Lights in tanks?

[Microwe]

Does it harm my Beta to leave the light in his tank on for extended periods of time? I know this sounds like an odd question but he acts totally crazy and swims around the tank really fast when it is on so i wasnt sure if i should not turn it on or if i should only leave it on for a limited amount of time or something. I don't want to cook Billy! lol!

[Meatpuppet]

hello
your betta fish, like other living things, needs a day/night cycle. you should leave the tank light on as long as theres sunlight where you live, but when night hits you should turn of his light so he can cathc some shut-eye.

and i wouldnt worry much about the light boiling the tank. how big is the tank, what kind how many watts is the bulb?

[okiemavis]

If you have what I think you have, it's a 2.5 gallon (or so) tank with an incandescent light over it. If this is the case, I would look at getting a florescent one. Incandescents can cause a huge rise and fall in temperature which isn't healthy for your betta.

[Microwe]

No we have a larger tank now (a ten G)...