Rainbow Shark Temperature Help

[NatesFish]

Hello,
 
I went to the pet store to get a fish today. I am a new fish owner and the man was helpful as far as food when it came to the fish I chose (rainbow shark), but he failed to tell me that he was a tropical fish. I know he needs a heater now that I have been doing research on him. my Problem comes in to play when I ordered him a 35 gallon tank online and didn't know he needed a heater then I am out of money completely for now (yes he has food) and wont get paid till Friday. will he be okay until then, or is there some safe temporary way to heat his temporary bowl until the tank and heater are put together.
 

 

[techen]

He'll more than likely die in a unheated tank, Also a 35 gallon tank is too small for him. Return him to the pet store and inform them he was mistakenly sold to you without any information on the fish.

 

[NatesFish]

currently he is the only fish and he is small for the time being as he grows I will purchase larger tanks I just need a way for now to keep him warm

 

[Rak9378]

Nate, I don't see how you will be able to keep the temp warm enough for the Rainbow without a heater.  Especially if you live in a colder part of the US.  Even if you were somehow able to warm the water up, it wouldn't be a consistent temp and a fluctuating temp is a great way for a fish to get sick.  There are a couple of other concerns too.  You currently have the fish in a "bowl" which is definately not good and you are going to be putting the fish into an uncycled tank once your 35g arrives.  Are you familiar with the nitrogen cycle and what it takes to do a fish-in-cycle?  You are in for a boat load of work if you don't want the fish to die.
 
As Techen recommended you should really consider returning the fish for your own sanity as much as the fish's health.  If you're convinced to keep the Rainbow in a 35g until it gets bigger (I also wouldn't recommend this but that is your call) than buy the fish again once you have cycled your tank.  If you don't intend to return the fish please read everything you can on fish in cycling because it is a lot of work. 

 

[NatesFish]

for now I have put him next to the radiator in my room and put a blanket around him so except the side facing the radiator does this sound like a good idea

 

[NatesFish]

i have read about cycling and i do intend to cycle his tank as well as his bowl untill the tank is set up I have determined that his bowl should probably be cyled once ever two days due to the size 

 

[cambojnr]

Why not just take the fish back to the store, as what you are doing is bacically cruelty to the fish as you do not have to right equipment to look after it properly.

 

[NatesFish]

Because the store had him in a non heated 5gal tank with at least 15 other rainbow sharks

 

[techen]

Nates, There heaters will be part of the system behind the store itself. So even though there's no heater it will still be heated water. As for the 15 rainbow sharks thats pretty normal for any fish store.

 

[NatesFish]

Ok thank you for your advice i will take him back untill i can get somthing set up for him tbat better suits hus his needs i was afraid that the store was worse off because of the tempature of the water and confined he was as well as so many other moderately agressive fish i was judging the temp of the water based off tge temp of the glass of the tank and my hand from what i could remember thank you everyone for your help. Your compation for the fish and knowledge of the hobby has truely encouraged me to continue to take up fish keeping but to get my tanks set up before hand

 

[Rak9378]

I think that is a great decision. 

Be sure to come back to TFF when you're setting-up and have questions.  There are great people on this forum who will go out of their way to help you.  Best of luck! 

 

[NatesFish]

ok so when I got home the tank was here I went out and got the gear rated for that size tank (filter, heater, air pump) also got some 5 in 1 test strips for the water and some water conditioner and chlorine remover. along with some other things rocks a a little decoration rock thing that when I pick up another rainbow he can hide in if he wants because I've read that they like to do that any suggestions on setup where the heater should go for best results and how long I should wait before getting the fish things of that nature