Tiger Barbs don't like the Light

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damon.borg

Registered Member
Dec 22, 2006
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I have a strange question, does anyone else find that their fish hate to have the hood light turned on? I just finished cycling a 20 gallon tank and put in 6 tiger barbs. They are fine when the tank light is turned off, but come evening when I turn the light on, they all hide in shaded areas of the tank and never come out. If i add a little food they all come out to eat, and then retreat to their hiding places. I just inherited the tank, and am not sure what type of bulb I am using. Has anyone else experienced such problems? Should I try a different bulb? Any help would be wonderful.
Thanks
 
For "nippers" they are very insecure fish. The albinos are braver actually. Anyway, is your tank planted? They like cover so they don't get nervous all the time.
 
ok, this may sound stupid now. maybe they have some sort of internal clock that lets them know it's evening and time to go to sleep - i dunno.
i have 5 tiger barbs in a 20 gallon myself. all my plants are plastic (want to try real ones but don't exactly have a green thumb) but i have plenty of them. mine swim around all day and hide out in the evening once i turn the light off. i read that they actually need a 30+ gallon tank because they are such active swimmers. but lovemybarbs answer sounds like she's probably got it right. they do need lots of plants. if you don't have very many it'll probably help if you add some more.
 
My Barbs don't seem to worry about the light. I have quite a few plants in there with them, however they don't seem to run for cover when the lights come on. They are more interested in giving the other fish a hard time.
 
My otos freak out and bump into eachother and plants when I turn on the light. It lasts for about 5 seconds.
 
Are these recent additions? They may be getting used to the new home and light schedule. They also like a lot of cover, IME, for a more secure feeling.
 
before i turn the tank light on i turn my bedroom lights on before and make sure that all the fishies are awake.. once there all swimming around i turn it on and they seem to be fine.. mine barbs kinda freak out too if i turn it on from pitch dark to super bright. and of course i say good morning =)
try it out.

good luck
 
i have my barbs in my 29G, pics are in the pic section, and they are very slow moving when the lights are off, and still a bit shy for the first few minutes that they lights are on. but after that they are very active and love the lights on.
 
i had the same prob a few years ago with mine, so i turned the light onwhen i fed them, just give them a little, then a little more every few min's. they seem to come around in about a week or so, then whenever i turned the light on , they would come out swimming around, thats my thought, hope it works
 
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