Tropical Fish Body Color
The color and species of a fish is normally the best and most reliable way to tell what sex a fish is. Sometimes its color can assist in determining what species it is as well. This is because a lot of species are very similar in shape. A fish’s actual color is made up from several things, reflection of light and by its pigmentation. There is almost no color in fish scales as they are virtually transparent. Like other parts of a fish like their mouth position or their fins and tail
you can determine a lot about a fish by just observing its color. Some fishes that live in dark or muddy conditions are brightly colored so that they can be seen and attract a mate . Some fish are camouflaged to protect themselves from predators. This camouflage is very advanced. Some fish will have silver undersides to hide from fish below by camouflaging it self with the water surface. Others will have the opposit with a dark green color to merge in
with the mud and vegetation of the bottom. Certain fish even blend in with their surroundings. One such example of this is the Discus ( Symphysodom spp. this fish has strips to allow
it to blend in with reeds.
Fish use camouflage for hunting and to avoid being hunted. The majority of fish can change their color slightly, the color change can indicate whether its excited, ill, angry or frightened or in the case of male fish its colors are intensified during the mating season.
The color of a fish can often warn predators that it is poisonous. Some marine fish mimic their colors of their pray. Other have colors that give the appearance of a false eye that can deceive a predator about the position of its body and likely route of escape.
