Oscar without Heater?

Polarhound,

It doesn't need to be at 82F. Oscars can be happy in the mid 70's. The
ideal temp range for Oscars is 73-82.

Keeping Oscars at 64 will get you a lethargic unhappy fish. As well,
what happens if your heat goes out during the colder months? Even in
the south the temps can get down to frost-forming levels.

What happens if my heat goes out during the colder months? Probably the same
thing that would happen if I use a heater and the power goes out during the
colder months. :-)

The fish I have now can handle colder water no problem (many of them can
survive the winter in lakes here and I live in Salt Lake City, UT). I've
been toying with the idea of heating my smaller tank up into the 70s but I'm
just not sure I want to take that route.

Thanks.

Jonathan

"Sandy Birrell" wrote in message ...

Not according to this report from the Florida Museum of Natural
History.

"Dispersal northward in Florida appears to be restricted by
temperature. A 1982 Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission study
determined the lower lethal temperature for this species is 12.9° C.
In its native range, the oscar is valued by artisanal fishers as a
food fish."

Thats approx. 55ºF.

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Galler...car/oscar.html


I clicked on the above link and couldn't believe what I read -- I'm
starting a new thread. The Florida Museum must have posted this web
page as a practical joke ------ --Mark

From some of the posts on here and resources left the native Oscar likes warm water but leathal temperatures are around 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
I also have a tank with local fish in it such as bull head cat, pumpkin seed sunfish a couple brookies and a few large shiners, and a few tropical, an Oscar be one of them. My tank reaches temps of almost 80 in the summer and not above 64 in the winter. Mostly because it’s kept in my garage