bare minimum temperature

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nes999

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 25, 2009
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what is the bare minimum temperature for the following cats

rtc
rtcxtsn
tsn
niger(ripsaw)


reason why im asking is im thinking of building a VERY large tank outside and with snowy winter i want to know how much ill have to heat the building im putting this in.
 
Usually 75ºF is the stated lowest long-term temp. Personally, I'd go no lower than 77ºF.
 
My old RTC survived a 3+ day power outage in the dead of winter. Water was in the low 50's or lower at it's coldest. I did water changes with hot water (gas water heater) to bring the temp back up a little but it would fall back to the 50's quick as the house wasn't any warmer. Obviously no feedings were done during this time and the fish pretty much all went into hibernation mode and didn't move much. However they all lived. I wouldn't suggest it long term and I'd shoot for 70+ all the time but my experience proves a little bit of cold isn't an instant death sentence.
 
I have a large indoor pond. My rtc and tsn avoided several spots in the pond for some reason. One day I checked the temps in those areas and they were 75-74F I upped the over all temps in the pond and they went every where so I'd say 75 would be the bare minimum.
 
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