White gold minnows sold to me as tropical- Now what???

[Hydrologist]

Hello! I got myself in a predicament today. I went to my LFS to get some pygmy corydoras for my ten gallon planted and heated tank. No one in my area has them and I’m not a fan of mailing fish in my area (package thieves) so I decided to look around for some other small fish. The guy I was talking to definitely seemed to care about all the fish, tanks were in good condition and he was giving good advice (like not encouraging me to way overstock my tank). Any who, he talked me into getting 4 gold minnows for my tank. I was under the assumption that he new my tank was tropical since I was telling him later I wanted to get a honey gourami or something similar as the main fish of my tank. I trusted this person, got home with the fish and started looking them up while I acclimated them and I’m seeing they AREN’T tropical and max temp should be 72F! My tank is stuck at 78F, for the care of my snails and plants. Should I return these little fellows?
I feel foolish for not having checked this myself before bringing them home but it never occurred to me. I’m seeing on some forums on this topic that some people keep these fish at that temperature just fine. I’m also concerned 4 is not enough for a happy group.

 

[Phreaker]

If you don't want to take any risks you should return it. But fish are in general very adaptable so it would likely be fine. It wouldn't live as long though as higher temperature = faster metabolic rate.

 

[CassCats]

Id return them, personally on the grounds that you cant turn the temps down

 

[ClownLurch]

Never buy fish on a whim. I learnt that over 20yrs ago.

 

[itiwhetu]

They will be ok in there. There metabolism will be sped up, so feed them plenty. A lot of other fish do better at lower temperatures, but are also fine in warmer tanks.

 

[itiwhetu]

Why are your snails and plants so particular about temperature

 

[CassCats]

Why are your snails and plants so particular about temperature

They have pygmy cories who can't go lower than 72, so its iffy. Its no good on the fish's immune system and lifespan to keep them at the high or low end of their temps all the time.

And preset heaters lol

Actually @Hydrologist I would scrap the preset heater in favour of an adjustable one and lower it for the pygmy cories, since 78F is the high end for them. Bring the temps down to a cozy 75F its perfect middle ground if you happen to get a heat wave or a cold spell, it'll fluctuate naturally within their range.

Plus, knock on wood, if you ever have to deal with ich, an adjustable heater can allow you to use the heat treatment method rather than meds, which cories are sensitive to.

But unfortunately its still no good of a combo with the minnows with the pygmies. Their range doesn't overlap so one or the other will suffer for it.

 

[itiwhetu]

I'm sorry I didn't see where it says it is a preset heater

 

[itiwhetu]

I thought for fun I would take the temperature of my white cloud tank where they are spawning I don't usually bother their tank is at 25 degrees C this afternoon. Which is 77 F

 

[CassCats]

I thought for fun I would take the temperature of my white cloud tank where they are spawning I don't usually bother their tank is at 25 degrees C this afternoon. Which is 77 F

Do you use a heater or just room temps?

Thats another thing is some fish like warmer temps to spawn haha and WCMM don't usually eat their fry, so ive read.

 

[itiwhetu]

Do you use a heater or just room temps?

Thats another thing is some fish like warmer temps to spawn haha and WCMM don't usually eat their fry, so ive read.

No heater, it is an outdoor 200 liter tank, Air temperature 17 degrees C

 

[Hydrologist]

If you don't want to take any risks you should return it. But fish are in general very adaptable so it would likely be fine. It wouldn't live as long though as higher temperature = faster metabolic rate.

I decided to return them! I only want to get fish who will have an optimal life in my set up. Wasn’t sitting well with me.

 

[Hydrologist]

Never buy fish on a whim. I learnt that over 20yrs ago.

Yes, learned my lesson today. I haven’t been in the fish hobby that long, there are many mistakes to be made.

 

[Hydrologist]

They have pygmy cories who can't go lower than 72, so its iffy. Its no good on the fish's immune system and lifespan to keep them at the high or low end of their temps all the time.

And preset heaters lol

Actually @Hydrologist I would scrap the preset heater in favour of an adjustable one and lower it for the pygmy cories, since 78F is the high end for them. Bring the temps down to a cozy 75F its perfect middle ground if you happen to get a heat wave or a cold spell, it'll fluctuate naturally within their range.

Plus, knock on wood, if you ever have to deal with ich, an adjustable heater can allow you to use the heat treatment method rather than meds, which cories are sensitive to.

But unfortunately its still no good of a combo with the minnows with the pygmies. Their range doesn't overlap so one or the other will suffer for it.

I actually don’t have pygmy corys, I was planning to get them today and had researched them, not the minnows. I do have a preset heater set for 78. It was less expensive at the time. I plan to get an adjustable one whenever I upgrade to a bigger tank.

 

[CassCats]

For stock options in the future, look into sparkling gouramis they're better suited for a 10 gallon instead of honey gourami (who are social and do better 20g+)

Ember tetras would be another good choice, or perhaps one of the other smaller schoolers if you can find them like chili rasboras or the like.

Theyd do well in a 10g and with pygmy cories

But check your GH too, as what water you have can make a difference in what is best and what won't be so good longterm too.


@itiwhetu oh, given where you are at, is there seasonal differences down there? Like temperature wise. Kinda curious and off topic though