Reasons for Parrotfish Blackening Body: Possible Causes

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1. Parrotfish Startled

Despite their reputation for being rather aggressive among fish, parrotfish have rather small stomachs. This makes them particularly sensitive to disturbances in their environment. Any loud noises, such as a heavy hand while feeding or sudden changes like a flash of light, can cause them to become startled. Such stress can lead to discoloration or the appearance of dark spots on their bodies.

Solution: When parrotfish exhibit darkening as a result of stress, it's a common stress response. To help them recover, maintain a quiet and dimly lit environment. Avoid noise and sudden changes, allowing the fish to calm down. Once they've settled, their coloration should return to normal.

2. Sudden Environmental Changes

The darkening of parrotfish can also be attributed to sudden changes in their environment. This includes excessive water changes (more than twothirds of the water), significant differences in water temperature between new and old water (more than 2℃), or drastic temperature fluctuations during seasonal changes.

Solution: When changing water, be gentle to avoid startling the fish. Keep the water pH between 6.57.0 and the temperature at 2528℃. Maintain a consistent water change schedule, typically every three to four days.

3. Genetic Issues

Parrotfish may also develop dark spots due to genetic mutations. As they are a hybrid of the purple firemouth and red devil fish, which have black spots on their bodies, some parrotfish may inherit these traits, resulting in black spots or lines.

Solution: There's no need for concern if your parrotfish's darkening is due to genetics. No treatment is required, as these spots typically fade as the fish matures.

Warm Reminder: The darkening of parrotfish could also be a sign of an injury and subsequent fungal infection due to poor water quality. Keep a close eye on your fish and act promptly if you notice any issues. To learn more about dealing with blackening in parrotfish, click here for further information.

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