Light Affect Growth Rate?

[Rugby]

hey all
i have a quick question for yall
does light affect growth rate of fry?
is it essential to there growth?
if i dont buy lights, then theyll still get lights from lamps and windows, but not much.
no, i wont have plants.
its for a rearing group of tanks, and lights would be very expensive.
but if its for the good of the fish, i will have to buy lights and i will, but
please help me out
thanks in advance
(ps; sorry for the incoherance, ive only got a few moments on the comp. so i had to type fast
Rugby

 

[GoldLenny]

According to this study, http/cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=1861987, yes they need light to provide the proper stimulation needed to stimulate good eating and muscular growth. When the tanks are dark, the fish tend to be more lethargic so they eat less and move around less. Give them a TV and they'll become just like us human couch potatoes.

 

[Rugby]

haha
thanks for the help
looks like ill have to buy lights then

thanks
rugby

 

[Bignose]

Not only lethargy and the problems listed above, but light is very important in that it stimulated the fish's bodies to produce Vitamin D. Just like in people, light triggers the fish's body's creation of Vitamin D; people get a disease called rickets if they don't get enough Vitamin D. Rickets is a softening of the bones, making them much more susceptible to fracture. This is something you do not want to have, nor to you want your fish to have. So, yes, they need to have light regularly and in long periods.

 

[Rugby]

ok, thanks.
good thing i asked first lol
thanks all

 

[Tolak]

What sort of fry are we talking here? I breed & raise angels with less than 1/2 watt per gallon, the top rows of tanks get light from a couple of 40 watt incadesents & a glass block window. The lower rows get light from a single tube 3' flouro fixture. That's 30 watts for 3 29 gallon tanks, plus whatever room light they may get.

The only exception is fry once they are swimming. For the first week I keep a 15w light on the tank 24/7. This keeps them from settling to the bottom, where bacteria are more concentrated. This prevents swim bladder problems & fin deformities.

 

[paul_219]

Wow thats intresting never knew it. Nice post.

 

[Rugby]

blue ram/gold ram fry
so what if i put about 2 watts per gallon on the top tank, and had a bare bottom, and just let that light go on to the bottom tank, would that be enough light do u suppose ?

 

[Tolak]

I've seem breeders do that before, I was hanging out today with a guy who breeds corys & guppys. His setup is like that, top row has double tube 4' shop lights, the racks are open to let the light shine through to the lower rack of tanks.

 

[Rugby]

cool thanks so much
ill give that a try
thanks all who helped
Rugby