captmicha
Members
In getting fish to want to spawn, do any of you feel that light plays a relevant role? Spectrum, duration of light, strength of light? If so, in what species do you tend to feel it matters?
Importance of light?
- Thread starter captmicha
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verbal
CCA Members
Trying to simulate natural rhythms can't hurt if the normal triggers don't seem to be working.
However I think it is pretty far down the list of things that trigger tropical(similar day lengths all year) fish to spawn.
I know too much light can be an issue with some eggs fry - tetras IIRC.
However I think it is pretty far down the list of things that trigger tropical(similar day lengths all year) fish to spawn.
I know too much light can be an issue with some eggs fry - tetras IIRC.
captmicha
Members
I have zero luck with getting anything besides livebearers to breed in shared species tanks so I'm playing now with sole species tanks.
I'm just not very good at this! I was hoping I wouldn't have to account for lighting requirements as well.
I'm just not very good at this! I was hoping I wouldn't have to account for lighting requirements as well.
Localzoo
Board of Directors
If you tell us the species we can help with more details
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mchambers
Former CCA member
I think tetras spawn during low light periods, but other than that I'm not aware of lighting influencing spawning.
All of my tanks are on timers, so that there is a regular day/night cycle (alas, no dawn or dusk, however).
I think going to sole species tanks is a good idea.
All of my tanks are on timers, so that there is a regular day/night cycle (alas, no dawn or dusk, however).
I think going to sole species tanks is a good idea.
Localzoo
Board of Directors
Well dep on where tank is located the lights left on in the room might count as dusk dawn or prevent that low light cycle
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cichlidaddicted
Members
I would assume it could make a huge difference in wild caught fish that come from areas further away from the equator. Otherwise not so much especially with fish several generations from the wild. Needless to say a reasonable and consistent length of darkness is important no matter what the case may be.
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captmicha
Members
Every! Lol. I'm going to post every time I attempt a new species to check out what I may not be doing right, or if anyone can recommend something different than what my research has suggested.
I do follow what I read when researching the fish (I don't expect anyone to do my research for me), but sometimes advice is very varied and not clear to me.
Localzoo
Board of Directors
Yea but its good to have people share their tips and tricks and research helps but fish have their own personalities. Maybe separate the sexes so they don't get bored of their mate lol then reintroduce them after a water change sort of mimicking a rain that has flooded the area making it easier for other fish to swim into their area. Silly I know...but worth a try
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jonclark96
Past CCA President
I don't think that lighting has much effect on most cichlids. Not to steal his thunder, but Matt's fish room is lacking on light and he has just about everything in his tanks breeding at one point or another. Pretty sure he has only 2-3 normal light bulbs lighting his room with 50 tanks. Water quality and good food has much more impact.
JLW
CCA Members
Jon, to take it a step further, I have stuff spawning constantly at Batfish. The lights are on for a couple of hours a day, if the fish are lucky, and it is pitch dark otherwise.
Maybe that's why, kinda like the whole 9months after the power outage phenomena.
However, I will say that among many marine species, it has been found that moonlighting can have profound effects -- keeping a little light on at night, and varying it based on the phases of the moon (none at the new moon, a little bit, a little bit, peak two weeks later at the full moon, and slowly back it down to black again). The same is undoubtedly true of some freshwater fishes, although other, more obvious triggers often come into play.
Many catfishes will spawn with an influx of cold, clean water -- particularly if you've let their water get kind of foul. This simulates a change to the rainy season. Some really hard Cory cats are bred successfully by, basically, letting the water evapourate down to a half a tank, and then flooding it with water 10 degrees (F) colder. To really simulate this, some breeders coincide it with natural storms (for the pressure), and will turn the tank lights down or off entirely (cloud cover). I know one guy who uses a LED system with a "lightning storm" mode for Cory cats, but I think that's overkill. (He also used a vacuum pump to lower the pressure when a convenient storm was not forthcoming).
