Tropical Fish Forums

[nonamethefish]

I have been toying with this idea for a long time so I figured I might as well post it.

What types of cichlids are able to tolerate cool water(say, 60 degrees plus). Texas cichlid seems like an obvious choice on that one.

The idea would be to put a few fish outside in spring...observe parental behavior during the summer, and in fall bring in the fish I could to sell/give away and keep a few juveniles inside over the winter. 40 degree temperatures I'm assuming would wipe out any missed and keep them from being permanently established in the pond.
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46 gallon bowfront tank
10 gallon planted single species tank
10 gallon tank
plus all kinds of smaller containers

[rocketsfan01n11]

I was at a hotel in Iowa and they had a large shallow pond. Like 1 1/2 feet deep at the most and it was around 10 feet long and 8 feet wide. Don't know how many gallons that is, but they had a huge carp, 8-10 big fancy gold fish, and bunch of little goldies and, a texas cichlid. Now this was inside but none of the goldfish were ripped up so they got along OK. But this is different than outside.
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55 Gallon- Mbuna
20 gallon- Community
10 gallon- Fancy goldfish

[Oscer]

I realy like the idea (mostly because it works out cheaper than if I had a tank of the same size), but IMO it's only rewarding if you wish to breed or grow your fish.

I don't think cichlids look to good if you viewing them from the top, now I've seen some people putting windows in, but it's not a patch, on a tank.
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Years of fish keeping = Good advice

[toffee]

I am thinking of doing the same too, for a really stupid reason. My cichlids are too active and never allow the java moss to get established. I am thinking of letting the cichlids spend the summer in the backyard pond. During their 'vacation' I hope to get a carpet of java moss established. The dithers will stay in the tank.

My worries:

1. would the night temp (40 deg?) lower the water temp too much for the cichlids?
2. when they 'return' from their vacation, will they still be friendly to the dithers? Currently, I have life bearers and tetras with the big cichlids for the past 2 years and they seens to ignore each other. I kinda like that.
3. these are tank fishes, really friendly creatures that eats off my hands and greets visitors by swimming to the front of the tank and wriggle. Can they survive outdoor predators?

Thanks for helping.

[MrTwister]

If you do put them out side make sure birds can't get at them. My pond gold fish were raided constantly by crows and sea gulls.

[toffee]

[Oscer]

One of my friends constructed a grid using fine fish line over his koi pond. It works well and you can hardly see it, and it's quite funny when birds dive into it.
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Years of fish keeping = Good advice

[toffee]

that is a good idea

[Oscer]

[toffee]