Heaters?

[ron1]

Do Bettas NEED to have a heater?

 

[Ethos]

Nope.
They survive in stores, where they don't have heaters and sometimes their by the door so there's drafts, and they survive. Most people here recommend one, and I'd say yes.
But no, bettas do not NEED heaters.
But when you have a betta in a 5G with a heater, they are soo much more active than they are in a 1G without a heater.

 

[ron1]

Nope.
They survive in stores, where they don't have heaters and sometimes their by the door so there's drafts, and they survive. Most people here recommend one, and I'd say yes.
But no, bettas do not NEED heaters.
But when you have a betta in a 5G with a heater, they are soo much more active than they are in a 1G without a heater.

Do you need somewhere for them to rest and also do they like lots of plants in the tank (real or fake --which is best?)

 

[Ethos]

A nice compromise to plastic fake(which damage fins) and real(which require a bit more work, and maybe even more of an algae scrape) is silk.
I myself have not been able to find a good silk plant around me, so I'm still using plastic ones.
But yes, they like hiding places, but will usually be out in the open.

 

[JoLtNbolt]

This looks like a good deal for some silk plants:

http/cgi.ebay.com/5-NEW-SILK-AQUARIUM-PL...1QQcmdZViewItem

I prefer real plants though. My fish love hiding and resting in a big mass of Hornwort. It's a floating plant that grows like crazy!

I have clumps of it in all of my betta tanks. It also does a great job of controlling algae growth.

 

[ron1]

This looks like a good deal for some silk plants:

http/cgi.ebay.com/5-NEW-SILK-AQUARIUM-PL...1QQcmdZViewItem

I prefer real plants though. My fish love hiding and resting in a big mass of Hornwort. It's a floating plant that grows like crazy!

I have clumps of it in all of my betta tanks. It also does a great job of controlling algae growth.

will buy some of that as it sounds like the fish love it. ta very much

 

[JoLtNbolt]

Alot of pet stores have it, or i could mail you a couple of cuttings if you pay shipping.

 

[ron1]

Alot of pet stores have it, or i could mail you a couple of cuttings if you pay shipping.

found some at the lfs. Thanks anyway

 

[tintin]

Just to say that when I first got my veil tail, he was in an unheated 1.5 gallon bowl. But the air temp in Kent in the winter time wasn't doing him any favours at all. He was fairly listless and eventually got white spot. I then went out and got a 5 gallon tank with a heater and a fiilter and he is now a lot happier. Whte spot is gone, fins are growing back (they got quite ragged when he was at his worst), and he's a so much more active. Trust me, you should get a heater. =)

TT