Why do cichla need high temps?

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Juxtaroberto

Juxtaroberto

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jan 1, 2009
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I've heard people keeping them at 87F... is that the temperature of their native waters? It just seems so warm.

Also, I see tanks with cichla and arowanas, rays, basically a whole bunch of different kinds of fish... does this mean these fish can also tolerate those high temperatures? Because I also remember someone saying to keep them at 87F until they were 10". And after 10", what temperature?

I'm just curious, is all.
 
I'm pretty sure young cichla live in shallow waters in the wild because it is safer. These waters are obviously warmer.
They are also very prone to dying from ich. Increasing the temps greatly reduces the risk of small cichla becoming infected.

I have found that arowanas and rays can do well in slightly warmer than average temps. I keep my large cichla and arowanas at 82f and they are doing great.
 
TimTheBadass;4781288; said:
They are also very prone to dying from ich. Increasing the temps greatly reduces the risk of small cichla becoming infected.
Click to expand...

They don't need it, but this is why ^ Once they get bigger, low 80s like any other tropical fish is fine.
 
Be careful with high temps if you decide to do so. 87 is alot closer to 90 than 83-84. My bass have done extremely well in 85 degree temps under 4" and 83-84 degrees at 5" now.
 
It's there natural habitat water temperature. The Amazon can reach 100 degree's in no time daily and even higher on the regular. It's 87 or higher in the hobby because that is normally all we can obtain. Peacock Bass are know to thrive in temps of 92 and higher.
 
peacock bass also thrive in 65 degree water,like our florida PB.I have never had my water warmer then 80 and they are breeding.
 
Thought i would add my experience aswell.

My larger cichla sit in 75-80deg water (heating bill sucks) and they are all fine nothing ever seems wrong (Temp wise). However i agree with everyone else on keeping smaller cichla heated much higher to avoid illness. Personally i never pass 85 but I do know some have even hit 90, if there were complications involved with that high of temprature... im not sure but i know some people have done it. I also heard that during winter in FL some cichla die to the cold but some survive giving the next generation more resistant to cold genes. So over time FL cichla may change to be much more resistant to cooler tempratures to their tropical counterparts.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com
 
Wow.....I keep my Geo/Orinoco tank @ 84-86f. I keep the planted @ 77-79f. 86 seems high to me, but it's worked out so far.
 
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