Light Shock

[siond]

I turned on my light this morning to check on my fish and feed them because i wasnt going to be home at the regular time, so i turned it on a couple hours early. When i turned it on i realized my fish when breathing extremely fast. I didnt have time to run tests, so i left the tank and went about my day. When i came back later this evening they were fine. I checked everything and all tests work out. Could it just be because of the lights?
(i did not notice them breathing heavy before lights went on or not)
Thanks for your advice!!

 

[beerfish]

If someone woke you up a couple of hours early you wouldn't be too happy either.

They probably just reacted to something out of the ordinary. Never hurts to run some tests, but it's natural for animals to react to change.

 

[Lunareclipse]

They were pissy because they hadn't had their coffee yet.

 

[KathyC]

You can certainly shock fish with a suddenly bright tank and while it isn't a good idea (to do on a regular basis), I don't know that fish have the same startle reflex (reaction) as humans.
I would expect those awake enough to swim quickly away and those still in more of a stupor to follow suit as soon as they could, or realize no threat, but I wouldn't expect to find them breathing heavily.

That is my opinion from observing fish for a number of years...and I could be incorrect (but doubt it..lol)

My 2 cents...two thoughts...first, when fish are at rest they tend to breath at a more regular pace (slower then we usually see) that may look like they are breathing heavily as we are used to seeing them sail across the tank with their gills closed (or steadily open...) so it is less noticable to us. Do look to see how it compares to what you saw when you turned the lights on early.

The other thought is if you have a lot of algae in your tank, it lessens the amount of oxygen available to the fish at night, so they may have to breath heavier to compensate. If that is the case in your tank, you may want to increase the available oxygen with the addition of an air pump until the algae situation is rectified. Not saying that is the case here!

..and where have you been, haven't seen you here in a while! Hope all else is well!!

 

[siond]

hey kathy!! long time no see is right. Ive been busy with new job and new baby girl!! thanks for asking. So i examined my tank this morning before i went to work and my fish were breathing fast again. Im not talking like deep breaths, Im talking their mouths and gills @ 100 mph!!! so its not the light. The only algae i noticed, which is weird, is two of my snails are covered in some, and my pumps have a tine bit on them. I dont have any algae any where else in the tank. I dont wanna kill the snails though, what should i do about the little that i have. Do you think that little amount is the problem? im talking LITTLE. Thank you kathy!!!!

 

[KathyC]

Congrats on the new job, but more so on your new daughter!!! :flower:
That is all wonderful news!!

No, that little algae wouldn't cause breathing that fast.
Hate to say this but have you looked carefully at the fish to see if you can see any ich? Easiest to see on their fins or on your darker colored fish.

Can you possibly post a full tank shot?

 

[siond]

first is my tank, then is my clown and the snail with algae on it. thank again!!!!!!:bablefish

 

[siond]

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