How Cold Is To Cold For A Betta?

[Durbkat]

Hi I just did a 100% water change on one of my betta's bowl and the thermostat says 69 or 71 degrees is that to cold for a betta. Also I put the betta in one of those holding containers that lps use to put fish in before they bag them and hung it on the inside of my 10g to warm him up since its a little cold in my room. I have a lamp over the bowl but it is still just 69 or 71 degrees how can I warm it up?

 

[OohFeeshy]

With a heater? Obvious answer

 

[Durbkat]

Well I don't believe their is a heater small enough for a 1/2g. Any other way?

Edit: I meant to type Thermomater (or how ever you spell it)

 

[supersixone]

1/2 gal is rather on the small side anyway. upgrade to something large enough for a heater

 

[JoLtNbolt]

i just got a 7.5 watt heater at petco for one of my bettas. It's supposed to be good for bowls and up to 5 gallons. Check out their website Hydor

You could also try using a heating pad underneath the bowl

 

[thelastbetta]

A lamp will work, maybe wrap a towel around the bowl too. It'll warm up within 30 minutes. I use a UV lamp on my 2 gallon and it warms right up within that time limit.

 

[Durbkat]

I know about the size of the bowl and that heater on that website said for bowls as small as 2g is showed a pic of a 2g bowl on it.

What is a UV lamp is that just a regular desk lamp or what?

 

[thelastbetta]

Well my UV light is just a regular desk lamp, it emits a lot of heat, I bought it for 2 bucks at the dollar store.

 

[Durbkat]

Ok thanks, I'll just lower the lamp a little lower and wrap it in a towel.

 

[Durbkat]

Would the betta go into temp shock if I took him from the heated 10g which is at 78 degrees to the bowl which is at 70 or 72 degrees?

 

[Luke_e]

Not sure, wouldnt rish it, bag him in a polythene bag with tank water from your current, and let him aclimatise, shouldnt take more than 5 mins as it isnt that big a difference.

 

[Durbkat]

All right thanks, would regular ziplock bags work, as that as what I've used before?

 

[supersixone]

half a gallon is a VERY small volume of water. i'd be careful using anything to heat it, as it will heat rapidly and you may not catch it in time if it gets too hot.

 

[RandomWiktor]

If you are going to move a betta from an appropriately heated tank (78 degrees) to a too-cold tank (70 degrees) I suggest you bag and float for a LONG time to prevent temperature shock. Honestly, I dont' see the point in moving the animal from ideal conditions to a cold, undersized bowl anyways? If it is to treat for an ailment, know that most bettas do better being treated in warmer temps (unless it is columnaris) as thier immune system is more active at higher temps.

I've always heard that the ideal range for a betta tank is 76-80, and anything much below 72 was bad. Not sure about that though. Everyone is right about the tank size though; in addition to being inadequate, it is VERY dangerous to heat such a tiny tank. Could you just float the little tank in your heated 10 to keep the temp up in it? Just a thought, not sure how viable it is.

 

[riogal_11]

That's exactly what I was thinking supersixone. I would be very worried about using anything..... A lamp right near the top of the tank is very risky, especially if you leave it on too long, I know my lamps get very hot...... You'd have to be very responsible when trying that on that amount of water. I don't really know what advice to give though, b/c the obvious thing is to get the boy into a larger volume of water, and then buy a small heater.