Un-heated Aquarium Options
Also called 'cold-water' tanks ... some options for the unheated non-tropical aquarium.
North American Temperate Species
CrayFish
about the MadTom catfish .. endanged in so areas - but a safe buy in its species variants
CrayFish Shop + other fish snails mussels
Jonah's Aquarium - other fish etc
Comet Gold Fish (12 to 28 cents & up)
Comet GoldFish
Koko's GoldFish
Bristol Aquaria 'Comet' page
54F 14 C Rosy Red Minnows .. low temperature range .. living comfortably
Rosy Red Minnows Pimephales promelas
White Clouds 'Han's Fish' ... also an option
(available in gold variation)
Ghost Shrimp for tank scavenging
Ghost Shrimp
Paradise Fish 'Macropodus' also are an option for 'cold water aquariums' [to 8C - 50F] (make sure you select the cooler climate species of Korea & China) etc
Aqualand site -Macropodus Opercularis - Care & Breeding
Macropodus Opercularis Care & Breeding [UK site Goldfish Bowl - especcially for coldwater fish
Macropodus Care & Breeding - from Aquaworld -- this species darker Chinese-Indian variety -- macropodus cupana
Rosy Barbs/Red Barbs
[Puntius conchonius] are also cool water tolerant -- other 'Barb' families and Zebra Danios are also cool water tolerant --acclimate ..some limited about 70 F --- ie room temperature in some pces.
Aquaria Central :: coldwater fish ideas
Minnows (ie stickleback or n american species for native cooler waters)
Aquarium Fish.net Frank's Aquarium
Coldwater CatFish ... frequently a topic in British -UK unheated aquaria. One variety initially popular grows to a 8-10 inch size. Seeking at Franks or Elmers ... a referred MadTom coldwater catfish (North America) which stabilizes at 3 inches; otherwise a loach - weather loaches can endure cool water - cf too the Violet Loach or DragonFish 'Dozo' (ie as used in ponds).
Crayfish
One or two crayfish can live in a 10 gal [ one 'king' per tank - in mine past one declawed and partly ate the other ] had two 'molts' now and his live eating exceeded the 'new tank's full in-aquaria bacteria load to consume the micro-organics ..resulting in more cloudiness (smoky water) than usual. The UG otherwse handles particulates well & the fltter cartridges are supplemented with ammonia-reducing resin nuggets and activated carbon. As the tank cycles, the tank bacterial balance should clear most food bacteria causing cloudiness. If water temperature slows the cycling - then that will be reported.
That crayfish 'took a walk' though and is no longer in the tank; a larger ivory mystery snail was returned to the tank, and several small snails (which the goldfish eat due to the smaller size). Currently there are 'five goldfish'.
The tank has cycled well - the algae build-up -starting with red-brown; then heavy green algae on the rocks (igneous), has slowed in growth due to nitrates diminshment & the scavenging algae eating of the snails & occasionally the fish.
A layer of 'duck weed' / 'limna minor', when added, greens the surface and slightly diminishes the aquariums bright light (75 wt equiv) -- Gold fish will eat all this ovenight -- and the rocks have been so groomed by the snails that they appear 'algae-free'; but are actually close cropped.
'Comets' eat small snails well enough to clean much of a tank - but may not adjust to warmer tanks well - but will take a temporary stay.
More of this covered in the BLOG below:
AQUARIUM
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