Fish Coloring at night
- Thread starter saltydog
- Start date
If I were to guess, it's probably to blend in closer to the color of the ground so they don't get eaten, cryptic coloring when seen from above. Just a guess.
I'm not sure if fish actually change colors in darkness, but they look different under different light. For example, pearl danios look kind of blah (at least to me) under a bright overhead light and a light background. However, if they're in a tank with a dark background and a dim light, they look completely different, with blue and reddish colors showing.
Lots of fish are state-sensitive in their coloration. For example, many cichlids will show different colors if they are dominant vs. non-dominant. I have Ps. lombardoi (kennyi) where the sub-dominant males adopt a female coloring (light blue with dark blue bars) whereas the dominant males are bright yellow.
Lots of fish have subdued colors during quiet times. Neon tetras look positively pale when they're resting at night.
Jim
Lots of fish have subdued colors during quiet times. Neon tetras look positively pale when they're resting at night.
Jim