Question about pumpkinseeds and light

[namrufmot]

In my classroom I have three small sunfish in a 55 gallon tank - wild caught.

They are eating fine - mealworms and small feeders. The tank has a sand bottom with a decent amount of live plants (both planted and floating on top) for them to munch on if they choose.

My concern is the lighting. They seem to HATE any kind of light. If I turn on only one of the lights they hide in the "dark" end. If I turn both lights off they swim all over the tank. I've even tried to put some paper between the light and the tank to dim it but ANY kind of light sends them running. Right now I have 5500k lights for the plants.

What should I do? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Rays of Sunshine]

This may help...Turn your light on as soon as you arrive for work. The fish need time to adjust to a sudden flash of very bright light. Turn lights off when you leave. Repeat this whenever you will be at work. Example: All of the lights in your room all turn on and the blinds are raised with the sun shinning full blast at the same time and you were sleep. Remember, these fish are used to light gradually showing. Or you can take the light fixture off the tank and slowly put the light(width wise) on the tank. About 1/4 at a time on one end first. Maybe 10 minutes, later move it another 1/4 until you can get the light on completely. Chances are you don't have time to do this, you are teaching. Take light off, turn it on away from the fish and not facing the fish. Then slowly place light back on. The fish will always jump after being in the dark. The fish will become used to it over time. Trust me the fish you have are smart and very adaptable. Let me know if this helps.

 

[knifegill]

Didn't we just do this?

 

[namrufmot]

This may help...Turn your light on as soon as you arrive for work. The fish need time to adjust to a sudden flash of very bright light. Turn lights off when you leave. Repeat this whenever you will be at work. Example: All of the lights in your room all turn on and the blinds are raised with the sun shinning full blast at the same time and you were sleep. Remember, these fish are used to light gradually showing. Or you can take the light fixture off the tank and slowly put the light(width wise) on the tank. About 1/4 at a time on one end first. Maybe 10 minutes, later move it another 1/4 until you can get the light on completely. Chances are you don't have time to do this, you are teaching. Take light off, turn it on away from the fish and not facing the fish. Then slowly place light back on. The fish will always jump after being in the dark. The fish will become used to it over time. Trust me the fish you have are smart and very adaptable. Let me know if this helps.

That makes perfect sense...I have a timer so making sure they get the light during weekends is no problem either. It's only been 2 days since I got them so they might be a lil stressed too.

But boy can these suckers EAT!

 

[kzimmerman]

They will acclimate to it very soon. I have a 55 with two small pumpinseeds, and two bluegill. It's got 108wts of t5 HO, wich is alot of light. They don't mind it all, in fact, they seem to enjoy sunning themselves just below it. Give em time.