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

"Jonathan Wood" wrote in message link.net...
Does anyone have experience keeping an Oscar without a heater?

I have some local fish in two tanks (50g and 125g) and the water is room
temperature (around 64). I was wondering if an Oscar could live in such a
tank.

Jonathan

No. Ideal Oscar temperature is about 78 degrees F. When the aquarium
temperature drops below around 75, he'll lose all his color and lie
down on his side in the gravel. The stress would kill him in about a
week. --Mark

Thanks for the comments.

Jonathan

"Mark Stone" wrote in message
om...
"Jonathan Wood" wrote in message
link.net...
Does anyone have experience keeping an Oscar without a heater?

I have some local fish in two tanks (50g and 125g) and the water is room
temperature (around 64). I was wondering if an Oscar could live in such
a
tank.

Jonathan

No. Ideal Oscar temperature is about 78 degrees F. When the aquarium
temperature drops below around 75, he'll lose all his color and lie
down on his side in the gravel. The stress would kill him in about a
week. --Mark