Betta In Unheated Tank?

[Ifti]

Someone at work has a Betta in a tank (48ltr I think) but with no heater or filter.
He says he's had it for several months and its perfectly happily swimming around etc. He's even thinking of adding a couple of Albino Corys to the same tank.
The tank is in his living room.

Can Betta's live with no heater etc?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Someone at work has a Betta in a tank (48ltr I think) but with no heater or filter.
He says he's had it for several months and its perfectly happily swimming around etc. He's even thinking of adding a couple of Albino Corys to the same tank.
The tank is in his living room.

Can Betta's live with no heater etc?

They can, but its not advisable. The cories definitely cannot. Generally no heater and no filter allow ammonia to build up in the tank. It also slows down the metabolism of the fish and can potentially open them up to issues, such as Ich. 2 of my bettas are in unfiltered tanks. I do water changes every other day, but they are in heated tanks.

 

[lilfishie]

heaters are really needed at this time of year, filters they can do without providing you do regular water changes as said

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Especially if he adds cories to the tank. With more than just the betta in there, the ammonia levels will build rather quickly so unless he is ready to do water changes daily, he will end up with some very dead fish on his hands.

 

[Ifti]

Cheers - I'll let him know!

Would a 50watt heater be sufficient for a 48 ltr tank - or a 100watt?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I think that is okay. The packaging will specify what size aquarium they are adquate for

 

[lilfishie]

50watt will be fine

 

[CezzaXV]

You generally need 1W of power for every litre of water in the tank, so a 50W would do, just. I'd probably advise going for a 100W heater if you can afford one though, just so the heater isn't working flat out all the time.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

You generally need 1W of power for every litre of water in the tank, so a 50W would do, just. I'd probably advise going for a 100W heater if you can afford one though, just so the heater isn't working flat out all the time.

I know it is off subject, but the tank in your avatar looks really neat