Temperature for Tinker's Butterfly?

[dwanner]

I'm thinking about adding a Tinker's Butterfly to my system and I have been reading conflicting information on the temperature they should be kept. Live Aquaria lists the typical 72 - 78 range but I've also read that they shouldn't be kept long term above 72. I currently run my tank at 77-78 and am not sure how my tank would react to a temperature in the low 70's.

 

[LargeAngels]

I don't have experience with them, but considering they are a caught in waters in Hawaii deeper than 100 feet I wouldn't do warmer than low 70's. Hopefully one of the Hawaiian divers will confirm what temps they are caught at. I have many fish from Hawaii in my tanks and keep them all in low 70's.

 

[dwanner]

I have a pair of scribbled angels, a pair of joculator angels, a true personifier angel and a mixed assortment of fairy wrasses would any of those have an issue with a temperature in the low 70's or am I better off passing on the Tinker's?

 

[LargeAngels]

I have all sorts of angels, wrasses, tangs, clowns and I don't see any issues keeping them at those temps.

 

[bradleyj]

I agree with LargeAngels, I keep my tank temp between 73-76 and have no problems.

 

[dwanner]

Thanks for the input guys, I'm going to slowly start lowering the temperature and see how everyone reacts. From the sounds of it everyone will be fine, but I like to do things slow and steady to avoid problems!

 

[skibum9884]

I agree with what the others said. I actually keep an SPS reef at 73. I actually believe it's better for most fish, not just those from deepwater. The lower temperature will slow their metabolism which I find of benefit in a tank as compared with the ocean where most eat constantly throughout the day.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

Are you guys running chillers to keep the tank in the low 70s, or is your room temp that low year-round (AC in the summer)?

I wonder if it is practical to make ice cubes from rodi water and put them in the tank periodically for top-off and cooling.

In addition to metabolism effects, various harmful bacteria are less active at lower temperatures, which is a major issue with keeping cooler water fish at higher temperatures.

 

[LargeAngels]

I do run chillers.

 

[RGBMatt]

I don't have experience with them, but considering they are a caught in waters in Hawaii deeper than 100 feet I wouldn't do warmer than low 70's. Hopefully one of the Hawaiian divers will confirm what temps they are caught at. I have many fish from Hawaii in my tanks and keep them all in low 70's.

The water here ranges from low 70s in the winter to high 70s in the summer. The depths where you can find Tinker's aren't deep enough for the water to be significantly colder than the rest of our fish.

Low 70s should be good. The coldest I've ever seen was 69 one year.

 

[LargeAngels]

The water here ranges from low 70s in the winter to high 70s in the summer. The depths where you can find Tinker's aren't deep enough for the water to be significantly colder than the rest of our fish.

Low 70s should be good. The coldest I've ever seen was 69 one year.

Thanks, we can only really guess until we hear it from those who really know.

 

[dwanner]

The water here ranges from low 70s in the winter to high 70s in the summer. The depths where you can find Tinker's aren't deep enough for the water to be significantly colder than the rest of our fish.

Low 70s should be good. The coldest I've ever seen was 69 one year.

Do you think they would be happy at 75-76 long term as I don't think I can get my tank much lower without a chiller? If not, its better to know upfront and save both the fish and I a lot of problems and a not so happy ending!

 

[RGBMatt]

75-76 should be OK. It's colder than the summer water temperature in Hawaii anyhow.

I don't think Tinker's are adapted for very cold water. In Hawaii, they're most common on the Big Island, which is the southernmost island in the chain and therefore the warmest. Over there, they can sometimes be found less than 100' deep, while on the other islands they're usually around 200' or so. They're also found on other islands in the Pacific with warmer water than Hawaii.

 

[John Dawe]

I only have Hawaiian fish and try to keep there tanks in the high 60's to low 70's. Don't use a heater in the tank(s) on the main floor of the house but I do in the basement. AC in the summer keeps the house 68-70 and same temp. in the winter. My wife and the dogs like it cool.
C tinker's are nice fish but not cheap, C delvic's are very similar and about 1/2 the price and C burgess are even less.
I do have a little (2.5 inch) C tinker in QT that only likes to eat mysis but most will eat anything after a while.

 

[SDguy]

Are there any long term tinkeri keepers on this forum?

 

[John Dawe]

c tinkeri - long term

c tinkeri - long term

First one lasted about 15 months, ick got into the tank and killed everything except a G melatremus and a Hawaiian Convict tang.

Second one, 1.5 yrs (?), developed 'pop eye' which progressed to 'pop the whole side of the head'. Could have been a infection or tumor??

#3 just never did well and #4 died of infection (4 weeks) from being needle (very small fish, less than 2 inches).

Not a very long good record for this fish, but the I do have a small one that is doing great at 2 months. If you get one, you really need to treat it with copper in QT.