Guppies can live in cold water. However, it is not recommended to keep them in cold water. Doing so will result in breeding issues, inactiveness, diseases, and even death. The ideal water temperature for guppies is 72°F to 82°F (22°C to 28°C). But, they survive in temperature up to 60°F.
Now, let us take an in-depth look at the water temperatures and the repercussions of keeping your guppies in cold water.
What Is The Lowest Water Temperature That Guppies Can Tolerate? – Ideal Water Temperature For Guppies
The ideal water temperature for guppies is 72°F to 82°F (22°C to 28°C). However, they can survive if the temperature falls up to 60°F. If it drops below 60°F (15°C), guppies can’t survive for long. Continuous fluctuation in the ideal water temperature range leads to serious health issues in guppies.
A sudden deviation in water temperature leads to the weakening of the immune system, lethargy, stress, and breeding issues.
Guppies are tropical fish that thrive well in warm water.
Now that you know guppies cannot tolerate cold temperature in the aquarium, let’s also see what happens to them if they are kept in cold water.
What Happens To Guppies If They Are Kept In Cold Water?
Guppies being tropical fish thrive well in warm water. They are easy-going fish that acclimatize well to any given habitat.
But this does not mean that you can play with their environment.
Guppies if kept in cold water, will face the following problems:
- Less Activity: Guppies are cold-blooded fish and require heat to become active. That is why they are usually kept in warm water where their activity level is at its best. If you keep your guppies in cold water, their activity level will be hampered. They will be less active as they become lethargic in cold water in the absence of heat.
- Increase In Diseases: Guppies, if kept in cold water, will not survive for long. Their chances of developing diseases will increase, and you will often find your guppies falling sick.
- Breeding Issues: Guppies are well-known for their breeding propensity. They breed well in warm water, in both freshwater as well as a marine aquarium. However, if you keep your guppies in cold water, it will have an adverse effect on their breeding. Guppies kept in cold water are less likely to breed as compared to warm water.
- Slow Growth Rate: Favorable living conditions are vital for the growth of any pet. Guppies thrive well in adequately heated conditions and grow up healthy. So if you keep your guppies in cold water, it will adversely impact your little ones’ growth.
- Stress Build Up: If you keep your guppies in cold water, their immunity weakens. Due to this, they feel stressed. Stress is not suitable for the well-being of your guppies.
Now it is clear that guppies suffer if they live in a cold water aquarium. But, do guppies die if they are kept in cold water?
Will Guppies Die In Cold Water?
Guppies can tolerate temperature up to 60°C. Any temperature below that is harmful to your guppies.
Since guppies are cold-blooded fish, they require heat to remain active.
Guppies will be more prone to diseases in cold water.
Also, their immunity weakens in cold water, and they become susceptible to stress.
Due to stress, there are high chances that your guppies will eventually die.
Now, since guppies cannot tolerate cold water and succumb to death, what can you do to help your guppies survive? Can you use a heater as an alternative?
Should Heater Be Used In A Guppy Tank?
Guppies require stable water temperature in the aquarium for their growth.
A heater is mainly used to regulate the temperature in the aquarium.
It is difficult to monitor and adjust the water temperature manually all the time.
If there are any fluctuations in the temperature, your guppies will get affected by it.
They can feel stressed due to the variation in temperature.
They may also refuse to eat as their immunity weakens, and they will become more susceptible to diseases.
Because of all these factors, a heater is recommended for guppies since precaution is always better than cure.
In the case of guppies, diseases are difficult to treat, and so it is better to prevent them.
However, if there are no sudden temperature changes, the heater is not needed in the tank. But this rarely happens in everyday life.
How To Keep Guppies In Cold Water Without A Heater?
Guppies are tropical fish that prefer warm water.
But, if you still wish to keep your guppies in cold water without a heater, you need to do certain things to help your guppies thrive.
Given below are a few things that you can do to keep your guppies in cold water without a heater:
- Lighting: Other than a heater, light is another option that can be used effectively. You can put appropriate lighting in the aquarium. It will not only make your tank look attractive but also help in warming the water.
- Kitchen: A kitchen is usually a place that is hot compared to other rooms in the house. You can keep your aquarium in the kitchen. The heat generated in the kitchen will assist in keeping the aquarium water warm.
- Direct Sunlight: Sunlight is a natural way to keep the tank water warm. You can place the tank near the window where there is direct sunlight. This will help to heat up the water, and your guppies will be more active.
- Indirect sunlight: Another way is to keep the aquarium at a place where there is indirect sunlight.
- Fireplace: In winter, you enjoy sitting near the fireplace as it provides heat to your body. The same is true for your fish tank as well. You can keep your aquarium near the fireplace. The heat generated by the fire will help to warm up the cold water in the aquarium.
- Retain Existing Heat: You can try to retain existing heat in the aquarium. Paper can act as insulation material. So, you can cover your tank with multiple layers of newspapers. This will ensure that the heat will be retained in the tank. Apart from newspapers, you can even make use of a towel or a thick blanket.
That was all about the guppies inside the aquarium. But, what if you have a pond outside and want to shift your guppies in the pond?
Can You Keep Guppies In The Outside Pond?
Guppies enjoy and live happily in an outside pond. However, the temperature outside plays a crucial role.
You can keep your guppies in the outdoor pond if the temperature does not drop below 68°F (20°C).
If you live in areas where winters are chilly, keeping your guppies outside in the pond is not advisable.
However, you can keep your guppies out in the spring. During spring, the temperature does not drop too much.
During the day, the sun rays will keep the water in the pond warmer, which will last for the night.
So during summer days, your guppies can undoubtedly enjoy the outside pond.
A heater is another option that you may look at to keep the pond water warm.
However, it is not advisable to use the heater in an outside pond where the temperature drops below the freezing point.
Also, using a heater is not economical and will turn out to be expensive to use.
Frequently Asked Question
Can guppies live in cold water with goldfish? Guppies are tropical fish that live in warm water. Goldfish, on the other hand, are cold-water fish. So, goldfish will thrive well if kept in cold water. On the other hand, guppies will not be comfortable in cold water and often refuse to eat, resulting in them becoming sick.
