Red light at night

DmitryB

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
May 26, 2026
Messages
1,076
Reaction score
830
Location
Hunter, NY
What state or country do you live in
New York
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
So I understand that fish don't see red light? And if you shine it on the tank at night, it won't wake them up. Does that include the red lights in our lighting? Radions, for example, have a separate Red spectrum. F inactivate just that at night, it really won't bother them? Is this true for all fish? Does this also apply to shrimp?
 
Most fish do see red light. I had a pufferfish that would try to jump out of the tank if you wore a red shirt.

I got splashed by sturgeon way more often when I wore red or orange.
 
I have three switches on my Apex breakout box for my Radions, 100% white, 100% blue, 100% red. I sometimes use the reds at night to look around. Most of the fish ignore it, but my powder blue and monoargentis Angel both seem to see it. But these two also can’t sleep if I turn on moonlight. Most inverts seem not to notice.
 
Losing the ability to see red light tends to be more of a deep-water fish thing. Red is the first color to "attenuate" from the spectrum as it passes through a medium. That's why the ocean and the sky look blue. It's also why you need more red light for plants as opposed to corals, especially those in deep water. Things that live deep don't experience it much.

Red light in general is easier on our eyes. I'm not sure whether the same extends to fish, but they were the ones to evolve the eye as we know it!
 
Losing the ability to see red light tends to be more of a deep-water fish thing. Red is the first color to "attenuate" from the spectrum as it passes through a medium. That's why the ocean and the sky look blue. It's also why you need more red light for plants as opposed to corals, especially those in deep water. Things that live deep don't experience it much.

Red light in general is easier on our eyes. I'm not sure whether the same extends to fish, but they were the ones to evolve the eye as we know it!
That would make sense why the Mono and the Powder blue see it.
 

HOW MUCH DOES A FISH’S FEEDING REQUIREMENTS AFFECT YOUR STOCKING DECISIONS?

  • A lot! - I avoid fish that require frequent or specialized feeding

    Votes: 7 21.2%
  • Quite a bit, but an automatic feeder can change my answer

    Votes: 5 15.2%
  • It depends on whether my nutrient export can handle it

    Votes: 5 15.2%
  • It depends on how badly I want the fish

    Votes: 10 30.3%
  • Not much. I’m willing to adjust my routine

    Votes: 9 27.3%
  • Not at all. Feeding demands don’t limit my stocking choices

    Votes: 5 15.2%
  • I usually learn about the demanding feeding schedule after buying the fish!

    Votes: 2 6.1%
  • I haven’t really considered this before

    Votes: 3 9.1%
  • Something else (see my comments in the thread)

    Votes: 1 3.0%
Back
Top
Home
Post thread…
Market
What's new