I am new fish owner, i shut off lights at night including one in my aquarium so can my fish see in the dark?

I own goldfish and small fantail. I just bought them today. My guide says i should only turn on the light in the aquarium for 8-12hours so i turned all the lights off at night because my aquarium light was on all day. So can my fish see in the dark? In other words, will they be ok at night?

They'll be fine. Fish need to sleep at night just like people do.

Lights, Fishes... Action!


19 Responses to “I am new fish owner, i shut off lights at night including one in my aquarium so can my fish see in the dark?”

  1. jhonny360 says:

    youve got to buy it night vision goggles
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  2. Potato says:

    Go to Home Depot and buy for maybe 10 dollars a timer.You can have the thing turning on and off for you.

    It is ok for the fish to stay in the dark.
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  3. Mistystars says:

    they will be just fine. I turn off my fish light all the time.
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  4. robots!!! says:

    They'll be fine. Fish need to sleep at night just like people do.
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  5. inkandart says:

    they will be fine. Yes fish can see in the dark. Cute question.
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  6. z blue says:

    Yes they'll be okay. The darkness allows them to rest overnight. Just as a fish who frequents shallow salt waters or the water surface of lakes – come darkness, food time is over and it is time to get some beauty sleep.
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  7. ooO00Ooo says:

    i have a fish tank, a big one and here's what i learned

    * i don't know if they can see or not, but the light off is required so that they get the natural effect of daylight and night
    * i would not feed them right before turning the light off. i notice if they have food in the water and the light goes off they get nippy with each other and fight. so be sure that they eat and have a few minutes to settled down before you ever turn the light off
    * also if you leave the light on all the time, algae will grow more

    have fun!
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  8. RedGlory says:

    I own two goldfish and every night for maybe 8-10 hours (while I'm asleep) they just swim around and basically just sit there.
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  9. flygonrules says:

    we have plenty of fish so i know this. keep it off during the day otherwise it will get to hot and keep it on during the night because they can't see in the dark plus they don't need to sleep so it's more stimulating for them
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  10. shebear10023 says:

    in nature there is day and night. Fish do not have eyelids so they do not sleep/rest as well with uncontrolled artificial lighting. They will be just fine without light at night. For my tropical fish I have a timer to turn my lights on and off. Twelve hrs on and off like close to the equate. Fish in the house need artificial light or they will start to list towards the light of the window . as in not swim straight. Their bodies think that the window is up.
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  11. morrismini1022 says:

    yes they can see and will be OK. Its like if you walk in a dark room to start off you can't see anything then your eyes start to adjust and you can see same thing with the fish.
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  12. Tommy says:

    You can turn it off during the night, it will give a natural effect to your aquarium
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  13. Sean C says:

    fish need to rest at night so just turn off the light at night and let them rest. They don't sleep but if you have a plant they stay in a plant and just rest.
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  14. Jopy F says:

    its unkownin if a fish,any fish can see in the dark…

    and they will be ok
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  15. Hawkster says:

    They'll be fine, in fact they need their rest at night for better health. Additionally, you could buy a lunar light which still keeps the tank dark enough for them to rest while allowing you to look in on them.
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  16. Lordivous says:

    What's the purpose of the lights if you turn it off at night?
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  17. jessie says:

    yes. they are very much ok at night.
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  18. aquamac says:

    the reason why it is suggested to keep aquarium lights on for 8-12 hrs is for us to simulate what is going on in nature.
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  19. mel says:

    you got good advice. fish DO sleep at night, and need that time to rest. i turn my lights off at 6:30 and i have moonlighting installed, it turns on and then shuts off at 10:30-then the tank is dark til 7 am. so i have mine on a cycle too. like another poster stated, you should go get a timer, i love them and you wont have to turn the tank lights on or off.. they are pretty cheap 20-30 bucks and you can plug everything else into it too..

    best of luck to ya and your fish!
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    14+ yrs in fishkeeping

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