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Physical Chemistry
Thermal Shock
Physiological damage caused by rapid temperature change - a sudden 5 C shift can be fatal to fish adapted to a given range.
Unit: delta_c Code: THERMAL_SHOCK
📖 Overview
Rapid temperature change - from bag water not matched to display, from a heater failure, from water changes with wrong-temperature water - stresses fish severely. Cold shock stops feeding and suppresses immunity for weeks. Heat shock can cause immediate death. Acclimation over 20-30 minutes prevents thermal shock during transitions.
❓ Why It Matters
The most common cause of fish loss during new-fish acclimation and water changes.