[bobba fett]

Does natural sunlight help in the colouration of fish?

My fish always look a tad healthier in the winter months when the sun drops lower in the sky and comes throught e patio doors to strike the front of the tank.

I was wondering if they produce an enhanced pigment much like we do in the sun which makes them brighter.

I'm not suggesting that they get a tan, more that they lose colour when they don't get the sun because something is missing (possibly Vitamin d?)

What do you think?

[ben]

i doubt it makes any difference, as some deepwater fish are very colourful

[Blacktip]

I find blues always look much better in natural light, I think its just the spectrum.

[bobba fett]

I find that my fish look brighter in anylight if they are recieving 2 hours of natural sunlight a day, not just when the sun is on them

[tommo]

Fish need sunlight somewhere in their food chain to achieve optimum condition. If they dont have access to it to synthesise the vitamins they need, they will eat something that contains vitamins derived by sunlight, so you are probably right they probably are healthier when they have access to natural sunlight.

Tom

[bobba fett]

Cheers Tom,

I thought it was my imagination