What does this mean? Goldfish have to pump larger quantities of water through their gills to get the same amount of oxygen. Water at 78 degrees has oxygen concentrations about 20 percent lower than water at 58 degrees. Warmer waters hold lower concentrations of oxygen. Second, temperature directly affects other physical and chemical properties of water, which in turn affect the fish. Goldfish in aquariums kept at 75 degrees will probably eat five to 10 times more fish food per month than goldfish kept at 58 degrees. As water temperature moves from the 50s to the 70s, the speed of digestion increases, the rate of oxygen consumption goes up, and the immune response quickens. Fancy goldfish in water that is 50 degrees Fahrenheit are almost catatonic.Ĭomplex metabolic processes such as digestion, respiration and immune response, are directly tied to water temperature. Goldfish in cool ponds move more slowly than goldfish in very warm ponds. This means that goldfish are at the mercy of the water temperature to regulate critical body functions.įor example, simple functions such as locomotion are affected by water temperature. They absorb energy from the water (and to a far lesser extent, from sunlight) and they release energy back into the water. Their body temperature is determined largely by the temperature of the surrounding water. How does water temperature affect goldfish? First, goldfish are exothermic, as are all fish. Goldfish just happen to tolerate well a wider range of environmental changes and mixes than most tropicals. In truth most fish are more adaptable than hobbyists believe, but acclimatization is also a question of getting other environmental variables in order. Goldfish in general are very adaptable when it comes to water temperature. Let’s work through the issue of water temperature and fancy goldfish. Chillers are quite expensive and are much more necessary for marine reef systems filled with expensive corals - higher temperatures can have lethal effects. This, in turn, increases operation and aquarium maintenance demands and the risk of system failure. It is a waste of money and unnecessarily adds complexity to your fish aquarium setup. To put it simply, forget about the chiller. The fish appear to be okay at this temperature, but I am wondering what the ideal would be for this species in an aquarium. I don’t want to spend the money for a chiller until I decide if this will be a long-term hobby for me. Although my home in Texas is air-conditioned, my aquarium stays about 80 degrees because of the pump and two fluorescent tubes. The books I have consulted suggest ranges from 55 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. I recently became involved in keeping fancy goldfish. I have a question about the proper temperature for fancy goldfish aquariums.
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