Unfortunately, I'm not from a tropical country, no. I'm from the state of Virginia in the United States, and right now it is winter here. But I keep them in a pretty warm room, as warm as I can make it (about 70 - 72 degrees F.). Unfortunately, one of my Wal-Mart rescues died today. It looks like she had Dropsy or some blood under her skin, so there was nothing I could do...but it doesn't make it hurt any less. I think I'm just going to have to get heated tanks for them.