Besides Native and Goldfish, what other cool water fish are there?

[davdev]

Since 90% of the threads on this forum relate to goldfish or native, I was wondering what other fish there are that do well in unheated tanks.

From what I have read, many barbs and loaches do well, even some cichlids like Geophagus brasiliensis supposedly like cool water. So give me some others.

 

[Noto]

Many danios and livebearers can deal with cool temps. Myxocyprinus is a cool-water fish. Paradise fish and bitterlings were once very popular but seem to be uncommon in the trade these days. I have heard that many loricariids ("plecos") are from cool mountain rivers of the Andes, but I have no idea which ones. And don't forget the sturgeons!

There are lots of beautiful cool-water fish that are not available in the trade for whatever reason. Check out this looker from China or this one from New Zealand.

 

[farawayinn]

Here's a short list of fish I've tried in cool water:

Guppy
Platy
Molly
Paradise fish
Texascichlid
Jack Dempsey
Danio - zebra and giant
Barbs - rosy, Denison,2 spot, spanner
Tetras - white cloud, bloodfin, Buenos aires, black or white skirt
Hoplo cat
Chinese hi fin sail cat
Plecos - various
Chinese algae eater
Weather loach

 

[davdev]

Dempsey? Never would have though they were on the list. Though there is a moderator over at Cichlid-Forum who insists adult Oscars can and should be placed in unheated tanks.

 

[AU_Arowana-RG]

Off the top of my head:

• Sturgeon (Species available and legality are dependent on location and current status of breeding programs)
• Paddlefish (Both species are excellent aquaculture targets. The American Paddlefish is fairly available if you know where to look)
• Gar
• Chub (Some species are federally endangered, so getting them from a Hatcher may be illegal/highly difficult. The more common ones should be just fine)
• Roach
• Barbel
• Trout (Same comments as Chub and Sturgeon)
• Salmon (Same comments as Chub and Sturgeon)
• Mahseer (These carps are known to occur in mountainous streams/rivers, which are colder than what most people think of countries that are traditionally regarded as Tropical Asia)
• Several kinds of Minnow
• Sunfish
• Bass (LMB and SMB in particular)
• Perch
• Some species of Bream

Pretty much these and many more. You just need to look around a bit through online research and other tools.

 

[davdev]

Off the top of my head:

• Sturgeon (Species available and legality are dependent on location and current status of breeding programs)
• Paddlefish (Both species are excellent aquaculture targets. The American Paddlefish is fairly available if you know where to look)
• Gar
• Chub (Some species are federally endangered, so getting them from a Hatcher may be illegal/highly difficult. The more common ones should be just fine)
• Roach
• Barbel
• Trout (Same comments as Chub and Sturgeon)
• Salmon (Same comments as Chub and Sturgeon)
• Mahseer (These carps are known to occur in mountainous streams/rivers, which are colder than what most people think of countries that are traditionally regarded as Tropical Asia)
• Several kinds of Minnow
• Sunfish
• Bass (LMB and SMB in particular)
• Perch
• Some species of Bream

Pretty much these and many more. You just need to look around a bit through online research and other tools.

yeah, the majority of those are native, which is why I made a point of asking for things other than natives and goldfish, which people may not think about. I think the problem is a lot of aquarium fish as sold as tropicals, when they can clearly live perfectly fine in cooler temps (like Barbs and Danios). I was looking for some others.

 

[farawayinn]

I have had JD's in water as low as 58 deg. Of course it went that low gradually and didn't stay there for long. Lost a batch at 55 deg one cold winter. JD's were an early arrival as "tropical" fish along with paradise fish, because they could handle the long sea journeys in metal containers that were the only way to transport fish back then. Don't be afraid to look at some of the old reference books for fish that can handle colder water. I agree with the post about oscars, although I wouldn't tempt fate at anything lower than about 65 deg.
Oliver

 

[AU_Arowana-RG]

yeah, the majority of those are native, which is why I made a point of asking for things other than natives and goldfish, which people may not think about. I think the problem is a lot of aquarium fish as sold as tropicals, when they can clearly live perfectly fine in cooler temps (like Barbs and Danios). I was looking for some others.

Actually, no.

To consider, a good majority of these fish are actually also exotic, as each of the groups I mentioned have members from places like Europe and Asia. Just a little searching (Google, Asking questions here and on other sites, etc.) and research will help shed more light on those foreign members.

Also, if it helps:

• Carp - Majority are asian and contain some interesting members such as Chandodicthys Erythropterus and Elopichthys Bambusa
• Chinese/Asian Hillstream Loaches
• Eels - Japanese, Legal European, and other Asian eels.

Special note on Perch:

Your probably only familiar with local perch (Walleye, etc) and European varieties. Hit up some of the Asian species. They're pretty interesting fish. There's even one, Coreoperca Herzi, that only gets to 6", if you want something for a not-so mega tank.

 

[Ambervikings91]

yeah.... a lot of those are native though, i don't know why you put down large and smallmouth bass, or gars and several others

 

[Mikeberg]

Fish from Tetra "Coldwater Fish"

From Europe

Schneider
Golden Orfe
Weather Loach
Common Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus)
Bitterling
Roach
Rudd
Tench
Three-Spined Stickleback
Nine-Spined Stickleback

From Asia

White Cloud
Zacco platypus

Also I've seen these for sale

Starlet Sturgeon (From Europe)
Siberian Sturgeon (From Asia)
Russian Sturgeon (From Asia)
Royal Loach (From Asia)
Highfin Banded Shark (Chinese Sucker) (From Asia)
Common Gudgeon (From Europe)
Giant Snakehead (not sold in USA anymore) (From Asia)