South Florida Tub Pond Stocking

[Daku]

Hey all!  I currently have a 150 gallon tub pond outside that i am attempting to breed German Blue Rams in (no luck yet!). 

I am looking to add a second pond to my setup, but am at a loss at what type of fish would do well in my 85 degree water during the summer.  It dips into the mid-70s during the winter, so i have a heater on the GBR pond for those months lol.

I would like to do rice fish or livebearers, but i want them to thrive and not just survive.  Are there any rice fish and/or livebearing varieties that would do well between 75-85 year round?

[Daniel]

I am so jealous. You live in the tropical fish capital of North America!

I lived in Tampa for a while in 1980s and kept pools in the backyard. My memory was that everything I put in those pools did well, started breeding, all in all very happy. Does the water temperature get to 85 °F? Usually the ground is nowhere near that warm and tends to keep the pool water cooler. But hey, it is South Florida and I could see a small pond getting pretty warm.

I have never kept rice fish, but I think the majority of livebearers that would do well in your situation.

Probably the question is what wouldn't do well?

Any specific livebearers you want to keep?

 

[Daku]

oh yeah, even with the top of the pond covered in large floaters like water lettuce and hyacinth AND a 70% shade cloth over the pond itself which only receives 4-5 hours of afternoon sun, the water gets to 85-86 easy.  Before the floaters and shade cloth i was hitting 88 on some afternoons.  I have a large sponge filter in there, so the water temp is the same throughout.

As far as livebearers go, i would love me some variatus platies, or anything bright and good looking top-down!  I don't have a lot of experience with livebearers, so any advice would be welcome!

 

here is a before and after pic of the pond which i started in May.

[Daku]

I have some red panda barbs and triple red apisto cacatuoides in there currently as well, which is why half the bottom is sanded with caves, but someone isn't playing nice so i am pulling the apistos and barbs inside so i can focus on the ram breeding in Pond #1.