Causes of Pond Fish Losing Color

Bright, colorful fish are very attractive swimming in outdoor garden ponds. Most fish owners become disturbed and upset when their fish no longer have this beauty. There are several reasons why fish in a pond may begin to lose their color and become dull. The water, illness and poor quality foods may all contribute to the loss of pigment.

  1. pH Level

    • A neutral pH number is 7. The ideal level for pond fish sits somewhere between 6.8 and 8.2, with 7.5 being the ultimate number to achieve. Higher numbers indicate alkaline waters while lower numbers indicate acidic waters. A sudden drop in the pH level of the pond water can cause fish to lose their color. In this case, the water quickly becomes acidic. In extremely acidic water, the skin of the fish can actually become burned.

    Antibiotics

    • In some cases, ponds with diseased and sick fish are heavily treated with rounds of antibiotics. These antibiotics can cause the fish to lose their color and turn dull. The antibiotics kill all bacteria in the fish's system, including the good bacteria. The fish no longer absorb the needed nutrients to remain colorful. Feeding probiotics after the antibiotic treatments or after fish become sick prevents this from occurring.

    Food

    • If not adequately fed, pond fish can lose their color. The fish must receive pigment for their coloring from outside sources. The only outside source available for pond fish is usually the food that we feed them. Natural pigments, called Carotenoids, are needed by the fish to display their color. Plant and animal matter provide this for fish living in the wild. Color enhancing foods allow pond fish to remain colorful and vibrant.