relax... i guess the solution for now is to always leave a light on in the room.
i never have my tank lights on with the room lights off because of just that thing. the tank lights need to be off in a dark room or he will never settle down. placing a black cloth over him won't help unless the tank lights are off then you don't need the cloth.
as far as the spots that are shiny and bronze colored, it could be velvet. if so it will shine on him if you shine a flashlight on him and it will look kind of like he has been sprinkled with 