Re: Coldwater fish list?
#11
Hi, I've got an unheated coolwater tank. Temprature at this time of year is between 64F & 70F. It has been running for about 15 months without any problems. The fishes I have are 2 Ruby Barbs, 3 Golden Barbs, 4 WCMMs, 2 Black Banded Sunfish and 3 Bronze Corydoras. I will be moving the sunfish to a species tank with 3 others soon to try and breed them. I wouldn't recommend a cool tank if your room temprature would drop the tank water below 65f, well not with tropical species.
I have known people to keep Platys and guppies down quite cool also. I wouldn't just buy fish from a tropical heated tank and pop them into a cool tank either. I think you would be asking for trouble.
There are a few fish that look great in a cold tank that will go down to the 50s like the European Bitterling (Rhodeus sericeus). There are a few other bitterling types available now and again which are quite colourful during their breeding season, they are usally marked up as Rose Bitterling. Then there are our native species like the Sticklebacks, Millars Thumbs and Minnows, these can be quite interesting to keep.
You used to be able to get a lot of North American species suitable for the aqurium like, Fathead Minnows and Rosy Dace but I haven't seen them for sale in ages. Another you might consider is the Medaka or Ricefish (Oryzias latipes) It has a facinating breeding system and will go down to quite cool tempratures.
Hope this helps in someway.....
AtticIf I was a fish I would be a ? Mystus wickii