Fish Fading

[manny]

When I come home and flip my light on at night I've noticed that my fish are all real pale. Anybody elses fish fade in color at night time?

[Instar]

Stop flippin your light on at night man. Your freaking them out! They all change at night and you are messing up their eyes and nerves when you "flip" the lights on at night. Regular day/night is what they need, preferably with sunrise and sunset.

[alexwolf]

mine mine mine, my tangs look dead at night, almost see through.....especially my yellows

[oceancube]

aww man, sorry to say manny but thats really bad for them to fade like that, i would take them out asap and flush them, they have what they call fish flu, watch it very contagious to humans, :-D , na dude im just joking again, i think it's normal cause mine do it all the time, dude there crashed what you expect, leave them alone, i suppose you look normal if i were to open the lights on you when you were crashed?? :shock:

[TexasState]

Hey,
Fishes remove their make up at night too! They'll put it back on in the morning so they won't look as scary. :lol:

[manny]

:x I'll get you back sometime Rudy!!! HaHa Well, I'm glad to know my fish aren't the only ones changin color. My yellow tang turns pretty ghostly white also Alex. Isn't it crazy how you learn new things every day....I didn't know fish wear make up and pajamas :D . That's pretty cool though I wonder how it actually works ya know, like the physics involved in em changin color or whatever.

[Tim Marvin]

It is a defense mechanism to help them to blend in at night. Hopefully this will save them from nocturnal predators in the real ocean.

[matt]

Doesn't seem to be saving them from nocturnal annoyances in the aquarium, though! I wonder about just turning the room lights on and off. I guess they get used to it.

[manny]

Yeah... or having the TV on. My poor fish's sleep cycle is probly all messed up like mine

[Tim Marvin]

I don't think they are bothered much by flickering TV light, but room lights probably aren't a good idea. Keep it to a min.

[Instar]

Your fish are just neurotic, thats all there is to it. Add that TV flicker, blast of lights and the pump hummmm... it disco tang!

[manny]

My poor fish, i was wondering about the tv sound when I mentioned the Tv. I usually have it blarin at 2,3,4 in the mornin. After I asked this question it made me wonder...can fish hear? neways my poor fish have adjusted to me bein up all night . They just sleep in the back of the tank where it's darker. I usually have the lights on reeeally late while I'm doin homework. I've tried helpin out my fish when they sleep by dimming the lights but then I can't see anything

[reefer]

my your fish need a fresh coat of paint? j/k!

[GaryP]

Fish don't hear, per se, but one of their main senses is detecting vibration through their lateral line. Remember that vibration travels through water much better than air due to the difference in density.

Gary