lighting - fluorescent or incandescent?

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harmony

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Feb 25, 2003
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Which is generally better for the fish?

I just purchased a fluorescent light strip for my 5 1/2 gallon tank -- which is home to a single male betta. Problem is, he gets very stressed out whenever I turn the light on... starts puffing out his fins in an aggressive manner. It's as if he's seeing his own reflection in the sides of the tanks and is trying to fight with it. When I turn the light off, he's back to normal -- swimming around happily. He seems fine in regular sun light and house lighting.

Has anyone else had this problem before with their betta? I know that they tend to get hotter, but I'm wondering if an incandescent light would be more comfortable for him. I've also seen these underwater "spotlights" that I am considering. Has anyone used these before?

Thanks!

-harmony
 
those underwater spotlights look AWESOME...at my local Big Al's they have them set up in an extremely large african cichlid tank....

I'd get them ASAP except for the price...70 Canadian plus tax I think....



as for the incandescent vs fluorescent...hmm...most people would say that fluorescent lights win in every aspect...more efficient, nicer looking, yada yada...I have fluor. on most of my tanks, with one smaller one having incand. In the tank with the incand. , the fish also seemED scared of the lights for the first few days they were on...they would just hide...so I don't think the type of light makes a difference...
but they seem to have gotten used to it now. How long have you had the fluorescent lights on the tank?? maybe wait a week and
see how it goes...?
 
Thanks for your advice guys... Jinks, I've only had the light strip for a few days. But my betta seems to be doing much better with it now. At first when I would turn it on, he would flare constantly. That concerned me because I read that too much flaring can be very stressful for a male betta.

I've been turning the light on for only a few mintues at a time, to try and slowly ease him into it. That seems to be working well, as he's calmed down considerably. In fact, I've got the light on right now and he's swimming around quite normally. :-)

My betta is a bit on the shy side, so I guess he just needed time to adjust.

Thanks.
 
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