Betta afraid of the dark?

[Quills]

My tank is very well lit, and has more than enough lights turned on at all times. But whenever I turn off the lights in the room, even though the fish tank is lit as bright as daylight, my Betta goes berserk and starts showing it's gills and swimming all over the fish tank very aggressively.
I am quite unsure what a stressed out Betta looks like, but I have no idea why he does that, and in the morning because of him being on guard the whole night he ends up sleeping (not moving almost at all) until noon.
Anyone know any way to cure this?
This seems to be a new behavior which he never did before, and I can't see what might cause that since I have not changed anything at all in his fish tank or diet.

[shellieca]

Are you leaving the tank light on 24/7? When the tank lights are on but the room lights are off they typically see their own reflection. The tank light should not be on 24/7 only 8-10 hrs per day. They need a day/night cycle like any other living being.

[cdouglas93]

See I have the opposite reaction. I'm stating to think my female is actually afraid of the light or just really dislikes it. When I have a light on her (both when she was in her 1.5 gallon and now even in her 5g she hides in the plants or behind the filter but when it's off she will swim all over the place and is just in general more active. Is there any reason she does this?

[Quills]

Ah I see, thanks for the explanation. Now it makes sense why it would freak out. At daytime I usually keep on my white light, and at night time I turn on green and blue lights (still enough of them to create a lot of light). But I guess I will turn them off.
Weird thing is that this behavior is new and I never saw him do that.

[shellieca]

Originally Posted by cdouglas93

See I have the opposite reaction. I'm stating to think my female is actually afraid of the light or just really dislikes it. When I have a light on her (both when she was in her 1.5 gallon and now even in her 5g she hides in the plants or behind the filter but when it's off she will swim all over the place and is just in general more active. Is there any reason she does this?

It's possible she finds it too bright & is why she hides.

[shellieca]

Originally Posted by Quills

Ah I see, thanks for the explanation. Now it makes sense why it would freak out. At daytime I usually keep on my white light, and at night time I turn on green and blue lights (still enough of them to create a lot of light). But I guess I will turn them off.
Weird thing is that this behavior is new and I never saw him do that.

I don't know maybe it finally got to him. But with the colored lights it wouldn't or shouldn't be that bright. I'd try no lights at all at night for a week or so & see how he behaves then you'll know if that's the problem or not.

[cdouglas93]

Originally Posted by shellieca

It's possible she finds it too bright & is why she hides.

That's what I thought with the 1.5 gallon since it was so small and maybe it is the same with the 5g. I'm hoping to move her into a 30g after it cycles and I guess I'll see then