| The name Tropicals, places too much emphasis on | | | | 72-76 degrees. At times, you should never let the |
| the idea of high temperature, for all exotic fishes. | | | | temperature drop down below 70- degrees, and if it |
| There is a number of them that do not come from | | | | does it wouldn't hurt, but raise the temperature soon. |
| the tropics, and a few of them that come from the | | | | Taking the temperature above 8o- degrees is alright, |
| tropics, do not come from particularly warm water. | | | | as long as their is enough oxygen in the water. |
| It is understood that the majority of the exotic | | | | The breeding of most fish, means raising the water |
| aquarium fishes, cannot stand cold water, and | | | | temperature above 80- degrees. If through |
| rightfully so,because the fish can get sick easier, and | | | | uncontrollable causes the temperature drops down to |
| on the other hand, many of them do not prosper in | | | | low 60-degrees, or even 50-degrees, the thing to do |
| the higher temperatures, because they need more | | | | is slowly raise it to about 80-degrees and keep it |
| oxygen than the water can carry. | | | | there for 24 hours or more. |
| Placing them all in water around 80 degrees, is not | | | | The best way to keep a aquarium at the right |
| the kindness that the Aquarius thinks, who likes high | | | | temperature, is with a heater. Aeration equalizes top |
| temperature. The one thing you should not believe, is | | | | and bottom temperature. The most asked question |
| that each specie has an exact degree of heat. Most | | | | is,"What size heater is required for a given gallon |
| of them have a toleration of at least 10-degrees and | | | | capacity?"This cannot be answered intelligently |
| can stand a 5-degree change over 8 hours, without | | | | without knowing the amount of cold to overcome. A |
| injury. | | | | general rule is 2 watts for raising each gallon |
| As far as individual species is concerned, is to place | | | | 5-degrees above surrounding temperature. I favor |
| delicate fishes in the the warmest and most | | | | conservative sized heating units, then if a thermostat |
| consistent places, and the hardier ones in the cooler | | | | fails to function, the fishes won't fry. |
| spots. I believe a great deal of needless worry and | | | | It's alright for the fishes to swim from warmer to |
| expense is given to trying to keep aquariums or | | | | cooler water in your aquarium, but its entirely |
| aquarium rooms within 2-degrees of a fixed point. | | | | different changing them , from one tank to another, |
| Nature does not supply such an environment, and it | | | | of which could vary in temperature of several |
| has been observed that fishes are stimulated by | | | | degrees,either up or down. This is one thing that just |
| some change of temperature. The aquarists should | | | | must not be done. The effect may not be apparent |
| not be too concerned about the variation between | | | | at once, but it is seldom escaped. It usually brings |
| the heat at the top and the bottom of the aquarium. | | | | about the "shakes" or "shimmies, "Ichthyophthirius |
| The variation in native waters is considerable, but the | | | | (ick), fungus or a general decline downhill. Changes |
| fish seem to handle it without trouble. They can | | | | should be made within 2-degrees of the temperature. |
| choose what level in the water they like. | | | | You should check thermometers because they can |
| It all comes down to this:The average exotic | | | | be off as much as 4-degrees. |
| aquarium fish is happy at a average temperature of | | | | |