Hi,
We have been having high temperatures here in Portland over the last few days. We actualy passed 100 degrees the last two days, today is supposed to be a bit cooler, in the 90's. I live on the 5th floor of an old apt building that doesnt have any AC and my window gets direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day - from 1 to 8:00 pm. So it has been toasty in here. I put one of those thermometers on the outside of my tank, it reads up to 84 degrees, well it has gone all black indicating the temperature is higher than that. Right now, after a night of 70 or so degrees, it is at 84. My fishes seem to be doing ok. the betta I am not too worried about, but how hot is too hot for a goldfish? What sort of problems can I encounter? What should I do if I see any symptoms? He has actually been extremely active over the past few days, so I don't even know if this is something that I need to worry about.
thanks,
Rachael
Full Version: How Hot Is Too Hot?
I would think anything over 85 would be the danger zone
Hi neighbor!
I am up in Seattle also enjoying this um, lovely, heat wave! It hasn't quite hit 100 here, but has been in the mid-90's which you know is not usual for us.
I have one of those stick on thermometers as well and it is also all black indicating a very high temp. But I have a regular thermometer inside the tank as well and it only reads at 77, higher than I normally have it, but still safe. I have found those stick on thermometers to not be super accurate, the one I have seems to measure the temp outside the tank rather than in it.
My betta tank is usually kept at 80-82 degrees, I actually have a heater in there, but when it gets this hot I unplus it since it is the kind that does not turn off when the water reaches a certain temp. Bettas like warmer temps so I would *think* he would be ok at 85 (if it really is that high), but probably not much hotter. With the heater unplugged, my betta tank is staying right at 82.
Any chance you have a regular thermometer in your home? Like the kind you use for cooking? You could try checking the water with that although I am not entirely sure how accurate that would be.
Other things you can try that may help if itreally is that hot would be to open the tank lids for a bit (if you have them), I find that the condensation sometimes seems to make the water warmer. I have heard others say you can freeze clean bottles of water (do not use soaps or detergents though) and float them in the tank to try and cool it down a bit. I wondering if covering the tank with something dark during direct sunlight hours would help too? I would think that since your fish are acting normally that they are probably ok too, but i will let someone with more expertise weigh in on that.
I am no expert but wanted you to know that I am concerned about the same thing, and was really worried until I figured out that my stick on thermometer was WAY off. Good luck keeping your fish (and yourself!) cool!
I am up in Seattle also enjoying this um, lovely, heat wave! It hasn't quite hit 100 here, but has been in the mid-90's which you know is not usual for us.
I have one of those stick on thermometers as well and it is also all black indicating a very high temp. But I have a regular thermometer inside the tank as well and it only reads at 77, higher than I normally have it, but still safe. I have found those stick on thermometers to not be super accurate, the one I have seems to measure the temp outside the tank rather than in it.
My betta tank is usually kept at 80-82 degrees, I actually have a heater in there, but when it gets this hot I unplus it since it is the kind that does not turn off when the water reaches a certain temp. Bettas like warmer temps so I would *think* he would be ok at 85 (if it really is that high), but probably not much hotter. With the heater unplugged, my betta tank is staying right at 82.
Any chance you have a regular thermometer in your home? Like the kind you use for cooking? You could try checking the water with that although I am not entirely sure how accurate that would be.
Other things you can try that may help if itreally is that hot would be to open the tank lids for a bit (if you have them), I find that the condensation sometimes seems to make the water warmer. I have heard others say you can freeze clean bottles of water (do not use soaps or detergents though) and float them in the tank to try and cool it down a bit. I wondering if covering the tank with something dark during direct sunlight hours would help too? I would think that since your fish are acting normally that they are probably ok too, but i will let someone with more expertise weigh in on that.
I am no expert but wanted you to know that I am concerned about the same thing, and was really worried until I figured out that my stick on thermometer was WAY off. Good luck keeping your fish (and yourself!) cool!
