Best temp for Central America cichlids?
- Thread starter HybridFinatic
- Start date
I see this is an old thread, but will jump back in again just for grins.
And it is a loaded question, because.....it depends on what you lump together as Central Americans.
The cichlids of norther Mexico (North America), are from quite different temp conditions than the cichlids of Panama.
Panama's temps remain relatively constant, but northern Mexico can be quite seasonal with winter temps falling into the 50s and 60sF.
Species from the carpintus group, Nosferatu or northern Pacific species like beanii, all easily handle (and maybe even appreciate) seasonal temp drops.
This os one reason I don't house them in the same tanks (biotopes)
My beanii and carpintus all seemed to do well after drops into the 60s
Above is a shot of the temp of my beanii tank when they spawned.
and I would often keep my carpintus in outdoor tanks in Milwaukee as early as May, and thru Sept
.
There are Nosferatu bartoni that come from mountain spring fed lagoons that tend to remain in the 60s year round in Mexico snow melt fed.
Bartoni below
I would however, not subject most southern Central Americans to these fluctuations, or especially any endemic to the Caribbean islands where temps are constantly quite high.
And it is a loaded question, because.....it depends on what you lump together as Central Americans.
The cichlids of norther Mexico (North America), are from quite different temp conditions than the cichlids of Panama.
Panama's temps remain relatively constant, but northern Mexico can be quite seasonal with winter temps falling into the 50s and 60sF.
Species from the carpintus group, Nosferatu or northern Pacific species like beanii, all easily handle (and maybe even appreciate) seasonal temp drops.
This os one reason I don't house them in the same tanks (biotopes)
My beanii and carpintus all seemed to do well after drops into the 60s
Above is a shot of the temp of my beanii tank when they spawned.
and I would often keep my carpintus in outdoor tanks in Milwaukee as early as May, and thru Sept
.
There are Nosferatu bartoni that come from mountain spring fed lagoons that tend to remain in the 60s year round in Mexico snow melt fed.
Bartoni below
I would however, not subject most southern Central Americans to these fluctuations, or especially any endemic to the Caribbean islands where temps are constantly quite high.
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I set the heaters in my tanks to 75°F.
In the summertime I would turn the heaters off completely and just let the tanks ebb and flow with the air temps ( no AC ). Tanks would fluctuate from 77° at night to 88° (on the hottest days).
Winter I plugged heaters back in and set to 75°. Low enough to slow metabolism a bit, but not so low to make them lethargic.
Here is my Amphilophus Saggitae in 75°F on February 25 2021
In the summertime I would turn the heaters off completely and just let the tanks ebb and flow with the air temps ( no AC ). Tanks would fluctuate from 77° at night to 88° (on the hottest days).
Winter I plugged heaters back in and set to 75°. Low enough to slow metabolism a bit, but not so low to make them lethargic.
Here is my Amphilophus Saggitae in 75°F on February 25 2021
Always happy to see Casper, even if it’s an old video! I hope he, and you, are doing well.
