Nocturnal Discus?

[dntx5b9]

Not really, but my discus seem a lot more active at night. I keep my lights on untill about 10 PM and turn the lights on around 9 AM. In the morning and during the day, the fish are not very active. But they start getting more active in the evening, and seem most active at night. Anyone else here experiencing similar behaviour from your fish? Just wondering if this is something I should be concerned about.

[dwilder]

nothing to worry about just the scheldule thier on ,discus usually take time to wake up in the morning and alot of fish kinda chill in the afternoon and then get more active and start feeding in the evening

[edmoran77]

I notice that mine are much more active in swimming throughout the water column during the "night" dark room and no tank lights than any other time (except begging for food that is).

[MD Bandit]

Mine are nocturnal here too. Light timer comes on 6:30-7:30 am before work so I can feed them. None to bee seen, all in the back, on the bottom, hiding.
Timer comes on again 5:30-11:00 in evening, by 6:00, they are all out and about, waiting on food. Then until lights out, they are all over the tank, sometimes singlely, other times in a pack.But definatly more active at night.

[Bobears]

Mine are more active at night. But I've always wondered if it's not because I'm more active in the house at night. You know I seem to engage them more in the evenings.

[Apistomaster]

I have the same experience. All my discus are more active and less shy in the evening once the ambient light levels are low and the aquarium light is on they lose much of their day time inhibitions.
On the plus side of ambient daylight, discus are seldom more beautiful when a diffused beam of sun light is reflected off them. Their colors can appear at their very best in those conditions, especially discus that have a lot of blue striations. The metallic irridesence is best shown off by side striking light sources.

[dntx5b9]

I am glad. If Larry's discus are noturnal, then I am glad mine are too. :D I wonder whether they are this way in nature or this is due to the lighting period in the tank. I am guessing lighting period. If we did not have the lights on the tank at all, my guess is that the fish are a lot more active in the morning and during the day.

[Apistomaster]

As usual, the simplest explanation is the best and correct one.
Discus are not nocturnal.
The aquarium environment is very artificial and in nature, fish are never subjected to side or oblique lighting like they are in a day time aquarium. This is unnatural for them and they react with caution.
At night, virtually all the lighting is coming from overhead. This is how discus and other fish evolved to respond to light direction. That is why they are acting more at ease in the evening.

[bavaria36]

My wilds change behaviour as soon as the tank lights go out and the only light left is the main fish room ceiling light. Once the tank lights go out they start to interact with each other, my suspected pair start to bow and display and defend a territory. I rarely see them do any of this when the tank lights are on.

The domestics seem to be a little more lively during the day but not much.

Aaron

[kaceyo]

I've always thought of it as being a sign that all is not well with the fish when they huddle or are less active while the lights are on. It's as if they are light sensitive and are only comfortable in low light. The reason I say this is when fish are in top condition they are out and active no matter what the light level in the tank is.
Many times I've seen fish literaly surge out into the tank and act like all is well the instant the lights go out. I remember asking if light sensitivity was a symptom of any particular diseases but I think now that it's a sign of stress that precedes the onset of more serious troubles if things aren't improved.
If my fish aren't out and as active with the lights on as they are with them off I get worried.

Kacey