Are our fish overheated?

Olympia

Interesting article to consider. . .
Whaddaya mean, too hot? ; Seriously Fish

jaysee

I've been saying that for a long time now. None of my show tanks are heated.

Olympia

When I first read it the thing that came to my mind was "wow, jaysee is like always right about these things."

Anyways, unheated tanks in my house hit 65F since we don't really heat our house very much (even colder at night since we set it to not heat at all overnight) so I do think it's a little cold to not use heaters.

jaysee

It really depends on where and how you live, whether you can get away with not using a heater year round.

People have this obsession that their tank needs to be 80 degrees, even though the majority of the "tropical" fish we keep do not need it that warm.

jentralala

Think I could get away with it in FL?
I've been thinking about this a lot lately, if living in the exact same temperature all the time has an adverse affect.

jaysee

It's very likely - You're a lot farther south than I. Though if you keep certain species like Discus, GBRs, clown loaches, and other warm water fish, you'll want to keep the heater.

Only in people's fish tanks do they get a constant year round temperature...

Chesherca

*giggle* I randomly came across this article today, and linked it to Jaysee. Didn't realize you already had a thread going about it! Always good to have some stats to back your position up. . . Makes you think!

Jen my fishkeeper friend in Fla doesn't use heaters in her tanks, ever - she's had no problems. And loaches like things on the cooler side, anyway :)

jaysee

There are several loaches that like warm water, such as clown (very warm) and kuhli loaches.

Chesherca

Interesting. . . I've always read that P. semicincta like the cooler side - slightly -still tropical, not cold water, but cooler than our 'norm.' *shrugs* Either way, in sunny Florida, I'm sure they wouldn't get too cold :)

JDM

I had my tank down to 71F a month ago due to some fluky issue. When I went to feed the fish at the usual lights on time, they ignored the food and seemed huddled in the bottom. They didn't get active and swimming about until the heat came back up a few degrees. I usually keep it at 78F. I wouldn't expect 7 degrees to have made that much difference with barbs.

Often our ambient room is 65F in winter. I don't think I could pull that off.

Jeff.