Heaters and Goldfish

L u · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 49

Is it true that goldfish don't need a heater? I don't have one.

Lu

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>freshwater>goldfish

Rain Fan Dominical, CR · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 8

On Feb 17, 12:21 pm, Romanta...@webtv.net (L u) wrote:
> Is it true that goldfish don't need a heater? I don't have one.
>
> Lu

Well they can take low temps, but its not good to expose any fish to
extreme temp swings..........So its nice to have a heater that will
help keep tank temps up to a certain point so it does not drop as much
at night and make temp swings.Use a heater not so much to heatr the
water but to keep it from getting below a given point whichmakes for a
more stable environment for the fish.If its for a goldfish its not the
heater that I would be concerned with as much as I would be with good
filtration and gallonage of tank and 5 gal is going to become way to
small in short order.

L u · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 49

I didn't know goldfish grow so fast.
Thanks for your reply.

Tynk · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 200

On Feb 17, 12:21ï¿½pm, Romanta...@webtv.net (L u) wrote:
> Is it true that goldfish don't need a heater? I don't have one.
>
> Lu

Goldies have a general range between 68-76*f.
The key is keep the temp stable.
If this is needed by using a heater, then your answer would be yes.
However, consideration also needs to be made on how cold the room temp
is in the same area of the tank.
If your house is kept at 72*f, but the room the tank is kept in stays
at 65*f because of whatever reason....you would need a heater.
If you drop your thermostat at night to a chilly temp...then yes..you
might need a heater.
Stability is the main factor.
Fish can't handle temp swings like we can.

Hank Nussbacher · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 3

> Is it true that goldfish don't need a heater? I don't have one.

I have goldfish in my pond and last I checked they were doing fine at 2c this
winter as well as at 29c in the summer.

-Hank

L u · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 49

I can't read Celsius, but since you have a pond, I kind of understand.
Thank you.

L u · Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 49

My tank is next to a window in the living room, and the window leaks
air. I sleep without heat on.

dr-solo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 194

GF are NOT cold water fish. They actually thrive at 75-78oF. they can do well at
lower temps but what is really important is steady temps. with a 5 gallon tank the
temp would swing too wildly for good fish health. get a bigger tank and do get a
heater, like a 50 watt. dont get too big a heater for the tank because when the
heaters break if they are large enough they can so heat the water that it kills the
fish. Ingrid
http://weloveteaching.com/puregold/

On Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:21:29 -0500, Romantasy1@webtv.net (L u) wrote:

>Is it true that goldfish don't need a heater? I don't have one.
>
>Lu

dr-solo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 194

a large body of water will slowly heat and cool. it is sharp swings in temp that
bring on ich... especially temps that fall faster than 4oF per day. Ingrid

On Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:03:17 GMT, hank@interall.co.il (Hank Nussbacher) wrote:
>I have goldfish in my pond and last I checked they were doing fine at 2c this
>winter as well as at 29c in the summer.
>
>-Hank