Just like humans do, fish have a circadian rhythm that dictates their daily activities, like feeding and spawning. This article will focus on the affects of lighting on fish only tanks and tanks that are otherwise not dependant on light for survival. This article’s information was provided by studies conducted by individuals at the Department of Zoology from the University of Delhi and University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

The preview of these studies will show that feeding catfish during certain times during the day will increase weight gain. In the same ways that human’s bodies do, feeding your fish at a certain time will affect their nutrient absorption. UoD’s study showed that catfish kept in normal lighting conditions with 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness (8am – 8pm), did not gain extra weight, meaning their bodies used the food properly. Catfish kept on an alternated lighting schedule ( 8am – 8pm being darkness ), gained a large amount of extra weight, meaning that their bodies stored the food as fat instead of burning it off. This means that you need to do proper research on the diet that you need to feed your fish. Make sure that you are providing a regimented light schedule of 12 hours of darkness a day and a full 10-12 hours of light. They used something like t5 aquarium lighting in the UoD experiment.

Whether fish sleep or not, they do need time at night to ”rest”. A fish does not sleep like a human. Most fish will hide near something and just remain motionless during the day. Fish don’t really close their eyelids, because they have none! When using lighting for resting, a aquarium t5 light may work out great. We are unsure as to why exactly fish need to ‘rest’, but we can safely assume it is because they are like humans and need to conserve and restore their energy. A fish resting seam to reduce their awareness but don’t become unconscious like humans. They are still alert, but not really asleep. You might find some fish asleep on their sides, and then they jump up quickly as if they had been caught sleeping on the job. You will need to do some research to find out what the proper night habits are for your fish.

In the wild fish are used to a regular daylight agenda accommodated by the sun. This time schedule should be copied in the aquarium environment. This light cycle should also be kept in order to provide inhabitants with the proper darkness time to carry out their nocturnal habits such as resting. Keep the lighting consistent and your fish’s feeding habits will benefit. We recommend using an aquarium light 36 to mimic daylight cycles. Humans and fish alike will respond to different feeding times, as shown by studies performed by the University of Delhi and Minneapolis. There are many different studies on the internet about the different type of lighting and affects it has on fish and their circadian cycles.