http://forum.aqua-fish.net/ A forum devoted to aquarium fish, plants, techniques and fish keeping as a whole. en http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=allow-myself-to-introduce-myself-#1 a little Austin Powers humur there. Anyway, I'm Derrick and I found the site whilst looking for info on my piranhas. I've had these for about 2 years now. A friend of mine was moving and couldn't take them with him. I got the whole setup for $100. The reason I'm here is because Their color is not as vibrant as it used to be. I have the ideal temp, water and filter changes, ph, etc... Hell, they have even bread a couple times. Any ideas on how to get their red bellies back? Here are some pics. The one with the red on the bellies was shortly after I got them, now they are pale in color, What gives? DerrickWade 2010-07-18 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=allow-myself-to-introduce-myself-#2 Hi Derrick, Cool Piranhas, your game in having them, I am way to terrified. What is their diet?? If they have bred a couple times, they may need more protein. Try fiddling with their diet and make sure they are getting enough vitamins etc. Also if you have a bland back ground the fish tend to blend, so maybe try putting some thing bright in there for a couple of days... Just a thought.. My albino Axolotl had vibrant red gills before breeding , and now they are only vibrant red after meal times. I am giving her a break from breeding for a while and letting her bulk up on her vitamin stores. Sometimes fish go dull and can fall sick if breed too much!! or if they don't have a good diet to match. Just a thought. :-) leigh 2010-08-06 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=allow-myself-to-introduce-myself-#3 Agree about the diet, are they getting enough meaty foods? mickey 2010-08-08 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=allow-myself-to-introduce-myself-#4 Hi, I raised African Cichlids and Angle Fish for about 15 years, and after messing with several home made foods, I found "Trout Chow Pellets". I used to buy a 50lb bag, and other than a little Tetremin once in a while, that is all they ate. AND they all bred on this diet. It was high in protein and of course was used to raise trout. So I figured if the trout industry was using this food, it must be good for the fish. I know U probably don't need 50lbs, but maybe U can finagle a handfull from U'r local feed and seed store. FishFuzz 2010-08-17