Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fish Tanks and Equipment => Topic started by: Loubaa on November 17, 2014, 04:59:12 PM

Title: Can my fish survive without a heater?
Post by: Loubaa on November 17, 2014, 04:59:12 PM

My heater has popped and I can't get a new one until tomorrow. I have just changed the water and put in very slightly warmer than usual in the hope that they won't freeze to death overnight! They are in a draughty classroom and I won't be able to get hold of a new heater before tomorrow morning. Do you think they'll be OK??! I have guppies, platies, white cloud minnows and spotty cories.

Title: Re: Can my fish survive without a heater?
Post by: Sue on November 17, 2014, 05:06:27 PM

How cold is it likely to get overnight?

The good news is that all those species can cope with lower temps. Wrap the tank in anything you have to hand that will insulate it.
When you get the new heater, check the temp before turning it on and bring the temp up slowly. The temp will fall slowly overnight and you don't want to rush heating it back up again.

Title: Re: Can my fish survive without a heater?
Post by: Loubaa on November 17, 2014, 05:08:48 PM

Thanks Sue. I'll wrap it up as best I can. Fortunately I don't think we're forecast a frost tonight, but I imagine the room with be down to around 14 degrees.

Title: Re: Can my fish survive without a heater?
Post by: Sue on November 17, 2014, 05:14:36 PM

Leaving the light on will help a bit. It isn't good for fish to have the light on all night but as it's only for 1 night, it'll be OK. Any plants should be OK as well for just the one night.

Title: Re: Can my fish survive without a heater?
Post by: Loubaa on November 18, 2014, 09:38:38 AM

Fish all happy as Larry this morning, even Mickey - maybe I have been overheating them!!

Title: Re: Can my fish survive without a heater?
Post by: Richard W on November 18, 2014, 10:12:18 AM

Fish are a lot more resilient than some people think. I think it's nonsense when people say "My fish needs a temperature of 24 - 26 according to XXXYYY site. Will it survive at 23?" Of course it will, and won't know the difference. Fish today are like today's children, over pampered and over protected, not surprisingly they seem to get more illnesses etc than in the past. I've been reducing my temperatures steadily, everybody still fine at 21 max...........
The article "Whaddya mean it's too hot?" on Seriously Fish should be read by everybody.

Title: Re: Can my fish survive without a heater?
Post by: Sue on November 18, 2014, 01:50:08 PM

I agree. That's why I asked how cold the tank was likely to get. All the fish in the tank can cope with quite low temps.


Glad to hear they are all OK  ;D