Tricky Situation...

[Kat03]

Okay so heres the deal. My very first betta died about a month or 2 ago so i told my boyfriend I wanted a 10 gallon tank and I wanted to put dividers in for bettas. Well, I ended up putting guppys and mollys in there. I was at walmart the other day looking at fish stuff and I came across a big ol bowl. Its just like a goldfish bowl but it was pretty large. My boyfriend said it prolly was a 1 gallon. It was only $6, which is great for my budget right now [im in college]. I have a buncha betta food and stuff from before so all I need is the bowl. The only thing I am worried about is the temperature. I live in Iowa and the temp can get really cold. Right now its headin towards summer so it will be warmer but I dont want my betta to get stressed out because of the cold. My other betta was in a bowl type thing and he was fine when it was colder. But IDK.. I was looking on the net and found these two tanks. They are more money though so I am not sure what to do. Here are the links:

http/www.petsmart.com/global/product_det...amp;Ne=2#detail

http/www.petsmart.com/global/product_det...030056&Ne=2

Heres the 2 gallon one..but I dont really like it b/c it goes straight up. It will save room..but I would think a betta wouldnt wanna swim up and down to get around. I think thats the 2 gallon.

I really like the looks of this one! Its a 1.77 gallon...so basically almost a 2 gallon. I think its cute and it could fit just about anywhere in my house.

If you think its okay to get the bowl one with no lid I would def. rather get that to save $$. The only reason I would consider these other $20 tanks would be b/c they have lids and it would prolly be warmer. Also, the $20 ones come with filters and gravel and food and stuff but I dont think I need a filter for a betta..and I have all that other stuff. And it sucks b/c the closest petco or petsmart are an hour away! Earl May is 20 mins away though. omg they keep their bettas in such small containers! they can only turn around.

Thanks for the help.


OOHYEA!!... if anyone knows the website to Jaded's betta forum I would love to know it! I was a member of the old address and I swear I bookmarked the new address but its not there!

 

[t.ropical_m.istx3]

both are big enough, but as you said, they'd probably rather have the second one so they could swim across instead of up and down.

a bowl with no lid is fine (as long as it's big enough) if your betta won't jump. i've heard they will but i have never had the problem with any of my nine boys or the four females. if you think he may jump, get the one with the lid.

i have temp. problems here and none of mine have suffered from the cold as they're kept inside.

 

[Kat03]

ok thanks for your reply!!

 

[laurasbetta]

i ALWAYS recommend lids on tanks as i've had one jump. it wasn't a pleasant experience.
i would personally go with the second and get a small heater.

 

[t.ropical_m.istx3]

sorry about the rushed answer, i had two minutes left in graphic design in school

if you're house is a constant temperature (suitable temp) then i wouldn't worry about a heater since you're tight for money. i have nine boys and none of them have a heater, but then again, my room's the hottest one in the house. my girls do have heaters, but they're in group tanks.

i have never had a betta jump (of the thirteen i have now and the ones i had before) and i have only heard of them jumping on here (look above )

the second one (now that i have time to look at it) looks similar to two of my (identicle) 1.77 gallons and i absolutley love them as do the boys.

 

[archamfr]

http/www.z6.invisionfree.com/TheBettaBug

 

[laurasbetta]

i have heard of a couple people having bettas jump. i personally don't think it's worth the risk. even if you don't want to get the tank with the lid, you could find a way to build a top for the bowl, i'm sure.
i have also found that my betta is much happier now that he has his heater. the water stays at exactly 77-78F all the time. the only time it gets any warmer is if i leave his light on for too long. it never drops below that.
if your dorm room is like mine, the heating isn't that great. during the winter i have 2 options: roasting hot or freezing cold. and since my heater is noisy, i turn it off at night and so my tank would get cold. i STRONGLY suggest a heater.

 

[Kat03]

Thanks everyone for the replys. I was thinking if I got the bowl one I would put something on top of it or something. not sure what I could use though. well i live at my house not a dorm, but heaters are that expensive. i think i saw one at walmart for like $6 or $9...not real sure. Hmmm....I should just get the 1.77 gallon and get a heater for it. it looks cute too or maybe I will get a heater when it starts to get cold. do you think that would be okay? since the summers here can get hot.

oh ya.. thanks for the link archamfr!

 

[mandiemoo]

I have the curved colour lidded on (what a mouthful), I don't actually have it for tropical, but the temp in it without a heater is good enough for tropical, but it does depend on house temps. I like that tank, it looks pretty groovy.

 

[laurasbetta]

it would probably be okay for the summer without one, but be careful not to put it by an air vent, as you don't want it getting hit by the air conditioning. just buy one of those cheap stick-on thermometers and put it on the side of the tank. watch it for a week or so. if the temp stays between 75-80F you're fine. if it fluctuates too much or drops too much below that, i would go get a heater.

 

[HODDY]

id use a heater and id use a lid just for safety.