best food to add color to fish

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Depends upon the color of the fish. Aside from diet, water quality, genetics, and lighting all play a major role in fish color.
 
Depends upon the color of the fish. Aside from diet, water quality, genetics, and lighting all play a major role in fish color.

I was totally unaware that Lighting had anything to do with the development of a fishes color. Is it more just a result of allowing we humans to "see" the coloration better with the use of lighting on the fish?

I have actually heard 180 degrees in reverse, and a darkened (light-less) tank will generally calm stressed fish. Stressed fish are generally washed out color-wise. I am confused. and may be making a serious mistake.

I light my tanks only when I an looking at my fish or cleaning their tanks. I doubt that any of my 30 tanks get much more than six hours of "artificial" non room light per week.

The basement isn't pitch black during the daytime, and I often have the basement ceiling lights on.

Am I doing my fish a horrible injustice with this practice?
What is the ideal time for aquarium lights to be on per day for optimal fish coloration?
 
For the most part (in fact almost 100%) the lights we put on aquariums are for our benefit only (not including corals, plants, etc.). Too bright/harsh of light can definitely stress fish and/or cause their colors to wash out. Some fish are very sensitive to this and too much light can cause health issues (again, usually from stress).

In most cases the light won't matter. As far as I know (and from a science standpoint) I don't see why light would effect the development of color. Instead, certain colors of light help the fishes' colors stand out better.

The biggest factors when it comes to fish showing their best colors are genetics, diet, and health (of the fish and the system: water quality, "clean" filters, parasites, etc.)
 
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