Ideas for stocking a heater-less 55g?

[Louie]

No, not as a group, some would be but not most. You live in Florida, some cichlids have become established there and the water doesn't stay above 72 year round.

Oh yes lots established cichlids and tropicals .

I could be wrong but think as a whole it stays in low 70s even in coldest of weeks .

You wont find them in shallow canals Dec to early March unless day temps in 80s which isnt uncommon.
Fish that are stuck in shallow canals look dazed thus though they may live in cooler temps they dont like it.

The temp once you go deeper than 5 feet should be fairly stable in this hot state would think coldest mid 70s?

As someone who goes fishing yr round for cichlids I do know they dislike cool water and LOVE hot temps. Thus at min they do prefer warm temps.

Low 70s for them is "stay alive" temp but not thriving temp. Fishing doesnt make me a cichlid expert lol but they just seem to be the most active and thriving in low low 80s thus would think 68 to 72 to cold for them.

 

[Louie]

Thx everyone



Well I gotta admit I've separated a convict for a week in ~70 degree weather and it had no problems xD

They will live but will they thrive ? There are convicts and jewels among other small cichlids in area.

They are warm water fish and do better in warmer waters. Convicts have higher tolerance than most though 70 is in no way lethal but they prefer warm temps.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=218560&highlight=fishing+jewel+cichlids

 

[Moontanman]

Yes they thrive at temps lower than many seem to think these days, I seldom use a heater to keep my tanks warm just to keep them above 68 or so. Yes winter water temps do fall below 70. One of the problems with farming plecos is that they can't tolerate water under 55, some winters the yields from the Florida farms was low due to this.

 

[oscarcrazy]

I keep all my tanks at room temp (72-75 depending on the season) except for the hap tank that I keep at 78. Believe me, my fish do more than survive.

 

[sandtiger]

Oh yes lots established cichlids and tropicals .

I could be wrong but think as a whole it stays in low 70s even in coldest of weeks .

You wont find them in shallow canals Dec to early March unless day temps in 80s which isnt uncommon.
Fish that are stuck in shallow canals look dazed thus though they may live in cooler temps they dont like it.

The temp once you go deeper than 5 feet should be fairly stable in this hot state would think coldest mid 70s?

As someone who goes fishing yr round for cichlids I do know they dislike cool water and LOVE hot temps. Thus at min they do prefer warm temps.

Low 70s for them is "stay alive" temp but not thriving temp. Fishing doesnt make me a cichlid expert lol but they just seem to be the most active and thriving in low low 80s thus would think 68 to 72 to cold for them.

The reason you may think the cichlids aren't doing well has more to do with them being coldblooded then the actual temp. Being coldblooded they slow down in cold waters; feed less, move less, aren't as aggressive etc. but it does not mean they aren't healthy or even "happy". Most of my cichlids live in 68-70F water and do just fine. During the summer months I keep my convicts in an outdoor tub from April-October, the temps at night can get 50F or lower but I've never had a casualty from it. Granted I wouldn't keep them that low in an aquarium or perminantly but they can withstand it.

 

[Freezekougra]

Man I wish I knew this two months ago

 

[Louie]

Yes they thrive at temps lower than many seem to think these days, I seldom use a heater to keep my tanks warm just to keep them above 68 or so. Yes winter water temps do fall below 70. One of the problems with farming plecos is that they can't tolerate water under 55, some winters the yields from the Florida farms was low due to this.

I dont think many non natives here can tolerate to cold temps. We had cold night this winter roughly 2 weeks with night temps in 40s but day in high 70s.

The talipia death was huge as was for cichlids that were trapped in canals without deeper water. The deep canals stay warm.

I agree with you they can be kept at 68 to 70 but its not their ideal temp .

 

[Louie]

The reason you may think the cichlids aren't doing well has more to do with them being coldblooded then the actual temp. Being coldblooded they slow down in cold waters; feed less, move less, aren't as aggressive etc. but it does not mean they aren't healthy or even "happy". Most of my cichlids live in 68-70F water and do just fine. During the summer months I keep my convicts in an outdoor tub from April-October, the temps at night can get 50F or lower but I've never had a casualty from it. Granted I wouldn't keep them that low in an aquarium or perminantly but they can withstand it.

I used to live in Long Island NY. Amazed you havent had convicts die from such low temps. I keep firemouths here in backyard pond and under 70 they slow down. I do have heaters set at 68 to carry them through cold winter nights.

I did find convicts this winter alive and thriving in small pond fed by underground stream and temp was in 60s thus dont doubt anyone here but cant fathom long term care in a tank which was the original question at such low temps.


The cichlids found in S.Florida you wont find up North because to cold .


Why not just take the convicts out bit later in the year ? I kept platies in the yard during late May to Sept. Some of the fry are still with me here in Florida also in backyard

 

[Louie]

Man I wish I knew this two months ago

I dont doubt at all that they have kept or keep cichlids,tropicals at 68/72 or colder for time with no ill effects.

However why would you want to these fish come from warm/hot waters and though some can handle cold better than others . Convicts being one of them.

Overall they seek warm water so why not keep them that way.

Living in Miami fishing canals for cichlids for only 2 yrs doesnt make me an expert lol but I do notice they migrate to warmer deeper canals on cold weeks and return to shallow sun beaten canals as soon as possible.

 

[Noto]

A 55 gallon is ideal for a river tank. You can get hillstream loaches and danios at the LFS, and darters and dace locally or from online vendors. They all like cool, high current, high-oxygen setups.