Betta Bowls

[BettaBoyz]

well, my new boy is in a glass drum-style bowl. i like this little four dollar bowl more than i like the twenty dollar wedge King's in! four dollars of bowl, two dollars of rock, six dollars of silk plants, and voila; a Betta home! i had the idea of putting a bowl-shaped undergravel filter in, but thought better. i hate the buzzing, bubbling, blahness of them. lightin is simple; a Small Pals Pen light hovering over the bowl. but heat, ahh, that's difficult.

i was thinking of reptile rocks. if i could get a 3x3 or 4x4 reptile heating rock and plunk it in there, that would be great. so, does anyone use a heating rock for lizards? in terriariums i mean. if you do and you can stand to miss one for a few days, d'you think you could plunk it into a pot of water if it's waterproof and see how high a temperature it makes? i wouldn't want to buy a rock for nothing and end up not using it because it's too hot.

though, i suppose if i can't find a smaller rock i'd just get a big one and put it under the bowl with something in between them so the water doesn't boil. would that work as well? i can't find the mini-heaters, don't trust a light to keep the water warm, and really don't get disposably heating pads.

ahh... any thoughts?

 

[MAM]

i'm thinking the larger reptile rock placed underneath the bowl might actaully work. you wouldnt' be able to put one directly in water, the cords arent sealed for taht, be like putting your hair dryer in a tub of water. considering the bowl has gravel, and that many reptiles lay right on those heating stones (at least my old roommate's iguana did....), i don't think it would heat the water too hot. but use some sort of thermometer to check it, and don't leave it on all day, maybe jsut at night when its colder.........
do you have walmart up there? they carry little 4" heaters for aquariums, think its junior brand or something for about $6-$8.

 

[BettaBoyz]

yeah, i have a wal-mart up here, but it's an hour away and i've already torn apart the shelves to find the little heater with no luck.

hmm, perhaps i'll get a nice big rock and put a few bowls on it... the rock will add the naturalistic look to my room along with the fish.