Pajama party: Do you watch your fish at night?
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Paul B
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I watch my tank a few times a week at night to see the stuff I never see in the day. I used to have a Brutalyd or Cusk eel. I had him for 18 years and never saw him unless I looked at night with a flashlight. Now I have 2 Gecko Gobies which I have never seen in the day except when they were in a plastic bag. I have about 45 fish, mostly small fish and I usually only see maybe 10 or 12 of them.
I also like to see all the huge bristle worms that are all over the place.
I also like to see all the huge bristle worms that are all over the place.
I have 2 of these Red Waspfish, but they stay out in the front all day.
mainly at night for me since i work away from home at office. Usually maybe a couple hours a night. about 15 min checking things, then feeding and watching for the remainder.
The fish may stay up longer as the moon cycles thru its phases but they tend to find their beds and the 50’s horror show denizens awaken. I use a red light to keep disruption / light pollution down.
EgotisticObeseChihuahua
Active Member
Understandable!
While not obsessively, I do check most nights to see where my clowns are holed up for the night (still doing the pairing dance and aren't being hosted by their anemone yet). I'm also waiting on a pistol shrimp to molt in QT, so checking to see what he's up to outside of seeing the sand shifting daily.
shwareefer
Valuable Member
I'd never know I still had a cowrie if I didn't check at night.
thecitadel
Community Member
I literally wake up all hours of the night and look. I love seeing all the shrimp and critters out cleaning up. It's like the night crew setting up the store before morning shift.
I look at the tanks at night once in a while but not to look at the fish as they hide when lights go out.
EDIT: maybe the question should be, do you watch your tank at night
EDIT: maybe the question should be, do you watch your tank at night
1979fishgeek
Well-Known Member
Grabbing a flash light and watching your tank in the middle of the night is something everyone should do as part of maintenance checks.
When the lights are out and the rooms pitch black the night shift comes on in the tank, it’s a great time to feed particularly LPS as just about every coral in my tank extends its feeder polyps.
Its also the ideal time to look for coral pests, I’ve found huge snail eating polyclad flatworms, hammer eating flatworm, zoa and Monti eating nudi over the years which would have gone unnoticed in the day. We all know dipping is not 100% garenteed to remove every pest so being vigilant after dark is a added way of detecting them.
Plus it’s fun seeing what’s lurking!
When the lights are out and the rooms pitch black the night shift comes on in the tank, it’s a great time to feed particularly LPS as just about every coral in my tank extends its feeder polyps.
Its also the ideal time to look for coral pests, I’ve found huge snail eating polyclad flatworms, hammer eating flatworm, zoa and Monti eating nudi over the years which would have gone unnoticed in the day. We all know dipping is not 100% garenteed to remove every pest so being vigilant after dark is a added way of detecting them.
Plus it’s fun seeing what’s lurking!
Stealthreefer
Active Member
A completely difference cast of characters comes out at night. I never would have known my starfish climb up to the highest point on their rock and spawn if I wasn't spying on my tank with a flashlight.
Every night I hit the tank with a flashlight to make sure my porcelain crabs are still alive lol. That and I love seeing all the bristle worms coming out of the rocks!
I miss watching my tank at night when the freak show begins! Downside of having an office tank.
As I get older my sleep pattern has gotten erratic and frequently I wake up at 2-3 AM. If I can’t fall back to sleep in 15-20 minutes I make myself get out of bed and turn on the reef lights and stare at waving polyps and sleeping fish. Soon, I’ll feel sleepy and crawl back to bed and quickly fall asleep. It’s much better than a sleeping pill.
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