The main reasons for the discoloration of blood parrot cichlids to white include the following:
Water Quality Issues: Blood parrot cichlids have relatively high requirements for water quality. They need water with weak acidity and low hardness. If the water quality deteriorates and the concentrations of ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate are too high, it will cause stress to the fish, leading to a fade in their body color. In addition, an unsuitable pH value (either too high or too low) can also affect the activity of pigment cells, causing the body color to turn white.
Water Temperature Fluctuations: Blood parrot cichlids are very sensitive to water temperature. The suitable water temperature ranges from 24°C to 28°C. Unstable or too low water temperature will cause them to lose their bright body color, and they may even develop black stripes or spots.
Environmental Stress: Blood parrot cichlids are highly sensitive to environmental changes, and stress is one of the common reasons for the discoloration of their body color to white. Excessive or too rapid water changes, an unsuitable aquarium environment (such as too strong light or a lack of hiding places), and keeping them with highly aggressive fish can all make blood parrot cichlids feel stressed, resulting in their body color turning white.
Improper Diet: The body color of blood parrot cichlids is closely related to their diet. A lack of pigmented feed or a long-term monotonous diet will lead to nutritional imbalance, causing the color to fade. Choosing feed containing astaxanthin or natural pigments, and regularly feeding some natural ingredients such as bloodworms, small shrimps, or fish meat can help maintain a bright body color.
Disease Infections: Blood parrot cichlids may be infected by bacteria, fungi, or parasites, leading to a discoloration of their body color to white. Common diseases include white spot disease and fungal infections. Appropriate medications should be used for treatment, and the water temperature should be raised to speed up the recovery.
Treatment Methods:
Keep the Water Quality Clean: Regularly test the water quality, use suitable pH value regulators to ensure the stability of the water quality. Use a heating rod to maintain a constant water temperature and avoid large fluctuations in water temperature.
Adjust the Diet: Select high-quality feed specifically for blood parrot cichlids, which contains ingredients such as astaxanthin and spirulina. Regularly feed some natural ingredients, maintain a regular feeding schedule, and avoid overfeeding to prevent water pollution.
Treat Diseases: If white spot disease is suspected, use special anti-parasite medications for treatment and raise the water temperature to 28°C. For fungal infections, use antifungal medications and thoroughly clean the aquarium.
Relieve Environmental Stress: When changing the water, make sure that each water change does not exceed 1/4 of the total water volume to avoid drastic changes. Add decorations (such as aquatic plants and caves) to the aquarium to provide hiding places for the fish. Avoid keeping blood parrot cichlids with fierce fish species.