Among temperate fishes, lighting can play a huge part -- though I don't think that's what Micah is discussing, any more than she was marines. Darters and certain loaches in the hobby, for instance, require a long "cool down" period. Basically, they produce gametes when they're in semi-hibernation. They need to get down into the 60s or lower to do it. Apparently, darkness helps here, too.
Our tropical fish, however, live in -- believe it or not -- the tropics, where temperatures and daylight hours are pretty constant. But, a lot of our fish live pretty far south, where they're less tropical than we think, and get some variety (look at a map of Brazil -- Manaus is right on the equator, but most of the country is SOUTH. Peru is the same, Iquitos is on the equator, but the rest is pretty far south -- you get variance in daylight there). Of course, since most of our fish come from Florida anyhow....
Maybe that's why, kinda like the whole 9months after the power outage phenomena.
However, I will say that among many marine species, it has been found that moonlighting can have profound effects -- keeping a little light on at night, and varying it based on the phases of the moon (none at the new moon, a little bit, a little bit, peak two weeks later at the full moon, and slowly back it down to black again). The same is undoubtedly true of some freshwater fishes, although other, more obvious triggers often come into play.
Many catfishes will spawn with an influx of cold, clean water -- particularly if you've let their water get kind of foul. This simulates a change to the rainy season. Some really hard Cory cats are bred successfully by, basically, letting the water evapourate down to a half a tank, and then flooding it with water 10 degrees (F) colder. To really simulate this, some breeders coincide it with natural storms (for the pressure), and will turn the tank lights down or off entirely (cloud cover). I know one guy who uses a LED system with a "lightning storm" mode for Cory cats, but I think that's overkill. (He also used a vacuum pump to lower the pressure when a convenient storm was not forthcoming).
Among temperate fishes, lighting can play a huge part -- though I don't think that's what Micah is discussing, any more than she was marines.
Darters and certain loaches in the hobby, for instance, require a long "cool down" period. Basically, they produce gametes when they're in semi-hibernation. They need to get down into the 60s or lower to do it. Apparently, darkness helps here, too. Our tropical fish, however, live in -- believe it or not -- the tropics, where temperatures and daylight hours are pretty constant. But, a lot of our fish live pretty far south, where they're less tropical than we think, and get some variety (look at a map of Brazil -- Manaus is right on the equator, but most of the country is SOUTH. Peru is the same, Iquitos is on the equator, but the rest is pretty far south -- you get variance in daylight there). Of course, since most of our fish come from Florida anyhow....
DougGosnell
Members
I am not sure light pays much of a part. Most of our fish are at the equator and thus have a steady 12 hours a day. When in Suriname for work, I took some extra time to visit further in the rainforest to a place called Cola Kreek named for the dark colored water that looked like a Coke. I am pretty sure light did not penetrate too far.
I have angels and they seem unaffected but lets face it, they have been in tanks for a hundred years. I do notice that a change in water temp gets them to spawn, if at 84 for a while, a change to 78 will often do the trick. If at 78, maybe they want a week at 84.
I have angels and they seem unaffected but lets face it, they have been in tanks for a hundred years. I do notice that a change in water temp gets them to spawn, if at 84 for a while, a change to 78 will often do the trick. If at 78, maybe they want a week at 84.
atmagoulick
Members
Light
I have no idea how light affects fish, however I do know light affects plants. I know plants are found with fish. So, I would get as many 10,000k bulbs as you can fit on top of your tank. Then, I would plant as many plants as you can fit in your tank. This will create shadows in about 6 months. Your fish will spawn then.
Best Regards,
Andy
I have no idea how light affects fish, however I do know light affects plants. I know plants are found with fish. So, I would get as many 10,000k bulbs as you can fit on top of your tank. Then, I would plant as many plants as you can fit in your tank. This will create shadows in about 6 months. Your fish will spawn then.
Best Regards,
Andy
captmicha
Members
Thanks Andy but most of my tanks are densely planted.
Localzoo
Board of Directors
Maybe water is too clean? Simulate dry season as Josh said where waste builds up and rainy season where water level is higher and cleaner...little over feeding to condition them followed by water a change a week later than you usually do?
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