Can fish sleep with the lights on?

[Good Wolf]

Yeah, weird question, I know.

I have the light on next to my brine shrimp hatchery and am just wondering if the fish in the same room are going to be able to get rest with it on. I really don't have another place to put it so I would have to switch to a heater instead of the light.

[tsunderl]

I think they will be fine. You could always cover the tank up like people cover bird cages. :cool:

[masroberts9]

fish dont have eyelids. i know that. i know that i can usually find them sleeping when the lights have been off. however, if i dont turn the lights back on, i can see that they eventually wake up and swim like normal. i cant say that i have ever witnessed them sleeping when i have the lights on. i have seen them pretty groggy looking when the light swere only off for 4 hours. Which happens alot. case and point... its 4 AM now and the lights just went out. they will be back on about 8 AM, so they may be a little groggy in the morning. So, yes, I think they need the lights off, but i dont think that a light across the room would bother them. How much does it illuminate the fish tank?

[bhughes]

I had an Iguana with a 40w basking light on 24/7 right with my fish for 12yrs. and never had any problem never lost a fish. only one to swim bladder problem. Some of my gold fish are 13 yrs. old. :D

[Nicholsons_Discus]

They will be fine. Many discus breeders will keep a light on 24/7

-john

[Typical Tony]

my clown loaches will go into their sleeping caves at a certain time at night even if the lights are still on.

[EAST_TX_RN]

Mine will 'wake up' if I go and turn the lights on in their tank at night, so I do believe it bothers their sleep cycle with a light on, but if the light is not too bright and far enough away from them, I don't think it would be a problem.

[jabbott]

It was recommended on another forum to leave the lights on overnight for the first few days after angelfish spawn to help them protect their eggs in a community tank.

[mpoarch]

I have my lights on at night and off during the day while I am gone.. so they are on the opposite schedule i am on and I can see more of them at night!

[shay_mcquaid]

lol
not everyone even realizes fish actually sleep:ghey:

[donkey]

I used to have a problem with loosing fish at night when the lights went out.My catfish would go on the prowl and eat the sleeping fish in the dark.Everyday there would be a couple missing.I started leaving the lights on 24/7 and have never had any problems except with my electric bill.I now have 30 tanks and the lights stay on 24/7 on all of them.Its like a nightlite thoughout the house.I don't think the fish care at all.