I don't see the color of my breeding pairs fade. In fact, breeding pairs color up.

If you like to see your CA color up as beautifully as in the pictures....try putting them in a green(algae) water tank for a month- don't need to feed them very expensive pellets.

I find that Spectrum pellets color up my Festaes and Fenes faster, but does not have much effect on the Bocourtis and Pearsei.

BTW, most of my CA were bought from CC(Joe).