Just wondering how many of you out with native tanks opt out of using a heater if your fish can handle room temp? After going native i'm glad to say that i no longer have to worry about water temp as much as i used too.
Do you use heaters for your natives?
- Thread starter Landscraper
- Start date
What do you mean by fish handling room temp? A room is usually much warmer than where they came from.
68-70 is great for most natives. A chiller would make more sense than a heater in most native setups, but room temp generally will work perfect.
I have a heater in mine because while it is mostly a native tank, it is not completely and there are some tropicals in there. Honestly, they are much more active and eating way better now that there is a heater. I keep the tank around 75 and make sure there is a lot of surface agitation to keep it well oxiginated.
For many natives you can for go using a heater (this is species dependent). I currently am using a heater, as I have a few lingering tropicals that need a slightly warmer temp. If I was to go heaterless the tank temp in the winter would be 67-68, but with the heater I currently keep it at 73.
The only natives I have are Blue Gill. They live with my koi.. and my koi tank (1500 gallons) has no heater. Right now, it's about 50 degrees.
Most temperate natives (bass, sunfish, etc.) will do fine with or without a heater; they tend to experience a wide variety of temperatures in the wild. Coldwater natives such as trout will do better with no heater or a chiller, if necessary.
i have got northern pike, and i dont use a heater they stay at room temperature 20 degrees which is probably warmer than what they will ever be in the wild, and they do fine, even though they do better at cooler temps 
As they get bigger pike prefer cooler temps, I think around 55*Fi have got northern pike, and i dont use a heater they stay at room temperature 20 degrees which is probably warmer than what they will ever be in the wild, and they do fine, even though they do better at cooler temps