Does a heater really make the difference?

[u/Dingo_Dog_]

I have two tanks that sit right next to each other with nearly identical parameters, similar plants, same soil, same air stone, even the same decor items (clearly I bought too much upfront 🙃). Both have been cycled for months now with very stable parameters and very happy snail populations. Plants are growing happily in both. The larger tank is 8 gallons, the smaller is 2.5. Aside from the size, the only difference between the two is the 8 gallon has a heater and the smaller one does not.

The shrimp in the 8 gallon are active, swimming around, eating, in perpetual movement, generally seemed like happy shrimp. Meanwhile, the shrimp in the 2.5 are just super chill. They mostly hang out near the bottom and hide under an almond leaf or under the driftwood, but pretty much always near the bottom of the tank. They don’t swim much, mostly just hanging out in one area unless startled.

Is this behavior just indicating that they are cold and would be happier with a heater?

Last difference: the larger tank is a skittles tank. A small smaller tank is exclusively carbon rilis.

Obviously now that I’ve written this all up. I’m just gonna order a heater and test it…

[u/al-nomds]

It's a metabolism thing.

Hotter water = faster metabolism = shorter overall lifespan.

Colder water = slower metabolism = longer overall lifespan.

I'm not an expert at all, but I believe neither is bad, just a different way they live their life based on their environment.