split from takifugu diary

[funkybodal]

Ace idea CFC, should be very interesting indeed to see the results. Sounds like it's settled in well, but as you said this is no guarantee in terms of long term survival.

Just out of interest, why d'you keep your tropical tanks at lower temps than usual? Increased oxygen capacity?

Cheers.

 

[CFC]

I personally believe that the temperatures commonly given for most tropical species are usually those recorded during the dry season and therefore the hottest part of the year as this is when tropical fish are most often collected and the data is recorded at capture. I have also noticed that when kept at slightly lower temperatures there are less problems with aggression between species.

 

[OohFeeshy]

I'll be interested how this goes along, one of the lfs's (the really awful one) has puffers labelled Fugu Ocellatus, although I'm not convinced thats true... How big is the tank? What other fish are in there?

 

[CFC]

The tank is 80 US gallons with scats, monos, shark cats, archer fish and moray eels. This is due to be upgraded to at least 150 gallons within the next 3 months.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I have also noticed that when kept at slightly lower temperatures there are less problems with aggression between species.

Maybe because their metabolism is lowered & they are more sluggish?

 

[CFC]

I take it you have'nt watched my feeding video in tropical chit chat then? If those fish are sluggish or have slower metabolisms then i'm the pope.

When i say lower temperatures i dont mean freezing the fish to death, i just mean keeping the temperature a few degrees lower than usuall, for example where most people keep tropicals at 26/27c i keep my tank at 22/23c and for as much of the year as possible keep the tanks without heaters to allow the temperature to fluctuate with the ambient temperature of the room, just as waters in nature would during the day and night.
The main reason that some fish are less aggressive at lower temperatures is probably because they are not being told by the temperature that it is nearly breeding season and time to find impress a mate and form a breeding territory.

 

[keane]

I take it you have'nt watched my feeding video in tropical chit chat then? If those fish are sluggish or have slower metabolisms then i'm the pope.

When i say lower temperatures i dont mean freezing the fish to death, i just mean keeping the temperature a few degrees lower than usuall, for example where most people keep tropicals at 26/27c i keep my tank at 22/23c and for as much of the year as possible keep the tanks without heaters to allow the temperature to fluctuate with the ambient temperature of the room, just as waters in nature would during the day and night.
The main reason that some fish are less aggressive at lower temperatures is probably because they are not being told by the temperature that it is nearly breeding season and time to find impress a mate and form a breeding territory.

wise thoughts CFC .

Would this be your recommendation for all tropical fish or is it aimed more purposefully at the aggressive fish you keep??

steve

 

[CFC]

These are the points i take into account for using lower than common temperatures.

The temperature readings given in most books will most likely have been recorded during the dry season and as such the warmest part of the year.

The temperature would have been taken from water close to the surface which would be warmer than the water several feet deeper

Even tropical waters cool of substancially at night so keeping the fish at a forced constant higher temperatures may be doing unknown damage to the fish.

Fish which naturally come from shallow pools should especially be kept in tanks where the temperature is allowed to fluctuate a little between day and night as their habitat would be even more greatly affected by day and night temperatures.

These are just my own personal feelings so whether other people wish to follow them is their own choice. Obviously some heat loving species (such as Discus) wouldnt do so well if kept this way but from the variety of species i keep i have never had problems from my methods.