- Discus fish
When you pick fish for your aquarium, you may be drawn to the more colorful fish or those with more exotic anatomical features (eyes and fins). Most of these fish are native to tropical waters, whether they are freshwater or saltwater fish. Their bodies have adapted to the narrow year 'round temperature range of the tropical waters---about 72 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit or 22 to 26 degrees Celsius. Some fish thrive best in even warmer water; the discus fish, for example, prefers 80 to 86°F or 27 to 30°C. - Depending on where you are and where you place your aquarium, the temperature of the water may vary. Most homes have an ambient room temperature of 68 to 72°F (20 to 22°C), which is too cold for most tropical fish. If you heat your home in the winter and you turn the heat off when you are not home, the water temperature could dip as low as 60°F or 16°C.
- Because tropical fish are used to a fairly narrow band of constant temperatures, changes in their aquarium water temperature can produce stress on the fish. It may lower their immune response and make them more susceptible to infections from fungi and parasites that can travel through the air in your home and get into the aquarium water. Once one fish in your tank becomes infected, the other fish in your tank are then at higher risk for infection, even if they are handling the stress of the cooler water better. Without medication, infected fish may die.
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