rockgurl89 Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Hi Everyone, I have had my 55 litre tank for about a year now - not as easy as I though it would be, thats for sure! Anyway, I recieved a light from my mother-in-law (back when she had an aquarium) and I believe that it is the cause for my Black Widow Tetras losing their colour. When the light is off they regain their black apperance, but once it is on they hide from it and their colour fades. The bulb is a "Quick 20w start, 55 Daylight" and I think its what my problem is. What kind of bulb should I have in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirt Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 When a fish looses it's colour it's normally due to stress, I'm sure someone else can elaborate why, but check your water parameters nitrites nitrates ammonia ph ect. Time for dinner !drool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 What are the dimensions of the tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 How long have the fish been without a light? Sometimes when you stick a light on the tank they can take a while to get used to it, some fish just don't like direct lighting, maybe the addition of some floating plants like indian fern or something like that would help dim the lighting down until the fish get used to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ismart120 Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 My black widow tetras do something similar, but, the issue with them is actually the background colour and not the light itself- effectively they try to blend in with their surroundings. What colour is the gravel etc? I can watch mine change colour from faded to black to faded again as they pass by dark coloured wood pieces compared to the light coloured gravel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockgurl89 Posted August 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 The dimensions of the tank are 600x30x30mm. When I brought the fish they went from a dimly lighted tank at the store into mine (my avatar shows my tankwith the lighting on). I have actually put a layer of newspaper between the light and the tank so as to try and filter it a bit - and just brought some big leafy plastic plants (real ones seem a bight daunting to take care of in a tank my size?) to shelter the fish as well. My neon tetras and bristle nose do not seem to mind the light, and my five banded bard take a little time to adjust when its turned on. I have had all my water levels checked - apart from my drift wood rotting which i believe is behind my PH dropping (which i have under control - that I CAN deal with myself!), there is nothing else wrong. Would I just be better to trade in my 3 tetras for something different, as the others seem fine? maybe that particular fish just doent like me :facepalm: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.