What Aquarium Water Temperature Can Fish Live In Cold Regions?

I have encountered many fish owners who are always paranoid about the damage water temperature can do to their fish, especially people living in cold climatic zones without aquarium heaters.

So, to clarify the queries, I must first mention that fish survival in cooler water depends entirely on it’s species. Certain tropical fish may do best in temperatures between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Other cold-water fishes can survive lower than that, too. I will get into more detail now.

The Ideal Water Temperature For a Fish

As a general rule, most fish species typically found in an ordinary home or business aquarium will do well at tank water temperatures of 24 – 26.5°C (75°-80°F).

Maintaining the ideal temperature is very important for aquarium fish, as they are ectothermic, meaning they cannot control their body temperature, and their functioning and health are highly dependent on their environmental temperature.

If you keep your fish at a temperature lower than their minimum range, you will make them less active and highly affect their immune system. Similarly, if the temperature is too high, it will cause their breathing and metabolism to speed up while the oxygen level of the fish tank decreases.

What Is The Lowest Temperature a Fish Can Live in?

Fish also have certain temperature ranges they can tolerate. Hence, if their surrounding temperature decreases, it can become alarming after falling lower than 20 degrees.

This is specifically for freshwater marine and tropical fish. On the other hand, cold-water fish can handle temperatures as low as 10 degrees in unheated conditions.

This is why I recommend that people who live in low-climatic regions opt for cold-water fish instead.

Cold Water Fish Species

Now that I have mentioned the coldwater species, here is a list of some of the coldwater fish species that are perfectly suited for fishkeeping in cold climates.

Sunset Variatus Platy

Available in a huge variety of colors and patterns.
Very hardy and inexpensive.
Only two to three inches long.
Lively yet gets along with other fish and plants.
Easy to breed for fun.

Pearl Danios

Pearl danio can tolerate a pH of 6.8 to 8.0 and moderate water hardness.
It has a stunning display of a well-planted plant.
It will tolerate temperatures into the mid-60s without difficulty.
Used by aquascapers to highlight their design.

Bloodfin Tetra

They are quite peaceful omnivores.
Bloodfin tetras are offered in many pet shops.
Can tolerate temperature as low as mid-60s.

Gold Barb

Gold Barbs are slightly aggressive for a community fish and are known as fin nippers
These fish are active swimmers and add energy and liveliness to the tank.
Can grow approximately 3 inches long.

Rosy Barb

The rosy barb (Pethia conchonius) comes in many varieties, such as normal, neon, and long-finned types.
They are active fish with a peaceful temperament and bright color.
The rosy barb is one of the larger members of the barb species, and it can grow up to six inches in the wild.
This fish enjoys company, and it will not bother other fish in the aquarium.
Rosy barbs also do well in ponds in warm weather.

Hillstream Loach

These bottom-dwelling fish are mostly from South and East Asia.
It must be noted that there is a chance that not all of them will prefer cool temperatures, but most can tolerate temperature ranges of 15-20 degrees Celsius.
Resembles a miniature alien stingray (if that even exists) and likes to munch on brown diatoms and green algae.
Can grow up to 3 inches.
Usually come in black and yellow color with long stripes along the sides.
They tend to prefer a ph level ranging from 6.6 to 7.8.

Rainbow Shiner

The rainbow shiner is known for its brilliant purple and pink color.
The Rainbow Shiners can handle a lot of temperatures, between 4 – 30 C.
When mating, the Rainbow shiners first become shiny silver, and then the males become heavily red with a bruise on the top of the head.
These torpedo-shaped fish grow to 3 to 3.5 inches long.
Better to keep them in a group of six or more.
They are a bit expensive and hard to source.
It needs at least a year to mature.

Endler’s Livebearer

The Endler’s Livebearer is thought to be a color variant of the common guppy.
They mostly exhibit colors like red, blue, orange, and green.
Endler livebearers are relatively small fish, with males at least an inch long and females growing slightly large.
They are very hardy and can live at room temperature with a wide pH range from 6.5 to 8.5.
They’re quite peaceful and mix well with many of the fish
In order to breed them, you will need to set up a 10-gallon tank with approximately two males and four females

Peppered Corydoras

The Peppered Cory prefers lower temperatures of 18-25°C and will, therefore, thrive in cool water without needing an aquarium heater.
This hardy little fish loves company of its own species, and is best kept in groups of 4-5 other Peppered Corys.
The body of this species is rather stocky and covered with two rows of bony plates, also known as scutes.
As bottom dwellers this species should be provided with a substrate of either sand or fine smooth-edged gravel.
Female peppered corys are generally larger overall than males and more rounded in the belly.

