Heater Burn

[pangasiusfan]

Have you ever had a fish hiding behind a heater?
Since my pleco is doing just that and his head and body is toching the bottom of the heater.

Are fish smart enough to swim away if something(heater) is hot and making them burn?
Will burns heal?

 

[Angler]

Fish feel pain. If they feel the heater burning them, they will swim away. The only time a fish will bet burned by a heater is if they get stuck against it somehow. Don't worry about your pleco.

 

[beblondie]

to disagree heater burns are not uncommon and in tank heaters should have guards on them to prevent them.Yes the burns will heal over time

 

[Angler]

to disagree heater burns are not uncommon and in tank heaters should have guards on them to prevent them.Yes the burns will heal over time

I guess you better listen to her- I reckon she has more experience than me.

 

[Miles]

Depends on the fish I think.. active swimming fish tend not to be a problem, cichlids as well.. Plecos, Eels, and Rays tend to burn themselves often.

 

[BrtnBoy449]

i don't really think heater get hot enough to burn fish

if you've ever felt it, its really not that hot

 

[Cross127]

i don't really think heater get hot enough to burn fish

if you've ever felt it, its really not that hot

I beg to differ. My old bocourti female was being cornered by an RD ( he was a temporary fish until the 240 was set up) and she backed up into the heater while it was on and he wouldn't let her leave for a good minute and she got a red scar on her side which turned a light pink later on after it healed. She didn't die because she went on to make 10,000's of babies later with the male. The pair was 14 years old and died a little less than a year ago. I grew up with them. I miss them everyday. Someday I will continue with Bocourti.

 

[pangasiusfan]

sorry to hear that above..


hey beblondie, are there any that will fit big stealths?
would they interfere with the heating capability?

 

[Ianab]

Several of my plecs have taken to hiding behind heaters at various times. They seem to have been smart enough to find the part at the top, away from the heater element.

But yes it is possible for them to get burnt. The heater doesn't feel very hot to touch because it has water circulating past it all the time. If you actually wrap your hand around it for a 30 seconds it will start to feel pretty warm. Maybe hot enough to affect a fish's slime coat or cause a mild 'burn'. The danger then is that a secondary infection could set in and possibly kill your fish.

So yes it can happen, if you are worried about it then get a heater guard

Cheers

Ian

 

[Plecos_Ftw]

I agree with ian, my plecos sometimes even suck on the heater but not for very long (they may be trying to warm their lips hehe) if you do wrap your hand around it it does get pretty toasty. I have a 300w and it gets warm enough to burn. the only ones who actually touch it are my plecos, they havent gotten burned that Ive seen. My cichlids hang out under it but they dont usually stay. if you notice any marks then get a heater guard or even make one. Im sure you can ghetto one together.good luck!