This is what Emma's article says about goldie temps, but again, I wonder if your water really is that hot if your thermometer is on the outside of the tank
10. THERMOMETER. A tank thermometer is very useful, especially if you live somewhere that has very hot summers or very cold winters. Goldfish prefer a temperature of between 65F and 75F. Below 50F they will go into a form of hibernation and above 85F they will begin to suffer.
10. THERMOMETER. A tank thermometer is very useful, especially if you live somewhere that has very hot summers or very cold winters. Goldfish prefer a temperature of between 65F and 75F. Below 50F they will go into a form of hibernation and above 85F they will begin to suffer.
you dont want to cover it with anything dark, dark colors absorb more heat, if anything you will want to cover it with white, or a reflective material like aluminum foil . . .
Keep the hood open and clip a fan to the side, directed to the surface.
There was an article in PFK last/this month on fancy goldfish and im sure it said they can live in temps up to 38c 
not sure what that is in F. but yea.. pretty high.
not sure what that is in F. but yea.. pretty high.
Thanks for the tips. I do have a cooking thermometer, so I will stick that in there and see what it reads. It is a bit cooler today. I need to do a water change and vacuum my gravel but am thinking I may hold off another couple of days because I don't want to add stress to the situation. The tank never gets any direct sunlight, and I have been keeping the drapes closed when it hits my side of the building to try to keep my apartment cooler.
Does anyone know if the glue on the outside of water bottles would be detrimental to the fishes health? Intuitively, it would seem to me, the answer would be yes. How do you get the glue off? I tried scrubbing it with soap and a sponge, and rubbing it with rubbing alcohol, no dice. I'm not sure where to get a water bottle that doesn't have a label glued on it. Would it be okay to fill an ice cube tray with tank water and freeze it, then put the cubes in the water in a plastic bag?
FYI 38c is about 100.4f I hope my tank didn't get that hot! My goldfish seemed to be okay.
thanks,
rachael
Does anyone know if the glue on the outside of water bottles would be detrimental to the fishes health? Intuitively, it would seem to me, the answer would be yes. How do you get the glue off? I tried scrubbing it with soap and a sponge, and rubbing it with rubbing alcohol, no dice. I'm not sure where to get a water bottle that doesn't have a label glued on it. Would it be okay to fill an ice cube tray with tank water and freeze it, then put the cubes in the water in a plastic bag?
FYI 38c is about 100.4f I hope my tank didn't get that hot! My goldfish seemed to be okay.
thanks,
rachael
Lucy, I'm sure goldfish may survive for short periods with water that high with extra aeration, but I have a hard time believing that they will live very long.
The ice bag would work the same way as the frozen waterbottle. When I used to keep goldfish, my tank would get as high as yours, even though I had air conditioning. I tried the frozen water bottles, but they melted withing 10 minutes, and were pretty much useless. Opening up the hood helps cool down the water a lot. I haven't tried the fan idea, but it was recomended to me. Cool air running along the surface would make the fan pretty effective.
Right now, one of the most important things to remedy is the oxygen level. The amound of dissolved oxygen in warm water is much less than cool or cold, and goldfish ned lots of it. If you don't already have a powerful air pump and bubbble bar/stone/wand, I suggest you get one as soon as you can.
The ice bag would work the same way as the frozen waterbottle. When I used to keep goldfish, my tank would get as high as yours, even though I had air conditioning. I tried the frozen water bottles, but they melted withing 10 minutes, and were pretty much useless. Opening up the hood helps cool down the water a lot. I haven't tried the fan idea, but it was recomended to me. Cool air running along the surface would make the fan pretty effective.
Right now, one of the most important things to remedy is the oxygen level. The amound of dissolved oxygen in warm water is much less than cool or cold, and goldfish ned lots of it. If you don't already have a powerful air pump and bubbble bar/stone/wand, I suggest you get one as soon as you can.
My fish tank is literally 35-40 degrees celcius for over 6 months of the year (24/7, my tank dosent cool overnight its too big), my fish love this weather, they hate cold weather (25 degress - winter).
They are so healthy and lively during the warmer months.
They are so healthy and lively during the warmer months.
Yesterday and the day before my tank warmed up to about 78 degrees. My fish seemed to love it and where extra active.
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