Tetras loose colour in the morning

[matt_wilby]

Hello,

I have a 125 Litre community tank, with 9 Neons, 5 Lemon Tetras, 4 Bronze Catfish, 2 Dwarf Gouramis and 3 Clown Loaches. My PH is a little high at 7.6-7.8 but PH down normally helps me control this. Nitrate and ammonia levels are ok. Filtration is good. The tank is also well planted, temperature at 26c.

The problem that I have is that every morning when I switch my tank light on both my Neons and my Lemons look very pale and appear lazy. Loaches seem ok. After having the light on for about 15 minutes they pick up. I've not lost a fish yet.

I am at a loss as to why this is, any help or advice appreciated?

TIA.

 

[cryosi]

when i switch off my tanks the neons loose thier color compelety and go a silver plae color, thats normal ( cos there is no sunlight to reflect the colors off them i presume). also u dont see many brighly colored night fish,( s tand out a mile and be eaten). i am sure others can pipe in and help ya out, but for whats it worth mine do it and i never worry uless they loose the color all day then i know a have a tetra prob epes with the neons. If you were to look in the tank in the early morning u would see ur neons not moving much and the color completely gone! hope it helps a little, cant remember who the tetra expert is is lunch time not been up long

 

[StiX]

Yes most if not all fish lose some/most of their colour at night, this is todo with their matabolism slowing down, and also helps them blend in better.

 

[matt_wilby]

Thanks people.

 

[StiX]

Oh yeah, I like ur avatar B)