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Sunfish color in artifical lght

Started by Guest_nelson1375_* , Apr 25 2011 01:31 PM

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9 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_nelson1375_*

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Posted 25 April 2011 - 01:31 PM

I have been catching sunfish for a long time, they are so colorful when first caught.
A few specimens I have tranported home to raise but, they are dull in color uder artifical light in the aquarium.
My inquiry is about the wavelength of my fluorescent light usaully in the blue and or red wave length for planted tanks that I use.
When I remove them from the tank, they are so bright and beautiful and my ceilling light is also fluorescent but, used for normal room light.
I will understand the plain as well as the technical replies.

Nelson1375

Edited by nelson1375, 25 April 2011 - 01:33 PM.

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#2 Guest_EricaWieser_*

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Posted 25 April 2011 - 01:35 PM

What light housing do you have? What style, how long, and what wattage bulbs does it take? What bulbs are you using now?

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#3 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

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Posted 25 April 2011 - 11:46 PM

If I understand your question, i think it has more to do with the angle of the light striking the fish. Light which is directly overhead does not reflect the colors well. Light which strikes the side of the fish head-on (Side-On?) shows the colors to their best advantage.

That's a plain reply - it's the best I can manage :-(

Edited by Irate Mormon, 25 April 2011 - 11:46 PM.

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#4 Guest_donkeyman876_*

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Posted 26 April 2011 - 05:49 AM

I think it's more a matter or gravel colour than anything. Darker coloured gravel usually make the fish's colours look better and brighter.

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#5 Guest_az9_*

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Posted 26 April 2011 - 12:35 PM

I think it's more a matter or gravel colour than anything. Darker coloured gravel usually make the fish's colours look better and brighter.

Don't fish also change color due to stress and being out of their natural environment? When I catch a large bluegill out of one of my ponds it's turns very dark rapidly.

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#6 Guest_Irate Mormon_*

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Posted 29 April 2011 - 10:58 PM

Both of the preceding replies are correct.

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#7 Guest_Sho Bud_*

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Posted 02 May 2014 - 09:16 PM

I like the effect of a 50/50 actinic/6500k bulb paired with a pink tinged plant bulb. This is similar to a discus fish light set up and boy do my longears pop! Natural light is best if it is readily available. My fish are in a darkish basement, so I need to turn on the tank lights from time to time.

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#8 Guest_Joshaeus_*

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Posted 03 May 2014 - 02:01 PM

I've noticed that freshwater fish always look better when frontlit, such as putting their lighting fixture on the edge of the tank that is closest to your viewing angle...it makes maintainance slightly more difficult (the light happens to rest right on the hole of the lid), but the remarkable increase in color many of the fish show makes it more than worth it in my eyes.

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#9 Michael Wolfe

Board of Directors

North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 03 May 2014 - 02:16 PM

Yes of course! If you look good from above you are heron/kingfisher food... if you want to look good for the lady fish, you look good from the side!

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

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#10 Guest_gerald_*

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Posted 03 May 2014 - 07:06 PM

This is also why many high-bodied fish tilt their body sideways when dislaying to a rival or potential mate -- to reflect more sunlight and thus look more impressive.