Coloring up fish...

[DracoKat]

So, I was looking at my Squaretail Bristletooth Tang specifically.. he's pretty brown. boring.
Then I look at photos.. they're generally more orange and brighter. I am not sure if the photographer's using flash or most of these photos has been photoshopped.

Same with my Magnificent Foxface.. he doesn't have bright yellow fins and red spikes like most photos.

they're both almost a year old

Assuming photos are not doctored, any ideas how I can brighten up fish colors? I've been giving them variety of foods (frozen to reef frenzy to algae), all soaked in Vitachem.

 

[Maritimer]

Sounds like your diet is spot-on.

At 75 gallons, your tank shouldn't be making them feel _too_ cramped.

Lights can have a lot to do with fish colors too - I've got a coral beauty, for instance, which is a deep violet/indigo blue with an orange flank that, under "ordinary" lights can look like the coals at the bottom of a BBQ. Under my reef lights though (MarsAqua) those colors can dull out until the fish becomes hard to recognize.

~Bruce

 

[eatbreakfast]

Lighting, background, social status, diet, and age can all have a role in color.

Dominant fish show more color than submissive fish. Mature fish have more color than females. Dark surroundings make fish darker, etc.