Fish routine and stress related questions

[Pinepages]

How important is routine for fish? I've been told to keep the tank lights on for 10-12 hours per day so the fish can get into a sleep pattern etc.

What about feeding? Once a day? Twice a day? Does it depend on the particular fish one has in the tank (i have neon tetra's atm)?

Regrding lighting, I have three bulbs in my tank. Would it make a difference with how many I have on at one time? Eg if I were only to turn on the 3rd bulb every few hours just for show, would the fish get confused? Is it better to just turn all 3 on at one time, and leave them all on until they all get turned off at the end of the day?

What about turning the air curtain on and off...would the fish get stressed with the constant changes happening?

Thanks in advance for your help thumbs2:

PS: Written by Tails on behalf of Pinepages :ezpi_wink1:

[Chrona]

How important is routine for fish? I've been told to keep the tank lights on for 10-12 hours per day so the fish can get into a sleep pattern etc.

What about feeding? Once a day? Twice a day? Does it depend on the particular fish one has in the tank (i have neon tetra's atm)?

Regrding lighting, I have three bulbs in my tank. Would it make a difference with how many I have on at one time? Eg if I were only to turn on the 3rd bulb every few hours just for show, would the fish get confused? Is it better to just turn all 3 on at one time, and leave them all on until they all get turned off at the end of the day?

What about turning the air curtain on and off...would the fish get stressed with the constant changes happening?

Thanks in advance for your help thumbs2:


PS: Written by Tails on behalf of Pinepages :ezpi_wink1:

I don't think fish really care. My fish seem to have developed their own sleeping patterns regardless of whether I leave my lights on for 8 hours or 10 hours, or whether I turn them on at 8AM or 10AM. Ideally, with a planted tank you want to get an appliance timer so you don't forget to turn the lights on, but that is really more for your plants than the fish. They do fine on ambient light, especially tetras and most other South American fish because the water they come from is so murky and dark anyways.

As for feeding, it depends on the fish size. Smaller, juvenile fish usually require several small feedings a day, whereas mature fish only need a few mouthfuls once a day. The rule of thumb is to always feed as often as possible, but only provide a tiny bit of food each time. Fish are naturally forager that constantly find a supply of food during the day. There's no magical hand that dumps flakes at a certain time ;)

Bubble wands won't really effect them, as long as they aren't disturbing the water too much. Like I mentioned before, they should only be for show, as plants will suffer from air wand usage when the tank is lit.

[gm72]

I've never seen my fish react significantly to changes in lighting times (except the upside-down catfish who only like it DARK. I have however seen them react if I haven't been around the aquarium in a few days (overnight on business and my wife takes over duties).

Chrona has the right answer on feeding. Hungry fish are usually happy fish. Overfeeding can have very serious detrimental effects on your water chemistry. Chrona also has it right with the bubble wands. Some of my fish love the bubbles. The giant and zebra dannios love to play in my bubbles!

[Tails]

Thanks guys, for your replies :) This is such a helpful forum!