Goldfish is one of the most common and charming fish types that every fish pet owner likes. They make their aquarium glitter and shine with these beautiful water creatures, but your finny friend will die soon if you cannot care for the ideal temperature. So many goldfish pet owners ask a common question: What is the ideal goldfish tank temperature? Most of us are unaware of the suitable temperature required for a goldfish tank. This post is specifically for those readers who want to buy a goldfish in the future or those who already have one in their aquarium or tank. Don’t forget to check; otherwise, you can’t become a good goldie owner.
Goldfish Tank Temperature
What is the goldfish tank temperature, and what is suitable for goldfish? The answer is it ranges between 20°C – 23°C (68 °F – 74°F). This temperature is high enough for proper growth, and if it is not at this level, then your goldfish become stressed by hot water and is sluggish by low oxygen levels.
The Natural Habitat Of Goldfish
The natural habitat of goldfish is fresh inland water and wetland in temperate regions. Goldfish’s most prominent natural habitat is freshwater with slow or no movement. It includes rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, and swamps.
In the wild, the suitable habitat is the temperate climate, and the region ranges from northern Vietnam to eastern Siberia. Still, this water creature is well adapted to different temperature conditions like variant ph levels, temperatures, and water quality.
Tank temperature or outdoor ponds temperature is set up according to the natural habitat of goldfish to keep them safe and healthy for a long time.
Factors Affecting Goldfish Tank Temperature
Some prominent factors that affect Goldie’s ideal temperature areas are as follows:
Types of Goldfish
Types of goldfish have a very important role in tank water temperature, as comets (hardy fish) and common goldfish can tolerate warmer water and cooler temperatures better than any form of fancy goldfish. So, if you have a slim-bodied goldfish in a tank, the temperature should range between 55 and 75 degrees F. But in the case of fancy goldfish, you should have an ideal tank temperature for goldfish’s survival, such as a water temp between 68 and 72 degrees F.
Remember, what temperature you choose according to your fish type is consistent instead of any water temperature fluctuation because sudden temperature variations affect the goldfish’s health very badly.
Climate Changes
The climate is not in our control, so keeping the external temperature in mind while setting up a water tank or aquarium is preferable. It is only possible to make changes in tank water temperature for goldfish with the season and outside temperature changes.
If the season is warmer, you can use an aquarium chiller to cool down the temperature of the tank water or aquarium, and if you live in cooler weather, then it is necessary to have a tank heater.
Breeding
The ideal temperature of goldfish also depends upon whether your goldie is in what state. If you are trying to breed goldfish, slightly raise the tank water temperature. Consider warmer temperatures between 68-74 degrees Fahrenheit that are available in springtime.
Warmer temperatures speed up the metabolism of goldfish, which automatically cause them to produce more eggs. So, raising the water temperature is helpful if you want proper breeding of your goldie. Most hobbyists use aquarium heaters to raise the temperature in the breeding season.
Ideal Goldie Tank Temperature
Recommended temperature range and optimal temperature for fancy goldfish are from 68° to 74° F (20°C to 22°C), while other goldfish, including comet goldfish and shubunkins, are kept between 60° to 70°F (18°C to 24°C).
Ph is between 6.5 to 7.5; if the ph level changes, Goldie show signs of loss of appetite, sluggishness, and bad health. Goldies are cold-water fish, that’s why they can tolerate a wide range of temp within these ranges. Still, sudden temperature changes are not recommended for goldfish.
How To Measure And Adjust the Temperature of Goldfish Tank
The best way to measure tank temperature is to buy an aquarium thermometer that accurately measures the tank’s temperature. There are three types of thermometers to measure temperature, and they are as follows:
- One thermometer you can easily stick to the inside of your goldie’s tank with a suction cup.
- The second one that hangs on the inside with a clip.
- The third one is a recommended digital thermometer because of its accurate measurements.
The tank heater makes tank temp adjustments; if the tank temp is low, raise the temperature slightly to adjust the temperature. If the temperature is high, adjust the heater to lower the settings to a stable tank temperature.
If heat adjustment of tank temperature is difficult for you, you can use an automatic heater that can adjust the temperature based on the water temperature in your tank.
Tips For Maintaining A Stable Goldfish Tank Temperature
A moderate water Goldfish temperature range is required for a stable goldie tank because if the water is hotter, which means less oxygen is in the water. As your goldie needs oxygen to live; therefore, an adequate aeration system is required for a stable Goldie ideal temperature.
Don’t use a tall tank which comes with a poor surface area to volume ratio as it causes poor aeration and less space to goldie movement. Instead, use a larger surface area tank that is best for your orange pet overall. In addition, set up an air pump into it.
- To keep the temperature of the aquarium or water tank stable, use a high-quality and suitable size heater. 5 watts of heater power is best per gallon of water.
- For maintaining the proper goldfish aquarium temperature, its location is very important. A water tank or an aquarium exposed to sunlight or any other heat source is unsafe. Cold water and fluctuation in water temperature can cause stress, so place the aquarium in a stable location.
- You should have a temperature thermometer to check the aquarium’s temperature regularly to save from any fluctuation and stabilize the temperature.
- Some other tips include a lid that covers the tank so that we prevent heat loss by evaporation.
Also, read our guide about other pets:
Common Temperature-Related Problems In Goldfish Tanks
The temperature has a great effect on goldfish life, and that is the reason fluctuations in temperature can cause problems related to their health. Some of them are:
- Overheating is one of the major temperature changes that can cause stress, oxygen deprivation, and death in extreme cases. Goldfish can survive only in temperatures between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 24 degrees Celsius). If the water temperature rises above the recommended temperature, it will cause overheating, leading to high risks of organ damage, nervous breakdown, and other health problems in goldies. The major causes of overheating or warmer temperatures are the exposure of the aquarium to sunlight, heater malfunctioning, and sometimes aquarium lights.
- Just like overheating, Goldie cannot survive cold water. Temperature below 65 degrees Fahrenheit harms goldfish health as they become more sluggish and prone to diseases. Metabolism of the goldie’s body slows down, which causes digestive problems and other health issues. Extra cold water leads them to death many times.
- Common goldfish diseases include white spot disease, goldfish fungus, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis(ich), and swim bladder disease. This disease can be deadly if we cannot provide our goldie ideal temperature.
- Frequent temperature changes cause fluctuation in tank water that, most of the time, gives stress and shock to goldfish, leading to illness and sometimes causing death also.
- Inconsistent water temp badly affects goldfish’s immune system, making them more susceptible to diseases.
You can keep your goldie safe from such problems by buying a good-quality water tank and also purchasing a high-quality thermometer to monitor the Goldfish water temp in your tank. Keep your tank away from exposure to sunlight or other heat sources like air conditioners. You can use the heater to maintain the tank water temp if you live in an area with below-normal water temp.
Conclusion:
It is necessary to know the ideal temperature range of a tank or an aquarium if you want that your goldie lives a long and healthy life. This post is helpful for Goldie’s pet owners to stay with their charming and mesmerizing beauty for a long time. By knowing the ideal goldfish water temperature, you will be able to keep your goldie healthy and safe.
