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New Tank
By Quinngrl82, Section Diaries Posted on Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 12:40:49 PM PST Tags: (all tags)

I finally got my 55 gallon tank set up!

I am so excited about my new tank. I think the fish love all the extra room. I do wonder if anyone else keeps a little light on for them at night? I usually do, but last night the bulb burned out and it was to late to go to the store, so I just turned out the the lights and said I'll get a nightlight tomorrow.
Well when I woke up and checked on the fish, 2 were trapped in the plants. They were being pushed into the sides of the tank. Well they weren't moving, so I nudged them with the net to see if they were dead. Luckily no, but I don't think I'll go to bed without leaving a light on anymore.
AKA, I love flourecent lights. I've never seen my neons look so colorful. They just pop out at me now. Actually I think the fish love the tank, they all look so much more colorful even without the tank lights on.

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New Tank | 6 comments (6 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: New Tank (none / 0) (#1)
by Nika on Mon May 21, 2007 at 11:35:22 AM PST

I think many aquarium enthusiasts would say that keeping the lights off at night for your fish is good, since they need sleep just like the rest of us. Sometimes, though, with certain fish, you may have the problem of them running into objects when the lights go on in the morning, because they are startled. If this is the case with your fish, a suggestion is to turn on light in the room, then the light on the hood. Also, are you sure your fish weren't just trying to hide really good when they were in the plants? It is possible that they were sleeping, and resting in the plants, I know that is what my boyfriend's fish do, and they are all fine.

The drug stores have these little red keyring (none / 0) (#2)
by unclescott on Mon May 21, 2007 at 09:02:55 PM PST

lights. I don't think the fish see red light. Then you can look at them without scaring the daylights out of them. See if their gills are moving slowly.

Just shining a light on them can cause them to panic, swim quickly but randomly and even fatally clobber themselves on a tank side. I agree with Nika that they were probably resting/sleeping. Since fish don't have eyelids, it is hard for us to tell.

Their colors fade though. And they are as groggy when awakened as many of us. ;)

Small fish would naturally "roost" in plants. Sleeping on the bottom happens a lot, but they are more vulnerable to bottom foraging predators in nature and in aquaria with that cute little unidentified catfish.

When our kids were just tiny infants, they scared us because they were so still in their beds. We'd quietly as possible put a finger in front of their nostrils to see if there was any breath. Probably the loudest noise was our exhalation after finding out that they were ok. :)

[ Parent ]

Re: The drug stores have these little red keyring (none / 0) (#3)
by methemom on Wed May 23, 2007 at 04:38:28 AM PST

my cories use the java moss as if it were a sofa or a bed. just float down onto it and relax. Guppies prefer to cradle themselves in the wisteria and the hornwort, but also just relax and let the plants support them.

[ Parent ]

Re: The drug stores have these little red keyring (none / 0) (#4)
by Quinngrl82 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 04:47:41 AM PST

I think my fish are ok now. I left a lamp on in a corner on the opposite side of the room. But it is kinda funny how the fish use the plants as their beds. Since the first day I found them stuck in the plants, they kinda avoid them now. They like to hide in them, but most part stay out.

[ Parent ]

That lamp in the corner acts as a kind of moon (none / 0) (#5)
by unclescott on Wed May 23, 2007 at 07:17:14 AM PST

(nature's night light). That may indeed be beneficial.

It may be a part of the hobby's folklore that a snail can nibble on a fish in complete darkness, but that may avoid a certain amount of stress.

[ Parent ]

Re: That lamp in the corner acts as a kind of moon (none / 0) (#6)
by Quinngrl82 on Thu May 24, 2007 at 05:31:09 AM PST

I never thought of it as a moon, but I definetly think of it as a stress reducer on the fish. When I forget to turn the light on at night the fish seem more spooked in the morning

[ Parent ]

New Tank | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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