Are we keeping our cichlids too warm!

[Stanzzzz7]

Stanzzzz7 what would you say the ideal temps for pearsei and heterospilus would be ?

Nice thread btw

Thanks jaws.

Low 70s, around 72 to 74 would be fine.

When I kept pearsei ,I had them in a tank with no heater,even when they were very small juveniles. The tank would fluctuate between 70 and around 78. I think the average temperature was about 73.
Most c/a cichlids do just fine without heaters in our homes . Fish in unheated garages or basements may need a little heat in winter depending where you live of course.

 

[RD.]

It was -44 here last week, basement temp averages 68 year round, I need heaters. lol

 

[jaws7777]

Thanks jaws.

Low 70s, around 72 to 74 would be fine.

When I kept pearsei ,I had them in a tank with no heater,even when they were very small juveniles. The tank would fluctuate between 70 and around 78. I think the average temperature was about 73.
Most c/a cichlids do just fine without heaters in our homes . Fish in unheated garages or basements may need a little heat in winter depending where you live of course.

Thx man. Now i need to see if polys can handle that. Thankfully we know most of the catch locations.

Where were you getting your info from ?

 

[convict360]

To me its one of those factors, alongside a myriad of others that is going to be extremely difficult to get just right, given the fluctuating elements in nature, approximations are the best to be hoped for, unless a yearly average of temp in the wild is recorded and mimicked.

 

[sevs and sajicas for me]

Thanks jaws.

Low 70s, around 72 to 74 would be fine.

When I kept pearsei ,I had them in a tank with no heater,even when they were very small juveniles. The tank would fluctuate between 70 and around 78. I think the average temperature was about 73.
Most c/a cichlids do just fine without heaters in our homes . Fish in unheated garages or basements may need a little heat in winter depending where you live of course.

Right now i'm keeping heterospilas in an unheated 135. I had been keeping it heated and then realized my heater had popped the temp up to the low 80's even though it was set on 77. Unplugged it and haven't plugged another one in. I noticed last night the temp was staying right at 74 and thought it may be too cold. Glad I saw this post. Though my prior limited research into the species showed they were largely from the Usumacinta river area. I did find one website stating the yearly temps stayed between 24-29C though I am not sure how accurate that website was.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Thx man. Now i need to see if polys can handle that. Thankfully we know most of the catch locations.

Where were you getting your info from ?

A lot of it is from memory after researching various biotopes.
Research gate is a good source of info and have many detailed pdf files on the rivers of Mexico.
I also know a guy who I used to get a lot of fish off who is friends with Rusty Wessel . I used to pick his brains a lot for info.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

To me its one of those factors, alongside a myriad of others that is going to be extremely difficult to get just right, given the fluctuating elements in nature, approximations are the best to be hoped for, unless a yearly average of temp in the wild is recorded and mimicked.

I remember reading a study on a species of trout. The fish were kept at different temperatures to see how the fish copped.
The trout that were kept in the highest temps were short lived compared to those that were kept cold.
Then some of the trout were kept too warm for a period of time and then put back in colder water. These fish were able to live as long as the trout kept in the cooler temperatures .
The conclusion was that the fish could tolerate warm temperatures providing they had this "recovery" period.
My point here is,fish kept in permanent summer climes are more likely to suffer long term than those kept at the cooler end. I don't mean as cold as the fish can tolerate,just towards the lower end of their preferred range.No need for "recovery" time,unlike constant high temps.
Unless we are prepared to keep adjusting temps,higher temps will effect our fishes life span/quality.
So while I agree, nature is a varied and complex thing,keeping them a little cooler may be our best response?
I'm not preaching here and I wont pretend to be an expert on this subject. My opening post was a question not an instruction. I have been looking into this more and more of late and have nothing to offer of any major revelation or controversy. I just believe most of us (not all) are keeping our fish warmer than is necessary or beneficial.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

It was -44 here last week, basement temp averages 68 year round, I need heaters. lol

Geez that's cold,and I thought it was cold here in the UK .

 

[convict360]

I remember reading a study on a species of trout. The fish were kept at different temperatures to see how the fish copped.
The trout that were kept in the highest temps were short lived compared to those that were kept cold.
Then some of the trout were kept too warm for a period of time and then put back in colder water. These fish were able to live as long as the trout kept in the cooler temperatures .
The conclusion was that the fish could tolerate warm temperatures providing they had this "recovery" period.
My point here is,fish kept in permanent summer climes are more likely to suffer long term than those kept at the cooler end. I don't mean as cold as the fish can tolerate,just towards the lower end of their preferred range.No need for "recovery" time,unlike constant high temps.
Unless we are prepared to keep adjusting temps,higher temps will effect our fishes life span/quality.
So while I agree, nature is a varied and complex thing,keeping them a little cooler may be our best response?
I'm not preaching here and I wont pretend to be an expert on this subject. My opening post was a question not an instruction. I have been looking into this more and more of late and have nothing to offer of any major revelation or controversy. I just believe most of us (not all) are keeping our fish warmer than is necessary or beneficial.

Hi Stanzzz, wasn't criticising your original post I agree actually that the chances are we do keep fish at higher temperatures than required, however choosing the perfect low temperature is likely to be difficult, at least in my opinion, but I'm also far from being an expert!

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Hi convict .
I didn't take it as criticism . I understand what your saying.