This behavior is typical of this fish and called spookiness. They are very nervous, skittish, shy, flighty fish, set off by sudden movement, quake, sound, light, vibration, inadequate tankmates, etc. This behavior is strongly worsened in too small quarters. They often injure themselves seriously running into tank walls.
If you cannot let the natural light gradually illuminate your tank (as it does in the morning, little-by-little), then you could try to go in steps and turn on a weak light or a light far away, in a different room, let it adjust to that for a minute or two, then provide a bit more light, and so on. Try 2-3 steps first.
Or you could cover the tank with something black and quite thick (to transmit almost zero light) but you will have to leave and turn the lights off and take off the blanket for the natural light to then gradually illuminate the tank when you are gone. Your moving around the tank may still spook him.
If the tank's too small for him, he will spook no matter what you do as he feels there is no escape. He will eventually kill himself.
