BETTA-HELP!!!

[mrsboot]

Got my first fish, a Betta, and have him in a 5 gal. tank in the kitchen. Most info regarding Bettas say they can thrive in temps of 75 - 86. Is this correct? My house is not air conditioned and I have no heater on the tank. The temp in the tank today was up to 82 degrees and I am worried about the tank temp when it really gets hot and goes into the 90's as the tank water is always the same as the room temperature. Someone said that they stabilize the tank temperature with a heater, but that doesn't make sense as I want to "cool" off the tank, not heat it. Don't want to constantly empty water and add cold water as I know it will stress my Betta. What can I do to keep the water cool or will he survive in water over 86 degrees?

 

[diVer]

I don't have air conditioning either so I get some plastic bags and fill them with ice and float them in the tank. Make sure they are really big bags or else the water will melt the ice in about half an hour. Just keep adding new bags of ice if it does melt. Even if it doesn't cool off the whole tank it will create a cool area.

 

[cutecotton]

you're definitliy not gonna need a heater, but i woulnd't suggest you let the temp go any higher than 86, anything higher (if your starting to hit 90s) i think woudl be way too hot for the betta.