how cold of temps can oscars handle??

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
i was referring to the house heater. the tank usually stays house temp, or a little warmer cause of the internal pumps. if i remember to turn the heat on tonight ill see what it is in the morning and go from there.

good info tho, thanks.
 
Hawaii has introduced oscars that are an invasive species and the water get's down to 68 degrees or colder depending on the time of year. During the colder months they tend to get lethargic and are harder to catch (same with the red devils, peacock bass, etc.) but they can survive just fine at that temperature. Below 65 and they start to die off.

I'd personally say that the vast majority of people keep their tanks way too hot, and the mid to low 70's would be OK for a month or two, if not year round.

According to www.fishbase.org oscars are found in water ranging from 22-25 degrees Celsius (71.6 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit). Yet I bet a lot of people on here keep them in the very un-naturally warm water of 82-85 degrees F. yet I don't see the gang-wagon jumping on them?
 
^^^ i wanna agree with you saying peeps keep there tanks a little on the hot side. its almost bath water. i have also seen temps saying to the low 70's.

i guess some people like them baked.
 
Modest_Man;4530989; said:
Hawaii has introduced oscars that are an invasive species and the water get's down to 68 degrees or colder depending on the time of year. During the colder months they tend to get lethargic and are harder to catch (same with the red devils, peacock bass, etc.) but they can survive just fine at that temperature. Below 65 and they start to die off.

I'd personally say that the vast majority of people keep their tanks way too hot, and the mid to low 70's would be OK for a month or two, if not year round.

According to www.fishbase.org oscars are found in water ranging from 22-25 degrees Celsius (71.6 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit). Yet I bet a lot of people on here keep them in the very un-naturally warm water of 82-85 degrees F. yet I don't see the gang-wagon jumping on them?
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Not really true. Oscars are found in Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. I think the temps given on fishbase are more accurate for Peru, but if you look up any other cichlid from Colombia and Brazil, their temps range from 78-85.
 
oscars are found there....but oscars are also raised in the states with whatever the breeder sets the temps at.........there is alot of variables......im pretty sure i dont have wild oscars.
 
Nemesis;4531058; said:
Not really true. Oscars are found in Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. I think the temps given on fishbase are more accurate for Peru, but if you look up any other cichlid from Colombia and Brazil, their temps range from 78-85.
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exCichlasoma atromaculatum, which is endemic to Colombia has a minimum temperature of 23 degrees Celsius (73.4 degrees F) listed on www.fishbase.org. First cichlid I looked at in Colombia. Granted, the higher temp is higher but the low is still very relevant.

It's getting slightly sidetracked but where am I wrong in my previous post? Keeping an oscar in the mid to low 70's in no worse (and probably better) than keeping one in 82-86 degree water.
 
Modest_Man;4531095; said:
exCichlasoma atromaculatum, which is endemic to Colombia has a minimum temperature of 23 degrees Celsius (73.4 degrees F) listed on www.fishbase.org. First cichlid I looked at in Colombia. Granted, the higher temp is higher but the low is still very relevant.

It's getting slightly sidetracked but where am I wrong in my previous post? Keeping an oscar in the mid to low 70's in no worse (and probably better) than keeping one in 82-86 degree water.
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You were wrong by saying that 82-85 degrees would be unnatural. It seems I worded myself incorrectly, most other cichlids from Colombia and Brazil range between 78- 86 degrees. Atromaculatum are found in the northern part of Colombia, where the water can be a bit cooler, but fishbase still list them as 23c-29c(73.4f-84.2f).

And I feel much better housing my fish from 80-82 degrees, than 72-75! Reason being less chance of diseases like ich striking, and fish with a better metabolism and growth rate.

But yes, this is getting sidetracked. Sorry :(
 
Also, don't get me wrong! I'm not saying anyone who keeps they're tanks in the mid to lower 70's is wrong, I just prefer my temps a little higher. And imo it is a bit more optimal for my fish.
 
i dont have a heater and my temp doest go below 72, now when we get the woodstove going i bet the temp will be around 78 to 80.
also i added instilation around my tank to help keep the heat in.
plus my fish dont seem bothered by the temp cause the oscars are playing wiith the floating plastic plants and is active alot.
 
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