But What Do The Fish Prefer? - Interesting Study on Tank Background Color

[HumuhumuFan]

Very interesting
My thought would be it depends on the environment the fish are naturally from to a degree. Red would somewhat mimic the murky waters of the Amazon. Something like a mbuna or even reef fish have bluer water and theoretically prefer a blue background.

Yeah, I think this is a great theory. I poked around on YouTube and found this (I'm not affiliated with this channel in any way):

 

[FINWIN]

I’ve always heard the same which was the theory years and years ago they started to sell red nets as allegedly the fish couldn’t see them.

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My fish didn't get the memo. They see 'em just fine. Run from those the same way they do green, black, and blue.

 

[HUKIT]

My fish didn't get the memo. They see 'em just fine. Run from those the same way they do green, black, and blue.

Hence why I said allegedly.

 

[FINWIN]

I actually have one of those red nets. Its hard to get a lot of the nets in bigger sizes now but the red ones seem more available in my area (over 8").

 

[HumuhumuFan]

One thing that is definitely true is that red light fades as you go in deeper water because it has the longest wavelength of visible light and gets absorbed first. A red snapper is camouflaged at depth because of that. Maybe that's where the thing about fish not being able to see red comes from?

 

[HUKIT]

One thing that is definitely true is that red light fades as you go in deeper water because it has the longest wavelength of visible light and gets absorbed first. A red snapper is camouflaged at depth because of that. Maybe that's where the thing about fish not being able to see red comes from?

I use quite of few of their soft baits and they have posted on the website for lure selection at depth. But, yes red is the first color to go.

 

[Conchonius]

Well, it is true that many fish are colorblind to red, especially those living deeper in the ocean where seeing it isn't useful. That's why many deep-sea creatures are bright red, they actually look black to other animals down there. Dragonfish even use this to their advantage: they re-evolved red vision and have red light organs themselves, so they get to see and hunt at a wavelength that other fish can't. Installing red lights to see nocturnal fish works for a similar reason.

But there are two catches to this. One, we aren't keeping deep-sea fish, and many surface fish do indeed see red, as evidenced by e.g. the nuptial colors of cichlids which are intended to be seen by partners and rivals and often feature reds and pinks. And besides, saying that fish can't see red nets is like saying that colorblind people can't see red cars: They can't see that it's red, sure, but they can see the car just fine!