Okay, i have never kept cichla before, as i have never had a large enough tank. However, i am digging a 300,000 gallon plus pond in the near future. I have considered putting cichla in it, but i am unsure if they could survive the winters here without heating. I know that in Florida, there are wild peacock bass (not native, i know). Is there even a remote chance that they could survive outside year round in Houston, Texas?
I know this is farther north, etc, but what are the low temperatures that cichla can take? I have heard Cichla Monocellaris are the most cool hardy, but how low can they go? In Houston, the lows are around 28F, but that is for no more than an hour or so. I have a 2' deep goldfish pond in my backyard that never gets below 50F at the surface. My larger pond should be at least 5' deep, maybe more, so i assume that the temperature would rarely, if ever get below 55F or 60F (i am just guessing here, is this a reasonable guess?) at the bottom.
So, my final question : Is this too cold? I do not want to kill a bunch of cichla, but i really would like to keep these amazing fish
I know this is farther north, etc, but what are the low temperatures that cichla can take? I have heard Cichla Monocellaris are the most cool hardy, but how low can they go? In Houston, the lows are around 28F, but that is for no more than an hour or so. I have a 2' deep goldfish pond in my backyard that never gets below 50F at the surface. My larger pond should be at least 5' deep, maybe more, so i assume that the temperature would rarely, if ever get below 55F or 60F (i am just guessing here, is this a reasonable guess?) at the bottom.
So, my final question : Is this too cold? I do not want to kill a bunch of cichla, but i really would like to keep these amazing fish
get those and some kois...or just get a monster school with sturgeons...you could be the first one with a outdoor pond with a school of sturgeons in their possession