My fish seem healthy and swim out a lot very active (by the way they are three tiger barbs and three otos in a 10g tank) I had to turn the lights off because my fish won't eat or swim around with it on. The fish with the faded color are my tiger barbs I'm going to buy plants that will go over the top of the water so they will feel more secure but is there any other reason maybe the lights are wrong I need help plz!
2007-02-06 13:32:36 · 7 answers · asked by Jess_Eka 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
the color fades because the light is off.
a natural condition, with the lights back on the color should come back gradually, until they are restored.
it's the same thing that would happen to humans if the sun went out for a couple of months- then came back on.
as a former pet shop owner i would enter the store one hour before opening and turn on the tank lights, other wise i had faded fish in the opening minutes.
ps. a fluorescent light light shows much better colors than an incandescent, they cost about twice as much to purchase- you will enjoy the fish 10 times as much...
2007-02-06 14:12:38 · answer #1 · answered by robrr03 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you turned on the tank lights at 2:00am, you would see a bunch of clear fish sitting on the ground. There colors fade during lights out periods That is normal and happens nightly (if you turn the light out at night) Your fish will eventually get used to the light - as long as it isnt a blacklamp or UV bulb. Turn it on by day, and off at night. The plants will need the light in the day and the fish will need the resting time at night. Good luck, jason (Phoenix Phish Care)
2007-02-06 15:36:04 · answer #2 · answered by Magic Mouse 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're going to look faded in the dark...
Really though, you should have the lights off at night. Even fish need a break and keeping them on can make them more tired and less healthy.
Poor nutrition will also make your fish unhealthy.
Diseases can cause your fish to lose color due to health.
Your fish are fine without much light. Think about their natural environment... large body of water where light probably doesn't reach all the way.
2007-02-06 13:37:59 · answer #3 · answered by Eric L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it's normal. They reason they loose their color is because they go into a trance like state, in which they don't move a lot so the blood isn't moving fast. When you turn the light back on, in 10 min. they should come out of their trance and get the blood moving again, causing the color to come back. I've had my 7 barbs for 2 years and everynight they loose their color, then in the day they are fine and in full color.
2007-02-06 13:38:05 · answer #4 · answered by raz p 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nope. It's just the reflection of the light on the scales making it look like it changes colors. Turn it off at night until late morning and turn it on around 11-3 and again at 6-9.
2007-02-06 16:44:35 · answer #5 · answered by I_♥_Meh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the lights help resemble natural surroundings, suppose those fish lived in a shady area, then they would not have a constant sunlight, as long as the fish tank is in a room with a light, I think there color change is random.
2007-02-06 13:37:45 · answer #6 · answered by fehnwickfalcon2010 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe get a different type or color lightbulb. idk. i heard goldfish turn white with no lights.
2007-02-06 13:36:49 · answer #7 · answered by Liren214 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