Is it that important that you have a heater in your tank with an oscar and a blood parrot if the temperture stays between 69 to 72 degrees all winter and 74 to 76 all summer??? I feel the temperture goes up and down in nature so as long as it does not drop too low then they sould be ok right???
To heat or not to heat that is the ?
- Thread starter AL E KAT
- Start date
It depends on the water temp in nature, this fish come from an area where the water may never get that cool
Your oscar is a tropical fish and prefers a temp of at least 75 degrees. You need a heater. You don't need a heater in all cases with tanks, but in this case I think you do.
As flexible as both types of fish are, I too would say that that is just a bit too cold. But you'd only need to heat it up to the 75ºF mark, so it won't cost much on the electricity bill. Yes, most South American cichlids do fine at 75ºF. Shhh, it's a secret. They won't breed as much and might act sluggish, but most fish experience no illness, just live longer.
It is important to keep the water temp stable. You don't want fluctuations, I would get a heater.
I have 3 heaters and I hate them. A friend got electrocuted when one of his oscars broke one of the heaters. After that I sold all my frontosas and put up all my heaters and said never again will I use them.
My water temp is stable all summer at 74 and in the winter it drops slowly to 70 and stays there all winter.
My water temp is stable all summer at 74 and in the winter it drops slowly to 70 and stays there all winter.