Redtail Black Shark Loves The Dark

My rtbs is always hiding. I’ve never seen him eat in the year that I have had him. And he only comes out of the his hiding log when the lights are off. Now that he is the only fish in the tank, is it ok to keep the tank lights off at all times? I don’t want to, but it’s the only thing that gets him out and about in the tank. The second I turn the lights on, he darts back into his hiding log and won’t leave until the light are off again (and I am away from the tank). Is this weird or is it just me? Is it bad to have the lights off all the times if it’s what makes the shark happy? He is appropriately named, Swim Shady.
And in case you are going to ask, it is a fully cycled tank. Perfect water perimeters. Has been that way for over 8 months. 40 gallons. 77-78 degree temp. Air stone and filter in tank. There has been other fish in the tank. But the shark never interacted with any fish (that I saw). He would only chase fish out of his log if they entered. I even had red velvet swordtails in there with him and he didn’t seem to mind as long as they stayed out of his log. I have no clue what happened at night when the light were off, but I never had any injured/dead fish the next morning. All my other fish are now in other tanks (long story that I’m not getting into now).
One other question, does anyone know where I can get other aquarium decor for him that’s large enough for him to hide in? Everything I find at the stores are too small for him. Or have areas that I’m afraid he would get stuck in.
Thank you!

 

Amazon has a lot of different ornaments. This is my bettas castle. Its about the size of a 5 gallon tank. If I ever set up one of my 55's again I found an aircraft carrier that's 40" long. Its huge. Lol

 

Just the shark's personality probably. Mine is constantly out searching for food. At night she'll hover in the back and rest for awhile.

 

My rtbs is always hiding. I’ve never seen him eat in the year that I have had him. And he only comes out of the his hiding log when the lights are off. Now that he is the only fish in the tank, is it ok to keep the tank lights off at all times? I don’t want to, but it’s the only thing that gets him out and about in the tank. The second I turn the lights on, he darts back into his hiding log and won’t leave until the light are off again (and I am away from the tank). Is this weird or is it just me? Is it bad to have the lights off all the times if it’s what makes the shark happy? He is appropriately named, Swim Shady.
And in case you are going to ask, it is a fully cycled tank. Perfect water perimeters. Has been that way for over 8 months. 40 gallons. 77-78 degree temp. Air stone and filter in tank. There has been other fish in the tank. But the shark never interacted with any fish (that I saw). He would only chase fish out of his log if they entered. I even had red velvet swordtails in there with him and he didn’t seem to mind as long as they stayed out of his log. I have no clue what happened at night when the light were off, but I never had any injured/dead fish the next morning. All my other fish are now in other tanks (long story that I’m not getting into now).
One other question, does anyone know where I can get other aquarium decor for him that’s large enough for him to hide in? Everything I find at the stores are too small for him. Or have areas that I’m afraid he would get stuck in.
Thank you!

you got a weird fish

 

As long as there's some sort of ambient light to give him a sense of night and day and you don't have any live plants, I see no reason that you have to have the lights on.

Amazon, as David1978 suggest, is a good place to find ornaments. Drs. Foster and Smith also has a good selection, and they often offer 25% off coupons and free shipping.

 

have you ever tried blue lights?

 

I had this same issue with a rainbow shark. Thought it was the lights then I realized she was actually scared of me! Haha it’s just the personality of the fish maybe but I got my fish used to me by just sitting and watching the tank and after a while she started to come out and say hi

 

have you ever tried blue lights?

The tank has blue lights and regular lights. He acts the same with the blue lights on. He’s a weirdo