Do fish need a light cycle?

[wh33t]

Just a quick question. My fish for the most part are in the dark 24 hours a day, should I have a little lamp on a timer for them?

[dufflight]

Aquarium fish tend to do better with a night/day cycle. Not sure if eating fish used in AP do better with the same cycle. Mine get light of a day but the water is deep and shaded if they want to stay in the dark.

[wh33t]

Aquarium fish tend to do better with a night/day cycle. Not sure if eating fish used in AP do better with the same cycle. Mine get light of a day but the water is deep and shaded if they want to stay in the dark.

Interesting! I'll have to try adding a light. Do you know what the deficits are from not having a light cycle? My fish are just goldfish, so they are not for eating.

[dufflight]

I think its more of a problem if they have light 24/7 they get stressed.

[keith_r]

ohio state university did a study and used the light cycle (as well as temp) to induce spawning of yellow perch

[wh33t]

ohio state university did a study and used the light cycle (as well as temp) to induce spawning of yellow perch

Got a link or care to expand a little more?

[urbanfarmer]

Don't give them more than 12 hours of light.

[keith_r]

here's a link to one of the studies... quite a few are available for free.. google is your friend;

http://www.extension.org/mediawiki/f...larval_die.pdf

[heetl]

I have a infrared security camera looking right at my fish tank that is on 24/7. I just read tilapia can see in that spectrum. I guess I'd better turn it off at night.

[urbanfarmer]

I have a infrared security camera looking right at my fish tank that is on 24/7. I just read tilapia can see in that spectrum. I guess I'd better turn it off at night.

Interesting... but if they can see any heat; wouldn't technically, anything above absolute zero be visible light to them?