diff --git a/src/bffile/_biofile.py b/src/bffile/_biofile.py
index 8fbeb83..6b6f3e6 100644
--- a/src/bffile/_biofile.py
+++ b/src/bffile/_biofile.py
@@ -147,6 +147,12 @@ class BioFile(Sequence[Series]):
         See: https://docs.openmicroscopy.org/bio-formats/latest/formats/options.html
         For example: to turn off chunkmap table reading for ND2 files, use
         `options={"nativend2.chunkmap": False}`
+    channel_filler : bool or None, optional
+        Whether to wrap the reader with Bio-Formats' ChannelFiller, which
+        expands indexed-color data (e.g. GIF palettes) into RGB. If `True`,
+        always use ChannelFiller. If `False`, never use it. If `None`
+        (default), automatically apply it when the file contains true
+        indexed-color data.
     """
 
     def __init__(
@@ -157,6 +163,7 @@ def __init__(
         original_meta: bool = False,
         memoize: int | bool = 0,
         options: dict[str, bool] | None = None,
+        channel_filler: bool | None = None,
     ):
         self._path = str(path)
         self._lock = RLock()
@@ -164,6 +171,7 @@ def __init__(
         self._original_meta = original_meta
         self._memoize = memoize
         self._options = options
+        self._channel_filler = channel_filler
 
         # Reader and finalizer created in open()
         self._java_reader: IFormatReader | None = None
@@ -281,6 +289,10 @@ def open(self) -> Self:
             r = jimport("loci.formats.ImageReader")()
             r.setFlattenedResolutions(False)
 
+            if self._channel_filler is True:
+                ChannelFiller = jimport("loci.formats.ChannelFiller")
+                r = ChannelFiller(r)
+
             if self._memoize > 0:
                 Memoizer = jimport("loci.formats.Memoizer")
                 if BIOFORMATS_MEMO_DIR is not None:
@@ -301,6 +313,17 @@ def open(self) -> Self:
 
             try:
                 r.setId(self._path)
+
+                # Auto-detect: wrap with ChannelFiller for true indexed color
+                if (
+                    self._channel_filler is None
+                    and r.isIndexed()
+                    and not r.isFalseColor()
+                ):
+                    ChannelFiller = jimport("loci.formats.ChannelFiller")
+                    r = ChannelFiller(r)
+                    r.setId(self._path)
+
                 core_meta = self._get_core_metadata(r)
             except Exception:  # pragma: no cover
                 with suppress(Exception):
diff --git a/src/bffile/_core_metadata.py b/src/bffile/_core_metadata.py
index 76bd755..60359df 100644
--- a/src/bffile/_core_metadata.py
+++ b/src/bffile/_core_metadata.py
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ def from_java(cls, meta: loci.formats.CoreMetadata) -> Self:
                 t=meta.sizeT,
                 rgb=rgb_count,
             ),
+            rgb_count=rgb_count,
             thumb_size_x=meta.thumbSizeX,
             thumb_size_y=meta.thumbSizeY,
             bits_per_pixel=meta.bitsPerPixel,
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index ba90e2c..cbd3906 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ def any_file(request: pytest.FixtureRequest) -> Path:
     return request.param
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def data_dir() -> Path:
+    """Path to the test data directory."""
+    return TEST_DATA
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def simple_file() -> Path:
     """Small TIFF file for fast unit tests (7KB)."""
diff --git a/tests/test_biofile.py b/tests/test_biofile.py
index 1a47054..a9f0591 100644
--- a/tests/test_biofile.py
+++ b/tests/test_biofile.py
@@ -79,9 +79,37 @@ def test_core_meta_returns_metadata(opened_biofile: BioFile) -> None:
     assert hasattr(meta, "dtype")
     assert hasattr(meta, "dimension_order")
     assert len(meta.shape) == 6  # CoreMetadata always has 6 elements (TCZYX + rgb)
+    assert meta.rgb_count == meta.shape.rgb
     assert isinstance(meta.dtype, np.dtype)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("channel_filler", "expect_rgb", "expect_indexed"),
+    [(None, 3, False), (True, 3, False), (False, 1, True)],
+    ids=["auto", "forced", "disabled"],
+)
+def test_channel_filler_gif(
+    data_dir: Path,
+    channel_filler: bool | None,
+    expect_rgb: int,
+    expect_indexed: bool,
+) -> None:
+    with BioFile(data_dir / "example.gif", channel_filler=channel_filler) as bf:
+        meta = bf.core_metadata()
+        assert meta.shape.rgb == expect_rgb
+        assert meta.is_indexed is expect_indexed
+
+
+def test_false_color_indexed_file_not_expanded(data_dir: Path) -> None:
+    with BioFile(data_dir / "ND2_dims_c2y32x32.nd2") as bf:
+        meta = bf.core_metadata()
+        assert meta.shape.c == 2
+        assert meta.shape.rgb == 1
+        assert meta.is_rgb is False
+        assert meta.is_indexed
+        assert meta.is_false_color
+
+
 def test_ome_xml_property(opened_biofile: BioFile) -> None:
     xml = opened_biofile.ome_xml
     assert isinstance(xml, str)