Are we keeping our cichlids too warm!

[Stanzzzz7]

I get different areas,depths etc will have different temps,although I imagine this is more common in lakes and lagoons than in rivers.
Having said that there will be an average temperature for a particular body of water for a particular season.
These can be in the mid to high 60s.
It's rare we are recommended to keep many tropical cichlids anywhere near these temps.
Would keeping our tanks at the lower end be beneficial to the husbandry of our tanks and the well being of our fish?
I think it probably could be.
My fish regardless of size always look their best after a water change and the cooler water often triggers a spawn.
I've had oscars sulk after water changes though.
Slower metabolism, less aggression reduced feeding, less waste, and fish at the lower end of their temp range live longer.
I wonder if traditionally fish were kept warmer to keep certain parasites at bay.
The more we understand our fish and their natural habitats and the more understanding we have of treating for parasites etc,I find myself questioning the ideals.

 

[cjdesmit]

Most good science stems from questioning the status quo.

 

[PhishMon84]

I get different areas,depths etc will have different temps,although I imagine this is more common in lakes and lagoons than in rivers.
Having said that there will be an average temperature for a particular body of water for a particular season.
These can be in the mid to high 60s.
It's rare we are recommended to keep many tropical cichlids anywhere near these temps.
Would keeping our tanks at the lower end be beneficial to the husbandry of our tanks and the well being of our fish?
I think it probably could be.
My fish regardless of size always look their best after a water change and the cooler water often triggers a spawn.
I've had oscars sulk after water changes though.
Slower metabolism, less aggression reduced feeding, less waste, and fish at the lower end of their temp range live longer.
I wonder if traditionally fish were kept warmer to keep certain parasites at bay.
The more we understand our fish and their natural habitats and the more understanding we have of treating for parasites etc,I find myself questioning the ideals.

Are you questioning keeping your tanks with heater, just set at around 20c/68f... or removing heaters and allowing the tank to fluctuate?
When doing water changes I would agree, appearances are up a notch. I also think of a water change as a heavy rainfall, of courses it’s colder and a good time to introduce new fish. Seems natural, normal and if anything strengthens the fish?

 

[markstrimaran]

Probably on the wrong thread, and area of the planet. My African lake Malwai, mbuna cichlids, spawn and fry hatch out into 69 degree water. All winter long.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Regarding big fish going deep and small fish staying in the shallows. Is that due to temperature? Or avoiding a predator?
I imagine larger fish are easier to spot and catch near the surface by fish eating birds.
Little cichlids Probably don't stand out as much to birds in the shallows but may be sitting ducks to those larger fish in the depths.
Just a thought.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Are you questioning keeping your tanks with heater, just set at around 20c/68f... or removing heaters and allowing the tank to fluctuate?

I think it depends on the species we are keeping and the part of the world they are from.
Most c/a cichlids in a house in the UK with central heating probably won't need a heater at all.
Other fish like some of the Amazon species may only need a heater set at the lower end of their preferred range.
I imagine the heater will hardly be on but will provide a safety net for the coldest of times.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Probably on the wrong thread, and area of the planet. My African lake Malwai, mbuna cichlids, spawn and fry hatch out into 69 degree water. All winter long.

That's interesting. What are the stereotypical temp recommendations for mbuna? Upper 70s to 80?

 

[markstrimaran]

That's interesting. What are the stereotypical temp recommendations for mbuna? Upper 70s to 80?

Yes, 75 to 80.

 

[duanes]

Average lake Malawi temps are in the mid 70s, surface temps are cooler some parts of the year, warmer others.
Lake Tanganyika is about the same.

 

[darth pike]

The reason I have so many books is for the collection data. I've followed the collection temps for most of my fish. This is why when I keep blue rams, they are kept above 84F/29C (collection data is 90F/32C) and anything in the krib family is kept under 74F/23C (Ted Judy having said he has never collected a member of the family above this temp).

I think we tend to think of a few degrees as not being that big of a deal, but we are warm blooded. There are several fish that are found in only a narrow, sometimes only 4F/1C degree difference in nature (mostly small species). That temp affects a cold blooded species far more than it would a warm blooded one.