We all know that too cold water is bad for trops but when it is a long slow gradual drop (rather than a plunge into water tens of degrees different to the norm) what is actually happening in the fish`s body. Is it just a slowing of metabolism that ultimately ends in starvation or is ther more going on?
Temperature effect on the metabolism of fish?
- Thread starter jprp
- Start date
Unlike humans fish thermoregulate by the temp of the water. We can adjust cuz we are warm blooded and have certain defense mechanisms to regulate our temps like muscles shaking, sweating etc.
Gradual drops are ok but sudden drops shut the fish down like a human freezing.
Organs fail, swim bladder is out of whack, compare to throwing a CPU in water.
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I appreciate all you say there but what happens if say you dropped the temp by a degree every week or two- what would a trop fish have happening at say 50-60 f range??
Most tropical fish would die in the 50-60 degree range. There bodies cannot adjust the way ours can. Even if you drop it 1 degree a week, they would still die. You cannot acclimate a fish to cooler temperatures because there bodies cannot adjust like ours.
Second attept at posting this (internet-pah!).
strollo22 i have no problem accepting that but what is actually happening in the fish`s body-does the brain`s electrical system fail at a critical temp range or the heart not pump hard enough or the blood change consistency? that kind of thing is what im looking for.
strollo22 i have no problem accepting that but what is actually happening in the fish`s body-does the brain`s electrical system fail at a critical temp range or the heart not pump hard enough or the blood change consistency? that kind of thing is what im looking for.
The fish's system will basically shut down and go into complete failure. They would suffer from, what we call, hypothermia. The whole body would freeze and shut down. A complete failure of all internal organs.
Ok, not nice-how would this manifest to the viewer? would the fish just slow down and roll over or would there be obvious warning signs?
As temp drops, fish stop moving and eating, as the organs shut down, they tend to flounder and die. It may take days it may be overnight depending on the genetically wired tolerance for change.
Some subtropical fish simply stop eating at 50'F and go into a sort of suspended animation state. If water warms they wake, if not they die.
Some subtropical fish simply stop eating at 50'F and go into a sort of suspended animation state. If water warms they wake, if not they die.