piscesfishgirl

My problem could be considered similar. When ever I turn the light out on the tank my neons loose their bright coloring and even more so after the room lights go off, then in the morning when I turn the room lights on before the tank lights, they are almost pale, they look confused and some of them even swim backwads, after the fish tank light has been on for awhile they return to normal. I was thinking that my kuhli loaches were scaring them, but I've also watched them as my loaches were out and about they were fine, what else could be the problem? I've had these neons for over two months. When I had neons before this was never a problem, or at least not as I have ever noticed.

Lucy

Hi piscesfishgirl Welcome to Fish Lore

Your thread has been separated from the other thread. It was pretty old and your question deserves it's own attention.

It's normal for neons and a lot of other fish to lose their color when the lights go out and color up when the lights come one.
They probably are confused when you turn the light on. Imagine you are sound asleep and all of a sudden the lights get bright. lol

It's nothing to worry about.

Red1313

On the note of turning your lights on do you turn the lights in the room on first and give your fish a chance to get used to that before you turn their tank lights off? That may help them adjust to the change in light.

sirdarksol

Good advice above.

This is pretty normal. A lot of betta owners have freaked out at their "ghost faced betta" first thing in the morning. Other fish do the same thing. It's probably a survival reflex (less color means less easy to spot, so surprised fish quickly lose their color to make them harder to catch)

isis

... yup it's normal - mine does the same... but yes it does scare one if you see this for the first time and if you're not sure if it's normal.

piscesfishgirl

Thanks all for your help.

piscesfishgirl

Yes!! the lights in the room always come on before the fish tank lights, and of course then after a while the fish tank lights will go on, once I am ready to start functioning for the day.