Color enhancers used to be a dirty word because they meant the addition of additives that were not natural. Fortunately there is now a good selection of color enhancing foods that contain only natural ingredients such as red algae, shrimp, krill, and plankton. There are even color enhancing foods made for specific species of fish.
1. Tetra Color Bits
Of all the color enhancing foods, I’ve found Tetra Color Bits have consistently performed well, and been accepted by the widest range of fish. The granules sink slowly enough for all levels of feeders to feed. Be prepared to pay a little more than for other color formulas, but it's are worth the extra pennies.
2. Nutra Fin Color Enhancing Flakes
Formulated with red algae pigment, pre-digested plankton and krill these flakes bring out vibrant colors while aiding digestion. These flakes provide a well balanced diet, and can be used as a regular supplement for virtually all fish.
3. Tetra Color Flakes
Containing the same formula as the Tetra Color Bits, these flakes are excellent for brining out the colors in all species of fish. Very comparable to the bits, however they don’t sink to the bottom as well.4. O.S.I. Vivid Color Flake Food
Quite similar in composition to other color enhancing formulas, OSI comes packaged in small to very large containers. If you have a lot of fish, as I do, you’ll like having the option to purchase larger volumes.5. Tetra Cichlid Color Foodsticks
Take the standard foodsticks and add color enhances, and voila – you have color foodsticks. When used as a supplement to the standard foodsticks, they are especially helpful enhancing the red and orange hues in cichlids and other larger fish.6. Hikari Cichild Gold
Hikari Cichlid Gold is an excellent general-purpose pellet that contains carotenoid to enhance fish color. The pellets come in four sizes and will not go too soft and cloud the water. However they don’t readily sink, so keep that in mind if you are attempting to feed fish that are too timid to come to the surface at mealtime.7. Wardley Total Color
Containing vitamin C and carotenoid, these pellets will bring out the yellow, red and orange hues in your aquarium fish.8. Hikari Koi Gold
Much like Cichlid Gold, these pellets are is an excellent general-purpose pellet that contains carotene to enhance fish color. They are available in a variety of sizes.9. Wardley Total Koi Color
Formulated specifically for Koi, these pellets will enhance the oranges and reds in your Koi. The floating pellets are nutritionally balanced and can be used regularly in addition to other foods.