What does it mean when my pickerel changes colors. Sometimes he will be just a straight tan and bland then he will switch and be a vibrant green with stripes. Is it just camouflage or when he's stress or something along those lines?
My Grass Pickerel changing colors
Started by
Guest_muskyguy92_*
, Nov 08 2011 04:15 PM
4 replies to this topic
#2
Michael Wolfe
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Posted 08 November 2011 - 04:36 PM
What does it mean when my pickerel changes colors. Sometimes he will be just a straight tan and bland then he will switch and be a vibrant green with stripes. Is it just camouflage or when he's stress or something along those lines?
I am not the expert here and will likely get slammed for some of the words I am about to use, but I have kept pickerel before and I have seen this in them and other fish so here goes...
I think it is more of an emotional state than anything else... fish seem to change pattern and color more as a response to fear, excitement, abundant food, predators, sex, etc. more than anything else. Yes, they do change color when they are stressed or sick as well... but if you are seeing this on a repeat basis, like at feeding time, then think fish excitement. Some fish do put on hunting colors, and dominant colors, that they can turn on and off very quickly. I think this may be what you are seeing more than anything else. Hunting excitement, food excitement, even 'hey look the big guy is here' excitement vs the calm hanging out colors.
OK, I am now ready for my slam... the word you are looking for is "anthropomorphism"...
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#3
Guest_EricaWieser_*
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Posted 08 November 2011 - 06:32 PM
I agree with Michael. Fish have moods. They're also very social, so they wear different colors based upon what status about themselves they want to project to their peers.
Here is an example video showing a social interaction between two native fish. They use color to denote dominance. The clear male is trying to say, "Please don't attack me. I'm just in a common area grabbing a bite of food, not courting females right now." and the black male with blue stripes is saying, "This is my territory, this is my food, I will fight you for them. Respect me." Both males are capable of being either color, and can and do rapidly change from clear to dark black. It would have worked for the male the video focuses on if he'd been more like the guy already at the feeding ground eating when he swam up. That one has sloooowly sidled up to the food and sloooowly nibbled at it, respecting the dominant male. The fish the video focuses on swam up way too quickly to that food, disrepecting the dark black male and getting his tail nipped for his insubordinance.
Certain fish species change color based upon their mood, and based upon the status they're trying to convey to the fish around them. It's true.
Here is an example video showing a social interaction between two native fish. They use color to denote dominance. The clear male is trying to say, "Please don't attack me. I'm just in a common area grabbing a bite of food, not courting females right now." and the black male with blue stripes is saying, "This is my territory, this is my food, I will fight you for them. Respect me." Both males are capable of being either color, and can and do rapidly change from clear to dark black. It would have worked for the male the video focuses on if he'd been more like the guy already at the feeding ground eating when he swam up. That one has sloooowly sidled up to the food and sloooowly nibbled at it, respecting the dominant male. The fish the video focuses on swam up way too quickly to that food, disrepecting the dark black male and getting his tail nipped for his insubordinance.
Certain fish species change color based upon their mood, and based upon the status they're trying to convey to the fish around them. It's true.
#4
Guest_az9_*
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Posted 08 November 2011 - 07:25 PM
I am not the expert here and will likely get slammed for some of the words I am about to use, but I have kept pickerel before and I have seen this in them and other fish so here goes...
I think it is more of an emotional state than anything else... fish seem to change pattern and color more as a response to fear, excitement, abundant food, predators, sex, etc. more than anything else. Yes, they do change color when they are stressed or sick as well... but if you are seeing this on a repeat basis, like at feeding time, then think fish excitement. Some fish do put on hunting colors, and dominant colors, that they can turn on and off very quickly. I think this may be what you are seeing more than anything else. Hunting excitement, food excitement, even 'hey look the big guy is here' excitement vs the calm hanging out colors.
OK, I am now ready for my slam... the word you are looking for is "anthropomorphism"...
Michael,
To say a fish can change colors depending on their mood is not anthropomorphic at all. It can be backed up by studies on fish. Personally I have seen the markings on smallmouth bass become more pronounced when they are agitated.
#5
Guest_frogwhacker_*
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Posted 09 November 2011 - 12:24 AM
Personally I have seen the markings on smallmouth bass become more pronounced when they are agitated.
Definite agreement there, my SMB only gets his dark spots and vertical stripes when he's feeling aggressive and/or ready to eat. I've seen this coloration from barely noticeable to extremely dark and anywhere in between. The more excited he is, the darker the markings are. Most of the time there are no markings at all, but he can put the war paint on in just a second or so.
I'm not so sure it's the same for my rock bass though. At first I thought it came from mood, but I've seen him almost white, completely black, and a few stages in between at different times when I knew he had to be stressed(like being moved to a different tank or introduction of another fish, or being chased by a SMB). I've finally decided that it appears more likely that the pattern changes on him are a result of surroundings. I could be wrong, but that's what it appears to be from my observations.
I don't have any experience with a pickerel so I can't say on that one, but I think the reason behind it can certainly be different with different species of fish.
Steve.
Edited by frogwhacker, 09 November 2011 - 12:31 AM.
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