bettas dnt need heaters!!!!

[aernympha]

theres been alot of disscusion about betta not needing heaters........ which is odd seeing how they come form thailand a very hot coutry!!!! and also all my books say around 26 c degrees or bit lower around that anyways......! but then some one came up with the argument that they out them in jars and theres no heater or filter in the tank ....but hasn't loads of peeps been going on about the fact that the betta they see in jars are always in bad health and conditions and this only seem to happen in america i havn't seen bettas in jars in britain..... kempt in normal tanks!! often with other peaceful fish...... and with heater s!!! all this talk is making things very confusing.....!! ................... please some one tell me what is right....

 

[Alien Anna]

I think the "Betta in a Jar" thing isn't popular in Britain, and my RSPCA inspector neighbour suggested it was probably illegal (a fact I doubted since they still give away goldfish in bags at fairs). Bettas are only really known to people in the Tropical Fish fraternity, who would not think to keep them in an unheated bowl or jar.

In Britain, a betta probably wouldn't survive the winter in a jar, especially given the fact that our houses tend not to be well insulated and heating (compared to an American house) is fairly feeble. American houses are often warm and well insulated against the cold (one reason I know this is from the frequent complaints of American and Canadian friends about the draughtiness of our houses! ).

Also, many American houses have air-conditioning so don't get so hot in the summer either.

My living room didn't get much below 80F today. If I had a betta in a jar there it certainly wouldn't get fungal infections from the cold! In winter I've had rooms in my house go down to 10F, which is what my dad would call "real brass monkeys". A betta in a jar would be pretty miserable.

This time of year in the Northern Hemisphere or in warmer countries, it's probably fine. In UK, in a draughty house, in mid-winter, it's probably not fine at all. On balance I agree with you that they should have their own little heated aquarium.

 

[aernympha]

ok

 

[Kossy]

In Britain, a betta probably wouldn't survive the winter in a jar

Well I live in australia and its the only way we can buy bettas

However if they are acustomed to a jar they should live...but due to the fact that they come from thailand they don't necessary like it (its not healthy). In Australia they would survive due to a warmer climate however I am 100% against the idea and I belive they do need a heater. However depending on where you live bettas can survive in jars/no heater aquariums.

 

[aernympha]

well i am going to re-due my aquarium upstairs the small one and make it the home of a male betta, after about god knows amount of time...... thats one thing i didnt get about alien anna things it didn't really give u any amount of time......... or is it that u have to make tests for water quality..... also i over heard that the guy at the lfs say that u can't get a betta until ur tank been cycled for 6 months!!!!

 

[Alien Anna]

well i am going to re-due my aquarium upstairs the small one and make it the home of a male betta, after about god knows amount of time...... thats one thing i didnt get about alien anna things it didn't really give u any amount of time......... or is it that u have to make tests for water quality..... also i over heard that the guy at the lfs say that u can't get a betta until ur tank been cycled for 6 months!!!!

I didn't give a timescale because it can vary so much. I have done fishless cycling (with matured filter media to jump-start it) in a matter of days, and I had one tank take 3.5 weeks (I thought it would never cycle). The LFS guy who says 6 months is almost certainly talking about a tank cycled with fish, although even then it's a little excessive.

It will take as long as it takes, but once you've had zero ammonia and nitrites for a week or so you can add fish with impunity.