Hank et al,

All poikilothermic means is the animal is cold blooded like all fish. As
in: "an organism (like a fish) with a variable body temperature that is
usually slightly higher than the temperature of its environment : a
cold-blooded organism." So the common vernacular is "cold-blooded."

The catch here is that some fish's metabolism allows them to function 35-60
degree water and so are coldwater fish, and some function in water that is
40-80 degree water and are warmwater fish and some fish like and function in
water that is 68 - 95 degree water and that makes them tropical water fish.
Now in the extremes of these temperatures the fish survive, but don't breed
and live normal lives, it is in the median areas that they thrive, hence the
designations: cold, warm, and tropical water fish.

Tom L.L.
--------------------------

"Hank Pagel" wrote in message
...
Poikilothermic. ... In general, poikilothermic animals have slower
metabolisms, and therefore need
less energy, than homeothermic animals. ... Whoever named them that
never saw my goldfish doing
that nasty thing in the pickerel rush. TALK ABOUT ENERGY!