Color change due to lighting?

[sealion]

My tank: 55 gallons
3 damels
1 yellow tang
1 percula clown
1 fire shrimp
1 skunk shrimp
1 butterfly henoichu
10 turbo snails


My fish are fine when the lights are on. It's when I have them off for 20 minutes at a time they change color. The butteryfly henochu's stripes turn pale, the tang's fins turn pale, and the clown's mouth turns pale. The color is restored when the lights are on for few minutes (20 minutes). Should I be concerned? I'm afraid to leave my lights off.

[DansMarineTank]

i woudn't worry the colours of the fish are brought out by the colour spectrem in the lights thats all.

Unless you notice any other symptoms of ill health i think your fine

[wastememphis]

What do you mean you have your lights off 20mins at a time????

[Mahlhavoc]

Most fish in the saltwater trade can change color depending on mood.

[sealion]

What do you mean you have your lights off 20mins at a time????


my fish tank is right next to my computer and sometimes I want all lights out so I can see things on the screen better.




So they change color because of mood. That's good to hear. My butteryfly fish is the one that takes the biggest hit. It looks as if one of his stripes disappeared. Again, it comes back slowly once the lights are on.

Thanks for the input guys!

[Blinky]

Turning suddenly pale can be a sign of stress. It's best to have your lights on timers and not arbitrarily turn them on and off - it's probably freaking the fish out, hence the pale colouration.

[sealion]

Turning suddenly pale can be a sign of stress. It's best to have your lights on timers and not arbitrarily turn them on and off - it's probably freaking the fish out, hence the pale colouration.



I've been keeping my lights on all the times to be safe =) So dont worry

[DansMarineTank]

these fish also need time to rest you are giving them a set lights iut period?

[sealion]

these fish also need time to rest you are giving them a set lights iut period?



I'm afraid to turn out the lights. I will turn off the lights for a bit then check up on them in about 30 minutes. If their color still remains the same I will keep the lights off for tonight but if not then the lights have to be on. Unless there's a reason they shouldnt be on.

[Blinky]

Just like us, fish need to experience a day/night cycle. The easiest thing to do is put the lights on a timer (<$10 at WalMart or Home Depot) so that they come on and turn off at the same time each day. Fish usually lose colour at night, and may be pale for a little while after the lights come on - totally normal. Leaving the lights on 24/7 would be REALLY stressful for them, I don't recommend it.

[jessie]

my tangs do the same thing, except for the hippo. i have had 2 of them for over a year, its just what they do. have you had much of an algae problem with your lights on that much?

[wade_vv]

i have a yellow tang and they run from noon til midnight but when i get off work in the morning a little bit of light comes in thru the window and if he leaves his cave you can reallly see that he is alot more pale and sometimes he has a brownish spot on his side for the first half an hour a little while later it all goes away and his color goes back to normal its weird but hes been healthy and doing that for a while now so i didnt worry bout it just kinda figured it was the way that the fish work i could be wrong tho...

[DansMarineTank]

My Radiata Lion is almost transparent when the lights are off but when thier on is an almost neon pink,

I think if the fish are showing no other signs of stress and your parameters are ok. then you have nothing to worry about.

I agree with blinky put a timer on the lights, i set mine to come on at about 4.30 pm (home at 5) and it goes off around 12 (bed time) they dont need to mimic the actualy day / night times as long as they have a set day and night.