Why do my fishs' colors vibrancy change so dramaticly?

[zachmorrow]

I know the vibrancy of the colors has a direct link to stress. But when I turn on my fish light the colors are dull, but they seem to brighten up within a couple of minutes. This also occurs after the lights are on, is this mood, or do their stress levels flucuate so rapidly?:wtf:

 

[Nolapete]

Are they inactive when you turn the lights on and then become active after? I have noticed this in my fish over the years and just passed it off as while they were resting their colors became subdued and the intensified with activity. I'll be interested in finding out if there's a real reason.

 

[Squawkbert]

It depends on the fish, time of day and what's going on. Color fluctuations are pretty normal for most fish, even if not stressed.

 

[jm1212]

turning on the light for them is like going from night to day in a fraction of a second, which can be a little stressful for them. also, when it is dark the fish tend to "dull" a bit. it is a survival strategy used so all of the vibrant blues and reds wont contrast agains the dark water with the little light that shines during the night.

 

[Weezer]

Our smaller Electric Yellows fins go from yellow to black depending on there mood......

 

[Mgamer20o0]

a lot of fish will also change color when they are ready to breed. my discus go from pink to red at times.

 

[loaches r cool]

What kind of fish do you have? Many types of fish have thier own color changing abilities. A green severum can go from a light color of green to nearly black in seconds... loaches can 'grey out'... rainbowfish will light up with a bright stripe down their back like a mohawk...those are just some in my tank I've noticed that change color quickly.

 

[Rbishop]

besides stress induced, the night time color change is normal for many fish.

 

[Lupin]

Are they inactive when you turn the lights on and then become active after?

Fish do get inactive when the whole environment is dark with the exception of nocturnal ones. I agree with the fact that they do become dull when inactive and color up after a little while as they become active.

 

[J double R]

my rummynoses can turn SO grey and colorless in the dark that when i turn on my lights, it looks like i have a school of rosyred minnows... :