Do Betta Fish Like Colored Lights? Comprehensive Guide to Lighting for Bettas

Betta fish are some of the most popular fish in the world. People love to watch them swim around in their tanks, and there is something about their bright colors that just captivates people.

When it comes to lighting the betta tank, people want to know, do Betta fish like colored lights? This is a question that many people have, and the answer is not always clear.

In this comprehensive guide to lighting for betta fish, we will answer whether or not bettas like colored lights, and if so, what color is best for them? We will also explore all of the different aspects of lighting and how it affects bettas.

In addition, we will discuss different types of lighting and when they should be used. So if you’re looking to buy a new light for your betta tank or just want to better understand their needs, read on!

Do Betta Fish Like Light?

The first question we want to answer is, do Betta fish like light? Bettas are a tropical species of fish, and in the wild, they inhabit waters that are typically shallow. Bettas originated from southeast Asia, and they used to live in canals and rice paddies.

For this reason, they have evolved to be able to see well in low-light conditions. Therefore, lighting is not a must-have feature for your Betta as they can survive without overhead lights.

However, this does not mean that t they do not like light. In fact, bettas love to swim in well-lit areas and often congregate near the water’s surface, where the light is the brightest.

So, do Betta fish like light? The answer is yes! Bettas not only like light, but they need it to stay healthy and happy. 

Do Betta Fish Like Colored Lights?

Now that we know that bettas like light, the next question is, do they like colored lights? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is a little more complicated.

Bettas are attracted to light, but they see more colors than any other pet. They can see the whole range of the color spectrum, more than 300 colors, including green, blue, and red. They, in fact, see more colors than humans do.

But do betta fish like colored lights? Well, there are not many studies on whether or not bettas enjoy colored light. One example comes from a Reddit user who said that their Betta prefers the color pink. In contrast, another user stated that his Betta likes the color of fire.

However, Betta may not be entirely happy with colored light considering their natural habitat condition. Instead, Betta prefers natural light, which will be the most appealing & relaxing to your fish, and help regulate their sleep pattern.

Will Colored Lights Bother Betta Fish?

As we already know, Bettas like natural white light. Therefore, white light is usually used as an accent color in aquariums as it helps make your Betta’s colors appear more vibrant.

However, some aquarists keep blue or red lights on in their betta tank at night. Does that bother Betta fish? Keeping colored lights on in the daytime may not bother bettas; however, at night definitely disturb them.

Because they can see color, keeping the lights on of any color will hamper their sleep rhythm.

What Happens If Your Betta Gets Too Much (Or Too Little) Light?

Now that we know what type of light is best for Bettas, let’s discuss the effects of too much or too little light.

Too Little Lights

• If your Betta does not get enough light, it can result in them becoming lethargic and depressed. That may force them to lay at the bottom and lose interest in exploring the tank.
• If betta fish don’t get enough light, they may lose their vibrant color. Instead, they may look dull and weak. However, betta fish may become pale for other reasons, including pH fluctuation, algae bloom, cold water, etc.

Too Much Light

• Overstimulation may occur when your Betta is exposed to excessive light. Your Betta will be hyperactive if it doesn’t know when to relax. They need to rest for their body to function properly! Otherwise, they may get agitated and stressed as a consequence of this.
• Overexposure may lead to other problems as Betta may stop eating. This can happen for stress; however, it can also occur if bettas find it hard to understand the feeding time.

In extreme cases, Bettas may die if they do not get enough light or are exposed to too much light. So, to sum it up, it is crucial to find a balance when it comes to lighting for your betta fish. Of course, they need some light, but too much or too little can be harmful.

The best way to determine how much light your betta needs is to observe their behavior. If they are swimming near the water’s surface and seem to be enjoying the light, they are getting the right amount.

What Are The Best Ways To Lit Up Your Betta Tank

Now that we know what type of light is best for bettas and the impact of lights on them let’s discuss some ways to light up your betta tank.

Stay Away From Direct Sunlight

Some people may think that Bettas need direct sunlight in order to thrive. However, that’s not the case! In fact, too much direct sunlight can actually be harmful to your Betta.

• The water in the tank can overheat quickly if placed in direct sunlight, which can be very dangerous for your fish.
• In addition, the sunlight can also cause algae to grow in the tank. Bettas do not like being in tanks with a lot of algae, so it’s best to avoid direct sunlight.

If you want to place your betta tank in a sunny spot, make sure to use a tank cover to filter the sunlight.

Use An Artificial Light

If you want to avoid placing your tank in a sunny spot, then you’ll need to use artificial lights. There are many different types of artificial lights available, so you’ll need to choose one that’s best for your Betta.

The crucial factor for selecting artificial lights for your betta tank is to choose one that doesn’t affect the tank’s temperature. The ideal temperature for a betta tank is between 78 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything higher than that will be detrimental to your Betta.

LED lights: Led lights are becoming increasingly popular in aquariums because they are energy efficient and last a long time. They also emit very little heat, so you don’t have to worry about the water in your tank getting too hot.

There are many different types of LED lights available on the market, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs.

Incandescent bulbs: Incandescent bulbs are not recommended because they are not very energy efficient. They also emit a lot of heat, so you’ll need to be careful about using them in your betta tank.

Fluorescent bulbs: Fluorescent bulbs are a good option for lighting your betta tank. It’s the second best choice after LEDs.

Use A Timed Light

Don’t forget to turn off your betta tank light at night after you’ve purchased it. A good night’s sleep is essential for their health, as you know.

Use a timer to turn on and off the light. With this setup, you can be certain that your Betta is getting the proper amount of light. Since Betta fish need 8 to 12 hours of light each day, you’ll want to adjust the timer to account for this requirement.

You can use a separate timer to connect with your aquarium light. On the other hand, you can buy an aquarium light with a built-in timer. Some aquarium light even has the 24/7 functionality to mimick the day & night in an automatic cycle.

How Many Hours Of Light & Dark Do Betta Fish Need?

When lighting your betta tank, keep in mind their natural environment. Then, you should try to replicate that. So, in nature, they get light in the daytime and complete darkness at night.

So, considering a typical day, you can set the lighting duration from 8 to 12 hours. On the contrary, 16 to 12 hours of darkness.

Betta fish’s sleep cycles resemble humans, so when you turn off your light at home, do the same for the betta tank.

How Many Watts Do You Need For The Size Of Your Betta Tank?

The answer to this question really depends on the type of light you’re using. As a general rule of thumb, you should use around one watt per gallon.

For LED lights, typically, you need 1 watt or less per gallon, and for fluorescent light, it’s 1.5-3 watts. However, now people don’t calculate the wattage as it is considered an outdated method by most fishkeepers.

They buy aquarium lights rated for their tank size. Standard LEDs are suitable for all tanks other than a planted aquarium, where intense lighting may require based on the type of plants you have.

Hence powerful lighting is unnecessary in most cases. After installing the light watch your Betta behavior. If you notice your Betta flaring up, the light probably reflects too much. It turns the aquarium glass into the mirror for Betta. That’s making him think about rivals in the tank.

Wrapping Up

So, what is the verdict? Do betta fish like colored lights? The answer to that question is they love bright natural lights and enjoy swimming around in tanks.

When it comes to intensity, they prefer medium or low lighting. But, they do like some variation in light throughout the day. As for when they like their light, Bettas are most active during day time, so try to mimic those natural light patterns as closely as possible.

Finally, there are many different types of LED lights available on the market today; just be sure to get one that emits sufficient light if you want your Betta to stay healthy and happy.

We hope you enjoyed this article and found it helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. And, as always, happy fishkeeping!