Will A Betta Survive In England With No Heater

[willtang3000]

you have to ask yourself two questions what size tank do you wish to house them in? the smaller 1g tanks will keep at a warmer temperature than a large tank and were they bred in the uk? this will make it easier for the fish to adapt since it has pretty much got used to the climate during the time its been alive.

 

[OohFeeshy]

personally because the betta is a tropical fish i think it need a heater.

Room temperature is better at warming my tanks than any of my heaters... All my tanks with heaters flunctuate constantly- and they're not even cheap brands of heater. Room temperature, however, is ideal tropical temperature (unless you live in the Arctic), and is pretty constant. Or if not constant, the changes happen slowly, much slower when compared to the small body of water that is a betta tank.

 

[zoekin8yg]

My room temp isnt constant, I couldnt live with it higher than 21, which is the ideal air temp for humans. I have heaters for all my tropicals including my bettas.

 

[J4MES]

get a heater, they don't cost that much.

They don't cost much to buy, but can be expensive to run.

I have a betta in a 3g with a heater, if I forget to turn the heater back on after a water change, he will turn very pale and be very sluggish. As soon as it warms up again, he is fine.

So really what I am saying is that you should keep bettas with heaters. They are a tropical fish.

J4MES

 

[Tolak]

get a heater, they don't cost that much.

They don't cost much to buy, but can be expensive to run.

I'm running 18 tanks, total of 540 gallons. My electric has increased by $60 monthly. That includes lights & filters. If it were just heaters it would be 11 cents per gallon per month. I watch these things, always looking for a cheaper way. I don't see how a betta heater could cost more than a dollar a month to run. It would probably be much less.

 

[DarkEntity]

Indeed.

If you cant afford a heater and a filter dont keep tropical fish.

 

[fishboy619]

why buy one if you cant look after it?

first off fishboy, that's insulting me. i am looking after mine perfectly fine, just because they don't have a heater doesn't mean they aren't healthy and happy. i do not change my room temperature, it's a STEADY 75F, meaning i DON'T change it. all your other questions are "what if" questions, needing no reply.

my do have a desk lamp over them keeping the water warmer than if they didn't have one, but obviously, mine are perfectly fine without a heater.

i wasnt trying to insult you, i was giving my opinion, i personally think all tropical fish should be with heaters. if it costs to much to run, dont keep fish. simple as. im not having a "dig" at you. just my general thought. this topic was going to create an argument, its peoples ways of life that determind what they do, if you dont keep tropical fish with heaters, thats your business, but doesnt mean i cant my piece and tell people i think tropical fish need heaters.i honestly belive, why keep fish if your not giving them the best care. why skip corners to make your life easier.

 

[naepace]

I'm curious, those of you who use no heater & maintain a stable temp, is the temp stable 24 hours a day ? I for one prefer my heating off or a least cooler at night. Also what happens when we have a good summer, I remember reading frantic posts about people trying to keep their tanks temperature down. This problem would surely be worse in water volumes of 5g & less.
Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[helterskelter]

These are tropical fish not sub-tropical fish.....

If you want to keep you house like a Thai brothel then you may keep them in unheated tanks in the uk.

 

[dwarfgourami]

These are tropical fish not sub-tropical fish.....

If you want to keep you house like a Thai brothel then you may keep them in unheated tanks in the uk.

Some people do... Certainly UK houses have got a lot warmer in the 20 odd years I have known them: when I first started visiting this country, a hot water bottle (something I had never previously seen in the flesh) was an essential part of your survival kit. Now I can imagine there might just be houses that meet betta specifications- though not mine.

 

[nmonks]

It doesn't matter the source of heat provided for the betta, provided that it doesn't get too cold. Nighttime temperatures certainly shouldn't dip below 18C. Besides the warmth, humidity is critical, because dry air damanges the labyrinth organ. Cold air contains less moisture, and hence is more dangerous in this respect.

Personally, I'd say keeping a betta in the average UK home is NOT advisable. The temperature fluctuations are going to be too extreme. In modern homes with good heating and insulation you might be fine, but in older houses I wouldn't risk it. If you want a coldwater aquarium, there are lots of options. I highly recommend the paradisefish Macropodus ocellaris. It's coldwater-tolerant, very colourful, and easy to keep.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Miss Wiggle]

a lot of people forget nightime temps, yes in the day the temp may be high enough for your fish to be happy with no heater, but try staying up one night and monitoring the temp of the tank, bet you'd be in for a shock.

 

[napiman]

my tank at the moment has a heater and a filter, i was only wondering wether it would be possible and if so i might hav got another tank. i didn't want to start a comotion

 

[liz2]

my tank at the moment has a heater and a filter, i was only wondering wether it would be possible and if so i might hav got another tank. i didn't want to start a comotion

bless... us betta keepers all think we know best that's the problem and we like a nice heated (sorry no pun intended) discussion!

 

[napiman]

thats ok. just sayin, i didnt want to start a war over wether or not u needed a heater in britain. it was just a question that poped up in my head.