How Do You All Light Your Bettas Bowls/kritter Keepers?

I've got my 3 boys in 2.2 gallon kritter keepers and I've never really got to see their true beauty because there's no light over them like you have on big tanks.

I have this small reading light that I use but it gets so hot that I can't put it directly on the plastic 1) because it will melt it and 2) because it will heat the water up too much. So I keep the light part up really high but then it can't directly hit the betta so it kinda gives off this shadow effect. I want to see my boys like I can my other fish in the big tanks but still keep them in their kritter keepers...

So how do all of you light up your bettas bowls/kritter keepers so you can see their colors really well???

Well, I have my bettas in bowls, with no heater, which I'm going to need to do something about in the future.....

But... I have a florecent desk lamp that I put over my 2 betta bowls....

I have hoods sized for 2.5 gallon tanks for 2 of my 3 tanks. Sometimes I just use a desklamp and hover it above the tank. You could consider buying a mini-bow, they come with light hoods.

I just bought the flourescent light strips from Wl-mart..they are like $7 for 1. They don't get hot and they put out a decent amount of light (I had to cover the front with tape though, shined out in my face lol.)



(note: those tanks on each end aren't dirty lol..they have indian almosd leaf in them...for the 2 sick kiddos I have).

^ Awesome idea, SRC! I second flourescent lights; they don't seem to put off as much heat as the others. The makers of Kritter Keepers used to sell these nice little mini-lights that snapped into the "window" of the tank, but alas - there were complaints about it melting the plastic (I *never* had this problem. I have a funny feeling people either didn't take off the "window," or left it on for more than 8 hrs/day). You might still be able to find 'em on ebay or something though.

My two bowls don't have special lights. I have lots of light in my bedroom though, daylight (6500k) bulbs on timers.

But I admit, my bettas aren't show bettas. I know when I put one of my bettas into my 10gal, the light in that tank made him shimmer in ways I didn't realize he shimmered.

Ah, damn. Now I want to light my bowls. See what you've done?

They still sell the lights for them but they are hard to find (usually have to order them) and they are liek $8 a piece...which is more then the KK itself lol..plus it's a itty bitty light.

Those light strips I have, they are the perfect size for 2 KK.

-- they actually market a light to bookworms called "itty bitty light". It's a tiny clip on light. It might work for bowl use, or something simmilar to it with a clip on.

Someone I know clipped a light to the shelf next to her bettas, and bounces the light off the white wall behind the tank. The tank isn't very well light on account of that, but it does kick out a fair bit of light.

soritan said:

But I admit, my bettas aren't show bettas

Click to expand...

Mine aren't either...

Well You can try this for a light...

http/www.thatpetplace.com/MainPro/ItemdyPop.aspx?T1=HG0801

Its for a small betta keeper. I think...

-Arrowhead

RandomWiktor said:

^ Awesome idea, SRC! I second flourescent lights; they don't seem to put off as much heat as the others. The makers of Kritter Keepers used to sell these nice little mini-lights that snapped into the "window" of the tank, but alas - there were complaints about it melting the plastic (I *never* had this problem. I have a funny feeling people either didn't take off the "window," or left it on for more than 8 hrs/day). You might still be able to find 'em on ebay or something though.

Click to expand...

I got one of those and tried to put it on my 1/2g but it wouldn't stay on good at first but I got it to stay on but when I plugged it in it didn't work so I had to return it so I could get a new one but they said that they don't get them anymore so I use this desk lamp that has a big clip on it so I clipped it to this shelf that I have my stereo on and have the lamp shineing on my 1/2g but my 1g and 2.5g both came with a hood and light so I don't have to worry about them.

Great ideas everyone!! I think the cheapest and best thing for me at the moment would be the flourescent light strips like you have SRC. I'm gonna stop at a shop tomorrow and see what they sell. I think the link you put up Arrowhead for the mini lights were great too..it's just I'm in Sweden so with shipping and then the voltage difference it would get expensive..though for others living in the States they look great!!

I feel bad not seeing my boys..it's kinda like all they do is sit on a table and I do water changes but don't get to enjoy them because I can't see how pretty they are. I think if I can get some lights over them It'll be like I just got 3 new bettas

I don't have any show bettas either but I think my boys are still beautiful

i got this about 2 days ago and it works O.K

I have a desklamp setting close to the tanks.

I light up my 2.5 gallon tanks by having them end to end and then I have a 24" (20 gallon) fluorescent strip light on the glass tops. It is the perfect size. And much cheaper and easier than buying individual lights for each 2.5 gallon tank. And I had an extra one laying around.

I know people do the same thing on different scales. Like if you had three together end to end, you would use a 36" light, or if you put them together the opposite way, long side next to long side....then you could put together 4 of them with a single 24" fixture above them. etc etc etc

Here is a picture of mine:




I actually found a strip light (fluorescent) for a 10 gallon tank in the clearance section of my local petco for $8. The manager saw me looking at it and said she would give it to me for $2. It was just an ugly wood grain color...I guess that is why it was in there. Anyways, my point is that by buying a more common size you can get a better deal....check ebay. And just put the tanks side by side or something and use a big one for all of them.