Minnows changing color

[52#FLATHEAD]

I bought some minnows & divided them into 2 buckets.

One bucket has stayed home & has clean tap water - these minnows are as black as when I bought them.

The other bucket has been fishing & has fresh lake water - these minnows are light brown colored after 2 days (they were black).

What made these change color? Algea or something in the water? What would happen if I put food coloring in the water?

[catflisher]

what color were the insides of the buckets?

[RonWBasser]

I'd be interested to know what the food coloring would do.

I'd guess the minnows change color in regard to their surroundings.

[BuckKiller]

all fish will change slightly to match water clarity or sunlight. sunlight will make them lighter

[Johnny_Da_Der]

I have seen fish change color as a response to stress. I had some minnows in an aquarium and they would always get pale, almost translucent, when I would vacuum the carp out of the gravel bottom.

[52#FLATHEAD]

what color were the insides of the buckets?

Both buckets have a white styrofoam liner.

[Big Buck Buster]

I am going to do a little experiment with this thought. I am going to try blue. Get a scoop of crappie minnows, and a cheap minnow bucket, and see if they will change to a blueish tint. Wish me luck.

I watched an episode on dirty jobs when mike worked with the colored maggots. They died them.

[52#FLATHEAD]

I saw that episode, it was the colored food they fed to the maggots that made them change color. I think I'm gonna try something on these pale minnows. I'll let ya know how it comes out.

[catflisher]

I've seen them change color due to the sorrounding color...Dark/light....so this is interesting..Doubt they will change color, but one thing you allways know is...you never know!