[traumatic]

I would like to know if anyone else has their piranha somehow, or at any time, exposed to
direct natural light(sunlight), no other lights? Do you notice any coloration patterns come out?

I was looking at my reds the other day, in the sunlight. (no tank light)
well, actually the sun was reflecting brightly off a white fence
through my window into the tank. I saw verrrry nice colors.
Mostly thier back turned flat green,

the lower posterior scales were
shiny purple

, and the belly was dull red.

I took pictures, but not sure how they'll turn out.

 

[InSinUAsian]

Its always nice to allow your fish to get some sun if possible. If I am wrong, fish either metabolize or catabolize certain type of vitamins given sunlight. What was it, D or B? Im not 100% sure on that though.

Some would rather not provide natural light, as the sun can cause alot of algae to form on the sides of the tank.

~Dj

 

[Poseidon X]

I have always thought that sunlight is a critical element for developing natural coloration of fish. When i set my tanks up i make sure that they are getting direct sunlight for at least a couple hours a day. I have no proof that this works but i do know that I put a silver brandtii in a tank with sunlight and 3 months later ehe has gone through various color changes and is now a shimmering bronze. My gold also had awesome colors (greens and purples).

 

[Xenon]

I have always thought that sunlight is a critical element for developing natural coloration of fish. When i set my tanks up i make sure that they are getting direct sunlight for at least a couple hours a day. I have no proof that this works but i do know that I put a silver brandtii in a tank with sunlight and 3 months later ehe has gone through various color changes and is now a shimmering bronze. My gold also had awesome colors (greens and purples).

How do you deal with the algae that must follow that intense light exposure?

 

[Poseidon X]

there was a slight algae bloom that lasted for a weak but i have never had any other problems.

 

[Senator]

Its always nice to allow your fish to get some sun if possible. If I am wrong, fish either metabolize or catabolize certain type of vitamins given sunlight. What was it, D or B? Im not 100% sure on that though.

Some would rather not provide natural light, as the sun can cause alot of algae to form on the sides of the tank.

~Dj

It's Vitamin D, the only source is from exposure to direct sunlight. Lack of sunlight causes V-D defficiency in humans too, altough that's pretty rare, unless you are a hermit living in a cave.

 

[DiXoN]

i have my tank next to my bay window and it gets direct sunlight at a certain time of the day .never had problems with algae though and clean the tank front every water change once a week ,the water or decor is never affected
dixon

 

[DiXoN]

sorry forgot to answer the question
yes when the sunlight is on the tank the fish's scales do change colours the look exeptional,
the scales shine alot more than tank light makes them
dixon

 

[thePACK]

i had some sunlight..not awhole lot was having algae bloom problems like crazy..tired of sticking my hand into the tank to clean..but sunlight does bring out there color more

 

[SnowCichlid]

I dont mind algae in my tanks actually, as long as the front piece of glass is cleean then its all good... then again a pleco does the trick too :

:

 

[Piranha King]

my big pygos are in the sunlight and i hate the algae it causes.
wes