Every single time I turn on the flourescent lightbulb my fish hide under the pump! It's crazy. Am I stressing them out? I always just turn it off immediately because I'm afraid of hurting their eyes or something. If I left it on do you think they'd come out of hiding?
Is it bad for them to hide under the pump?
They're just goldfish in a 5 gal tank.
Ugghhhh... I'm so worried about Bob and Barney! :(
2007-08-16 15:43:30 · 13 answers · asked by secantthemagnificent 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
It is a defensive reflex because it is going from dark to light. If you leave the light on they will come out. It won't hurt them to hide until they are ready to come out.
2007-08-16 15:50:47 · answer #1 · answered by Dana 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get them a little castle if you are worried, but trust me, they are fine. In the wild, the sun does not suddenly 'snap on' the way a light does. It startles them, but if you leave it on they will come out. Some fake plants, a 'house' (a dark-colored glass jar, very clean, will work if you don't have $$) of some form, or something else they could hide behind will make them feel better.
Little fish are food. They act like predators are about even when they are in a tank where it is safe. (Until you buy an Oscar...) So give them somewhere to hide, and they will love you for it.
2007-08-16 15:53:15 · answer #2 · answered by kimidragon18 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi, I think the problem may be you are not graduating the change from dark to light & vice versa. For example if you have curtains in the room they are in draw them first to acclimatise their eyes to the light-then after several minutes put their light on, remember fish cannot close their eyes so any drastic change in light levels is very apparent to them.
Reversely at night always switch off their tank light minutes or even an hour or so before plunging the room into total darkness. In the wild dawn & dusk come gradually & fish don't notice the change. In captivity we have to compromise while doing our best to imitate nature. You might try giving them more hiding places-mugs on their sides make excellent caves for little fish to explore & hide in.
Finally you need to be planning for a larger tank in the not too distant future, once they get to a certain size in a 5 gallon they will stunt & die prematurely.
2007-08-17 03:31:32 · answer #3 · answered by John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fish are very nervous creatures. Any fast movements spooks them. so with a bright light coming out of no where probably does spook them. As for them hiding under the pump as long as they don't get sucked in they are fine. And leaving it on would allow them to come out. They just need to adjust to the lighting. Try feeding them at that time and leave the light on, after a while they might associate the light turning on as FOOD! lol. Hope this helps!
2007-08-16 15:50:56 · answer #4 · answered by Tara 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, your fisthank is way to small, unless you just bought them and they're only about 2 inch big
you need at least a 20 gallon tank for these 2 or even a 30 gallon depending on which species you have
as for the light, it's like the same thing with you, when you sleep and somebody suddenly turns the light on, you react the same way, startled
here is also a care sheet for basic fish care
http://www.firsttankguide.net/goldfish.php
And if you don't get your fish a bigger tank soon, you will stunt their growth, that means they will stop growing visibly but their internal organs don't stop, and they will die a cruel death
Goldfish with proper care can live up to 20 years plus
Hope that helps
Good luck
EB
2007-08-16 22:28:05 · answer #5 · answered by Kribensis lover 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Just like us fish like to sleep some fish its there natural habitat
to hide and wait for prey my suggest in is to keep your light on 8 to ten hours a day
2007-08-16 16:29:21 · answer #6 · answered by tony s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your fish are going to die.. That tank is to small for goldfish. You need at least a 40g aquarium.
As for the light, sudden changes in light or fast motions will startle most any fish.
2007-08-16 20:21:52 · answer #7 · answered by Palor 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From what I`ve heard goldfish dont like a lot of light. The light from the room they are in should be enough. And remember to turn the light out at night.
2007-08-16 15:47:53 · answer #8 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Get this in perspective--they're GOLDFISH!!
I haven't seen goldfish in a tank with the pump and the light, etc. I though you just put them in a bowl and changed the water once in a while.
If they hide, I would assume they don't like the light. Turn on the light, then offer food and see if they'll come out. Or change to a dimmer light. My beta doesn't like very much light.
TX Mom
not a vet
2007-08-16 15:50:29 · answer #9 · answered by TX Mom 7 · 0⤊ 5⤋
in nature light comes on gradually so naturally fish are not use to
bright light coming on all of a sudden.
http://fishtank.9f.com
2007-08-19 19:30:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