I live in central California, so we get a little warmer and a little colder than socal....I put 2 small texas(may not have been true texas)2" and 2 small convicts 1 1/2", about late march and they all died when we got that cold spell in april...I checked the water parameters and everything looked good temp was in the low 50's for about a week,,,,They fish had been in the pond about 2 weeks before they died.....I never covered the pond, didn't know about that yet....The pond is 5' at the widest and probably 2' at the deepest...BTW had a LMB about 6" and a black crappie right after that and they lived pretty good in there, but I took them out couple of weeks ago becasue I think water will get to warm for them...
What cichlid can handle 50-75F?
- Thread starter druxboyz
- Start date
feeder gold fish can
but cichlids, I know texas cichlids are tough agaisnt water temp. not sure about 50 farenheit
but cichlids, I know texas cichlids are tough agaisnt water temp. not sure about 50 farenheit
there is no cichlid that could handle those temperatures
even 75 degrees is a little to chilly for cichlids
even 75 degrees is a little to chilly for cichlids
For all of you saying no cichlid can handle 50 degree temps I invite you to come by central Florida and I will personally show you Blue and Mozambique Tilapia swimming in 50 degree water. They have been introduced here and thrive in these temps. Right along with convicts and Texas cichlids. I have personally caught blue tilapia with a dip net in 65 degree weather. So I'm sure the water temp was around 50. Now I know that these fish have slowly adapted to these temperatures but I don't see why it wouldn't work just fine if you start some fry in the summer, let them grow up a bit and let them gradually get used to the cold temps. I wouldn't go buy an adult and take him from a 78 degree tank and put him in a 50 degree pond though but if done right with some young guys it will work with no probs.
I agree with those who say cichlids can handle lower temps but not the winter lows. Even in SoCal the water can get down into the 30's and by the mid-40s a cichlid, even cool-hardy ones, will die ....save for maybe bullet-proof ones (coincidentally the cheap and invasive ones) like Oreochromis niloticus, aureus and mossambicus and Tilapia buttikoferi.
It would be interesting to see how/if the cool tolerant species fared (like some of the Gymnogeos) but I have doubts so I wouldn't do it with my own fish.
IMO cichlids are fine to pond out for the summer but in winter most need at least 70 degree temps to stay healthy.
Hardier species like cons, uros and texas tolerate temps into the 50's and 60's just fine. At least that's my experience.
It would be interesting to see how/if the cool tolerant species fared (like some of the Gymnogeos) but I have doubts so I wouldn't do it with my own fish.
IMO cichlids are fine to pond out for the summer but in winter most need at least 70 degree temps to stay healthy.
Hardier species like cons, uros and texas tolerate temps into the 50's and 60's just fine. At least that's my experience.
Most gymnogeophagus would survive in socal in a deep pond. I have my gymnogeophaus in my pond all year round. However, I did lost my sp. "blue lips" during the unusual cold spell in last winter.
I had Oreochromis niloticus in the rubbermaid a couple summers ago, air temps were down to the 40s some nights, they began in May at about 1"thru the pic below removed in Oct.
This summer I've had Gymnogeophagus balzani in the pond since May, air has been as low as 45F, and water temps at 9AM before the sun hits were as low as 52F, they are doing well.