Cherry Shrimp

Cherry shrimp have a bright skittles-like color.
They have a fondness for eating algae and leftover fish food.
Are widely available in local fish stores
Need to be kept in a 10-gallon aquarium.
Must be kep together in a school of 10 shrimps atleast.
Require an ideal amount of calcium and minerals in water to survive.

Dojo Loach

This big boy can reach up to 10 to 12 inches, the size of a hot dog to be precise.
Is slightly predatory in nature and hence should not be kept with smaller species.
They have a whiskers covered mouth and that is the main factor that will help you in identifying this fish.
Likes to scavenge for food and burrow in gravel
Fairly cheap and easily accessible.

White Cloud Mountain Minnow

White cloud mountain minnows are small, colorful fish, once termed “the working man’s neon” because they are similar to neon tetras in color but aren’t as expensive.
These species come in a variety of colors, like silver green, rosy pink, or gold (I remember owning an albino white cloud, too).
Their adults grow up to 1.5 inches.
They can live as long as 3 to 5 years.
These are considered a good fish for beginners because of their resilient ability to survive in almost any tank size and temperature.
Require a tank with minimum 10 gallons of water.
They thrive in pH levels between 6.0 to 8.
Thrives in a group of 10 to 12.

Zebra Danios

They are the second favorite cold-water fish after the goldfish, as they are readily available and the easiest egg-layers to breed.
It can tolerate temperatures as low as 18 degrees Celsius.
They have long finned forms, a laterally compressed shape, and can grow up to 1.5 inches long.
They have five uniform blue stripes extending to the caudal fin, their most common identifier.
Zebra Danios are extremely active. Although they prefer the upper levels of the aquarium, they will move throughout the entire tank.

Buenos Aires Tetra

They are suitable for a community tank but will voraciously eat live plants (one of the reasons why I stopped keeping them in my tank).
Its body is silvery, and a narrow blue line runs behind the gill and ends at the caudal (tail) fin, where there is a black diamond-shaped spot.
This fish can grow up to 2 to 3 inches long, making it one of the bigger tetras.
These fish are known for their peaceful and easy-to-care-for attitude but will require a tank with a minimum of 30 gallons of water.

Goldfish

These fish that originated from Asia are easily the most readily available fish worldwide.
Fancy goldfish have long, double caudal fins (tails) that may be as long as the body.
The comet goldfish has a long, single tail and is usually found in golden coloration, but it can also occur in white, orange and white, and black, orange, and white coloration.
This fish can grow up to 8 to 12 inches long.
There are over 200 different types of goldfish, with the most popular goldfish to own being the ‘feeder’ breed.
They have an average life span of 7 to 10 years. Some goldfish have even lived till 25 years.

Fish Food Advice For Low Temperatures

Once the water temperature lowers to 70°F, your fish’s aquatic staple food should be mixed with a wheat germ base that is lower in protein.

Due to the high protein and fiber content, wheatgerm food digests slowly and is ideal for ensuring your fish gets the nutrients they need as they transition into winter.

Important Mention: Temperate Fish That Can Survive Overlapping Temperatures

Some fish can survive tropical and cold weather conditions (temperatures between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius).

So, just in case you don’t find any new fish listed above in your nearest pet store, you can also consider temperate fish (but try first finding the cold-temperature ones).

Albino paradise fish
Armoured catfish
Asian moth catfish
Black ruby barb
Black tiger badis
Dwarf snakehead

Keep The Fish That’s Temperature Requirements Is Similar To Your Climatic Zone

Fish can be based on warm water, cold water, or temperate, but what’s more important is your ability to provide the optimum temperature as per the respective fish requirements.

Want to keep a fish that doesn’t need a heater? Well, the aquarium species I have listed above will be perfect for you. However, remember that after a certain temperature, even the health of cold-water fish will be compromised.