Anyone else experience this with their fish? I'm sure theres nothing wrong, just the shock of suddenly being plunged into darkness and waiting for eyes to adjust.
danios go crazy at lights out!
- Thread starter Chris Drake
- Start date
If you put your lights on a timer, this will happen less. Once the fish become adjusted to a clockwork schedule (one that doesn't rely on error-prone humans), they'll have more peace of mind.
I've had mine for a couple months and on a timer, and they still go crazy. I think it's kinda funny. Don't think there is much you can do other than a dimmer. They are skitish fish to begin with.
I only got a timer for my lights just over a week ago, so they may get used to it. It is kind of funny but then I feel bad for laughing 
My neons used to do that even though they have had a set schedule since day one. I installed a moonlight that turns on 5 min before the lights go out. They don't even move when the main lights go out, and they are basically sleeping when the moon light goes out.
Chris Drake said:
Moonlight is on for 3 hours at night, it is on a different timer so it comes on 8:45pm each night, goes off at midnight, on at 8am off at 9:05. I have an electronic timer that can do a whole load of diff programs.
Leave the room lights on before you turn off the fish lights. The change will be more gradual. Or you can use a lamp or small light in front of the tank and turn off the fish light but leave on the lamp. That's what I do. The transition from light to darkness will be more smooth.