The Paradise Fish and other cold water friends

[spitz006]

I am looking to set up a cold-water tank for my living room. The idea of not needing a heater appeals to me. Today I realized it would be awesome if I could also get away with not needing a bubbler! Are there any other cold-water labarynth-fish I could do? Maybe I can do a male and female paradisefish and then a big newt.

 

[kzimmerman]

You will still need a filter, and indeed, a bubbler is not necessary. I'm not familiar with Paradise fish being temperate, are you sure? I thought that they hailed from borneo, a definate tropical location. Anyway's, another very hardy fish that can be kept unheated is the white cloud mountain minnow. Just keep them in a small school. From China, although if I remember correctly they have been exterpated from their original habitat, and exist in captivity only. I could be wrong on that, but seem to remember reading about it some time ago. If you wanna go bigger, texas cichlids are temperate, but will probably beat the snot out of the gouramis.

 

[Conner]

flagfish are also a good temperate water fish. They are colorful, generally peaceful, don't grow to big, and can be kept with other peaceful fish like the cloud minnows.

Also look into fish like darters, daces, and mudminnows. Check here:
http://jonahsaquarium.com/JonahSite/fishlist.htm

and here:
http://www.zimmermansfish.com/Price.html

 

[Lupin]

How low will your temp be though?

 

[spitz006]

Poor college student southern Michigan winter temperature which probably dips into the 50's. I'm thinking of going with the flagfish and a violet goby and a small school of white-cheek gobies. I will use a bubbler, filter, and a light but no heater.

 

[warmouth]

They Need NO Heater. Think of a male paradise fish as a Siamese fighting fish that can live in cool water. If the temperature drops to 60o, even for long periods of time, no problem. He’ll slow down, but he’ll survive and thrive. Use a heater only if you plan to breed them.

The paradise fish or paradise gouramis (Macropodus opercularis), are small freshwater labyrinth fish found in ditches and paddy fields in East Asia, ranging from the Korean Peninsula to Northern Vietnam.
Habitat and Diet
Paradise gouramis are tolerant of virtually any water conditions, surviving in cool and warm waters alike. They can be kept in outdoor ponds, or even the simplest of unheated aquariums. They will accept virtually any food, but should be given a reasonably high-protein diet (as opposed to vegetable-based foods of the sort sold for goldfish.)
This is from two fish sites, Paradise fish are aggressive to any fish that looks like them (Gouramis and Saimese fighting fish) and need territories like native Sunfish. How big is the tank you want to set up?

 

[spitz006]

I was planning on a 20 gallon for a male and female and maybe a newt or some shrimp.

 

[YOOPER]

I was a poor college student in lower Michigan once. Great fish stores and nice collection areas.

 

[warmouth]

I was planning on a 20 gallon for a male and female and maybe a newt or some shrimp.

That would work out good.....except for the Shrimp (unless hes a feeder).