Heater availability and precautions

A heater is an essential piece of equipment for tropical fish keepers.But in the case of goldfish, it is not required. However, close to half of long-time goldfish keepers are currently using heaters or have used heaters in the past.However, using a heater is not always justified. What really matters is whether or not you need to use a heater in your goldfish keeping. Then there are three main benefits that occur when you use a heater to determine if it is necessary.

These three advantages lead to solutions to the barriers that stand in the way of keeping goldfish. However, there are advantages and disadvantages to each of them. We will now explain them.

When you keep goldfish, you are bound to run into the wall of disease. There are a variety of diseases such as white spot disease and tail wagging disease.By using a heater, you will be able to keep the water temperature at 25°C to 28°C at all times. This environment will naturally reduce the risk of disease because the goldfish's immune system will always remain in a high state.In addition to preventing disease, if they do get sick, their high level of immunity means that they are less likely to become seriously ill and will recover more quickly after the disease is cured. However, once a heater is used, it is difficult to remove it from the aquarium tank outside of the summer season. If the water temperature drops rapidly when the heater is removed due to the cold outside temperature, the immunity of the goldfish will decrease and the risk of disease will increase.

When you keep goldfish, there is a certain size that they will grow to over a certain period of time,If you have a target size of goldfish that you want to grow faster, you may want to use a heater. In this case, a heater may be used. By using a heater, you can increase the amount of food the goldfish eats by keeping the water temperature between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius at all times, which will synergistically increase the size of the goldfish and make it grow faster.Goldfish have a high appetite when the water temperature is high and a low appetite when the water temperature is low, so by using a heater, you are creating a situation where they always have an appetite. However, if you continue to force-feed your fish because of their appetite, they will grow at a faster pace than normal and their skeletal structure will become abnormal, and in the worst case, their body will become unbalanced and they may die. In addition, forcing them to feed may cause their intestinal environment to deteriorate, which may lead to diseases and death due to stress, etc. Therefore, when you use a heater, please ask them to be careful about the amount of food they are fed. If you do not want to force them to grow up and do not mind them growing naturally, there is not much need to use heaters.

If you are not using a heater, etc,Although spawning occurs only once in the spring, the use of heaters can create a pseudo-spawning season, which makes it possible to predict the timing of spawning to some extent.In addition, some fry spawn only once a year in the fall, which is rare. However, if you do not use a heater, the fry born in the fall are called "winterlings" and do not grow, but by using a heater, you can keep the water temperature between 25°C and 28°C, reducing the risk of fry death. However, once a heater is used, it cannot be removed until spring, so it is best to think carefully before using a heater.

Heaters used for goldfish areA heater for tropical fish is recommended over a heater for goldfish.Many heaters for goldfish are set at 18 to 20 degrees Celsius, which is the most comfortable water temperature for goldfish, but it is also the temperature at which pathogens that can cause disease become most active. Therefore, if you are not careful even for a moment, the water temperature will quickly become the temperature at which the goldfish will become ill. If you have a clear reason for installing a heater, such as "to cure a disease," you should choose a heater with a temperature setting of 25°C or higher. If possible,We recommend that you choose an integrated heater and thermostat (variable temperature heater) rather than an automatic heater (fixed temperature heater) because it can be used in any situation.*Nowadays, heaters for goldfish with temperatures of 25°C or higher are also available.

Unlike tropical fish, goldfish can choose whether or not to use a heater, but there are exceptionsI would also recommend the use of heaters with regard to (foreign) goldfish imported from China, Southeast Asia, and other countries.Most imported goldfish are not accustomed to the cold because they are raised in tropical rainforests or other climates that are warm throughout the year, so they may become stressed and sick if they are suddenly exposed to cold weather in Japan. Therefore, it is better to use a heater for imported goldfish. If you are not sure whether your goldfish is imported or not, please ask the shopkeeper.