighting and the type of fish.

 

[platytudes]

Actually, in the tanks where I've had black gravel, the fish did in fact get darker. With colorful fish (red swordtails, neon tetras) this could look really nice...but with cichlids like your friends, and other sorts of fish with dark markings (I suspect fish like the common Trichogaster gouramis, and peppered cories) then their black pigment is what is enhanced....just my opinion.

 

[dempsey6]

Actually, in the tanks where I've had black gravel, the fish did in fact get darker. With colorful fish (red swordtails, neon tetras) this could look really nice...but with cichlids like your friends, and other sorts of fish with dark markings (I suspect fish like the common Trichogaster gouramis, and peppered cories) then their black pigment is what is enhanced....just my opinion.

hmmm very interesting pov.

Now I don't know whether to return the gravel or just keep with the black.
Especially considering im gonna be doing South American cichlids (parrots, dempseys, firemouths, green terrors, red devil, etc.)

 

[platytudes]

I would try white sand with a generous sprinkling of black gravel at the top. All those fish would rather root in sand than gravel...so for rooting fish, I always use regular white/beige sand. Here's an article about sand from Cichlid Forum:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/sand.php

If you definitely for sure don't want sand, I think your black gravel will be ok. Personally I just don't like the black background and black substrate look...it's done so often, I'm sort of sick of seeing it. I know I'm in the minority here

Don't get me wrong, it looks great in a heavily planted tank. But in a cichlid tank where you're going to have no live plants (probably) then sand with a sprinkling of gravel looks better in my opinion. This is kind of what I mean:
http://img.youtube.com/vi/7JjRLqTxGQs/0.jpg