Many aquarists can't distinguish between tropical fish and cold water fish and mistakenly keep the two fish together. In fact, this is wrong, the living environment of the two kinds of fish is not the same, today I will share with you the difference between tropical fish and cold water fish, and their requirements for water quality.
What is cold water fish?
Generally, we refer to common goldfish and koi as cold water fish. They are adaptable and able to live at relatively low water temperatures. Both cold-water fish and tropical fish are warmer animals, and they both rely on water temperature to maintain body temperature. However, the body of cold-water fish has a buffer layer, so it is relatively less sensitive to water temperature. There are a small number of cold-water fish that can even keep their body temperature a few degrees higher than the water temperature.
The difference between cold water fish and tropical fish
1. Water temperature
Cold-water fish are most suitable for water temperatures at 18-24 degrees, and can grow if the temperature is too low, but the metabolism will become slower when eating less. Generally, when feeding indoors, there is no need to use heating rods.
Tropical fish are generally suitable for breeding at 24–27 degrees, tropical fish are sensitive to water temperature and generally use heating rods.
2. Oxygen consumption
Most of the cold-water fish oxygen consumption is relatively high, so to control the number of fish in the fish tank, in the case of more fish, in order to ensure that the oxygen content in the water is sufficient, for safety reasons, you can use an oxygen pump. Tropical fish generally do not need to worry about oxygen.
3. Color
Tropical fish will be more colorful and rich than cold water fish, and most of the fish in fish shops are tropical fish. Tropical fish are of higher ornamental value and are therefore more popular with fish farming enthusiasts.
4. Personality
The personality of cold-water fish is basically relatively mild, the regionality is not strong, and it is not very preemptive. On the contrary, many slightly larger tropical fish are more ferocious and aggressive, like to chase other fish to bite, and will also have food grabbing behavior.
5. Resistance
Cold-water fish have strong resistance, are not easy to get sick, and are easier to feed. If you are a novice, you can start by raising goldfish.
6. Activity space
Cold-water fish are generally large, require a large amount of space for movement, and are more suitable for outdoor pond rearing.
Can tropical and cold-water fish be polycultured?
Polyculture is generally not recommended, because the water temperature required by the two species of fish is different, and if the polyculture water temperature control is not proper, it is easy to make the fish sick.
In addition, cold-water fish have a gentle personality and swim more slowly. Some tropical fish have a fierce personality and swim fast, which is prone to cold water fish being chased and bitten and grabbed food.
Which is better to raise tropical fish or cold water fish?
There may be fish friendly odds, tropical fish or cold water fish which is better to raise? Will cold water fish have low water temperature requirements so it is better to raise? In fact, cold-water fish in a certain environmental conditions can indeed not use the heating rod, but does not mean that they are easy to raise, the specific or depends on the species, similar to goldfish although the temperature requirements are low, but also to avoid the large temperature difference between day and night caused by discomfort. And their stomach is not good, easy to get enteritis. When the temperature rises in the summer, goldfish are particularly prone to lack of oxygen. However, fish like the crucian carp, which are not dead in the skin, can be easily fed as long as they are regularly fed and changed to water.
The main thing about raising tropical fish is to do two things, water quality and water temperature. Tropical fish are sensitive in physique and must maintain good water quality for a long time in order to avoid getting sick, so they need to change the water frequently. Secondly, maintaining a suitable temperature, the water temperature changes slightly, it is easy to make the fish sick and stop eating.
Therefore, there is no kind of fish that is easier to raise, mainly depending on personal preferences and methods of raising.
The above is for everyone to answer what is cold water fish, and the difference between tropical fish and cold water fish, I hope this article can help you understand cold water fish.