Color changing cories?

[Ruutah]

So I recently moved my pair of ( I know they need a bigger group, and that is the plan but they started out in a 5gal and I'm loathe to add more with a move coming up at the end of the month.) peppered cories from a planted tank with regular tan colored sand for substrate to a planted tank with carib sea Tahitian moon sand (black).

They used to be more silver than black, like almost see through silver with black spots. But after a few weeks in the new tank, they're mostly black now. What gives? Just a natural camoflauge response?

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[Delapool]

That would make sense to me if I'm reading correctly. They sound otherwise in fine form?

 

[Ruutah]

Yeah they're awesome. Still easily one of my favorite fish, even with the more colorful tankmates. None of the others have the personality these two do.

Of course I walk over to the tank to get a picture of them and they run and hide.

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[ScotJudd]

My peppered corys change colour when I cut back the plants and allow more light to reach the substrate. They lighten up. I have noticed that the pandas do the same.


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[Ruutah]

That may explain it. The new tank is MUCH more heavily planted with lots of floating plants. Not a whole lot of light is getting down low. In fact I'm likely ordering a new light because stuff is melting back since I added the floating hornwort and water sprite. I've got a TON of new growth on the water sprite though.