Fire Reds Different Colors, Weird Pattern

jlieu · 01-13-2013, 01:14 AM

Just wondering if it is common to 'Fire Reds' that get this much darker over time.

Bad Quality Comparison Photo...

Different perspective...

Lately, she seems to have been getting this 'faded' pattern going on as well. It looks to be around the head and runs down the top back (to tail). It is not clear though.

somewhatshocked · 01-13-2013, 01:35 AM

Yes, as they age, they tend to get darker.

The stripe - or "racing strip" - is also a characteristic of aging in Neos.

**ThatGuyWithTheFish** · 01-13-2013, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somewhatshocked

Yes, as they age, they tend to get darker.

The stripe - or "racing strip" - is also a characteristic of aging in Neos.

Really? Because they seem to go away with molts.

somewhatshocked · 01-13-2013, 02:02 AM

Yep.

My oldest Neo females often have solid white stripes down their backs.

auban · 01-13-2013, 02:11 AM

its interesting... do all of them get that color as they age, or only a few? it could be an impurity in the blood line if only certain ones get dark while others stay get stay bright.

Lkittredge · 01-13-2013, 03:02 AM

Hold are yours, are they all around the same age?

**sbarbee54** · 01-13-2013, 03:22 AM

Yup age does it I have a bunch about 35-40 that look like that they are about to cycle out and let the others be the old and wise of the group. These will be about 18 months old

Sent from my iPad 3 using Tapatalk HD

jlieu · 01-13-2013, 04:11 AM

Ah, good to know. Thanks for the heads-up!

The two are of different age. As they correctly commented, the maroon/darker red female is the oldest of the group. She was one of the original I first received ~6 months ago. I was not 100% sure of the coloration/racing stripes, so I figured I'd ask some of the more experienced shrimp gurus about it...

auban · 01-13-2013, 09:56 AM

the chromatophores grow longer and longer as they get older, so that makes sense. for it to be that dark they have to have some seriously thick/long branches. cool!

from looking at my shrimp and their molts, i believe that the "racing stripe" is crystallized quanine in the shell. in other crustaceans, it is produced to help reflect UV. since it gets concentrated under the shell, it goes away with each molt.

azjenny · 01-13-2013, 01:35 PM

I don't find that the racing stripe goes away completely with a molt. I definitely find that I can still see the stripe after. I don't have that many oranges in my tank and can tell the adults apart well enough to distinguish. And they seem to keep their stripes. I'll try to notice if it seems to fade somewhat after a molt.

morgan · 01-13-2013, 01:59 PM

Most my high grade sakuras get the stripes. I keep them well away from my fire reds ,which never show that stripe.

**Soothing Shrimp** · 01-13-2013, 03:34 PM

Lots of cherries are born with stripes showing by juvie age. Also, molting won't get rid of stripe as shown best by neon yellows.

auban · 01-14-2013, 12:21 AM

the stripe fades in my cherries after each molt. its not for very long, but they do fade. it would make sense for them to develop the stripe down the back, since it would shield the eggs and the vital organs from ultraviolet. i noticed that my shrimp kept in a tank with a lot of UV produce a much more visible stripe than my shrimp kept in a tank with normal lighting. ill see if i can find another molt and take some pictures of it under the microscope. the white stripes look like little sparkling granules when you look close enough.

01-13-2013, 01:14 AM	#1
jlieu Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: BG, KY Posts: 103	Fire Reds Different Colors, Weird Pattern Just wondering if it is common to 'Fire Reds' that get this much darker over time. Bad Quality Comparison Photo... Different perspective... Lately, she seems to have been getting this 'faded' pattern going on as well. It looks to be around the head and runs down the top back (to tail). It is not clear though.

01-13-2013, 01:35 AM	#2
somewhatshocked Obsessed? Maybe (View User Tanks) PTrader: (262/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,603	Yes, as they age, they tend to get darker. The stripe - or "racing strip" - is also a characteristic of aging in Neos. __________________ 12gal Long \| 20L Shrimp Tanks \| 3gal Longs \| 10gal \| 45-F \| 5.5gal Tigers \| 20cm Cubes

01-13-2013, 02:02 AM	#4
somewhatshocked Obsessed? Maybe (View User Tanks) PTrader: (262/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,603	Yep. My oldest Neo females often have solid white stripes down their backs. __________________ 12gal Long \| 20L Shrimp Tanks \| 3gal Longs \| 10gal \| 45-F \| 5.5gal Tigers \| 20cm Cubes

01-13-2013, 03:22 AM	#7
sbarbee54 The Security Dude (View User Tanks) PTrader: (47/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: The Badlands Posts: 2,560	Yup age does it I have a bunch about 35-40 that look like that they are about to cycle out and let the others be the old and wise of the group. These will be about 18 months old Sent from my iPad 3 using Tapatalk HD __________________ 55 Planted Rummys,2 GBR,8 Corys,4 Discus PFR Culls Many shrimp tanks http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...half-done.html

01-13-2013, 01:59 PM	#11
morgan Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: England Posts: 63	Most my high grade sakuras get the stripes. I keep them well away from my fire reds ,which never show that stripe. __________________ My 25 gallon http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...ml#post1884560 Last edited by morgan; 01-13-2013 at 02:01 PM.. Reason: slight edit

01-13-2013, 02:11 AM	#5
auban Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 424	its interesting... do all of them get that color as they age, or only a few? it could be an impurity in the blood line if only certain ones get dark while others stay get stay bright.

01-13-2013, 03:02 AM	#6
Lkittredge Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Carrollton/Lewisville TX Posts: 72	Hold are yours, are they all around the same age?

01-13-2013, 04:11 AM	#8
jlieu Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: BG, KY Posts: 103	Ah, good to know. Thanks for the heads-up! The two are of different age. As they correctly commented, the maroon/darker red female is the oldest of the group. She was one of the original I first received ~6 months ago. I was not 100% sure of the coloration/racing stripes, so I figured I'd ask some of the more experienced shrimp gurus about it...

01-13-2013, 09:56 AM	#9
auban Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 424	the chromatophores grow longer and longer as they get older, so that makes sense. for it to be that dark they have to have some seriously thick/long branches. cool! from looking at my shrimp and their molts, i believe that the "racing stripe" is crystallized quanine in the shell. in other crustaceans, it is produced to help reflect UV. since it gets concentrated under the shell, it goes away with each molt.

01-13-2013, 01:35 PM	#10
azjenny Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Paradise Valley, AZ Posts: 647	I don't find that the racing stripe goes away completely with a molt. I definitely find that I can still see the stripe after. I don't have that many oranges in my tank and can tell the adults apart well enough to distinguish. And they seem to keep their stripes. I'll try to notice if it seems to fade somewhat after a molt.

01-13-2013, 03:34 PM	#12
Soothing Shrimp Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (72/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,522	Lots of cherries are born with stripes showing by juvie age. Also, molting won't get rid of stripe as shown best by neon yellows. __________________ DBP Club! My thinking has been invert-ed!

01-14-2013, 12:21 AM	#13
auban Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 424	the stripe fades in my cherries after each molt. its not for very long, but they do fade. it would make sense for them to develop the stripe down the back, since it would shield the eggs and the vital organs from ultraviolet. i noticed that my shrimp kept in a tank with a lot of UV produce a much more visible stripe than my shrimp kept in a tank with normal lighting. ill see if i can find another molt and take some pictures of it under the microscope. the white stripes look like little sparkling granules when you look close enough.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode