Betta Bowl Insulation?

[urbinsissy]

I have taken charge of the office betta (don't even get me started on why the owner decided to have a betta in the office). He is in a plastic bowl that hangs on the wall. The water is usually around 72 but now that it's winter the air/walls have dropped the water to below 68 (lowest reading) on the thermometer. I read that they can tolerate down to 65 degrees but it just seems too cold. So first, is 65 too cold? And second, is there anything I can do to insulate his bowl and keep him warm if the temperature does need to be higher? Thanks for any help.

 

[DarkEntity]

Yes Betta tolerate more than some fish, but they are still Tropical fish thus prefer tropical water temperatures. Id suggest replacing the plastic tank with a small glass one and get a heater, problem solved.

 

[liz2]

Those wall hangy things are not nice. If youre his new owner you gotta look after your baby now...let us know how he gets on and we love photos!

 

[jollysue]

PHOTOS!!!!

Take up a collection and get him a nice 2.5 or even a 5 usg tank with a heater and a filter.

If that isn't doable, get him a nice two usg bowl and a little heater.

I just got this one--a little pricey at $25, but ...

 

[catxx]

i agree with others, those wall hanging tanks aren't any good for a fish to live really, especially if he's nailed to an external wall that will get cold, and VERY cold during the night when noones there.

have you been given the fish permanently, or just fishsitting while the owner is away?

if you've taken over entirely, you can pick up large acrylic kritter keepers for pennies, and i've had 25watt heaters in these successfully (mine are between 3.5-4.5 US gallons) as long as the heater does not touch the sides (melty melty)

 

[ileopard]

For a single betta, a 5 gallon will be the best setup you can get. They are expensive, but for a project like this, well worth it. Many 5 gallon "kits" include a filter, and some may include a heater. I suggest getting a heater for a 5 gallon and setting it to 78*F. (Note: Do not attempt to heat your 2.5 gallon. Only heat 5 gallon and up.)

 

[OohFeeshy]

You can heat a 2.5 no problems. The only trouble is finding a heater to fit in.

 

[urbinsissy]

Unfortunately the owner of the company is all about aesthetics and the fish must stay in that bowl, in that spot. I'm just trying to do what I can to take care of him and keep him happy because no one else takes care of him. Poor little guy. I REALLY want to fishnap him and take him home!

 

[jollysue]

Well we will all keep an eye open for you for something that is more appropriate for the fish "in that spot" aesthetically. Meantime, while I know nothing about insulation, perhaps a piece of one of those space blankets with some kind of fishy wall paper that would go with the tank design and hide the blanket? Just a first thought to start the ball rolling. I'm sure someone can come up with something smarter.

What about some sort of water proof heating pad again with a smart piece of tank paper to hide it?

Oh yes and put the owner on a mailing list for dumb and dumber fishy bosses!

 

[pica_nuttalli]

Unfortunately the owner of the company is all about aesthetics and the fish must stay in that bowl, in that spot. I'm just trying to do what I can to take care of him and keep him happy because no one else takes care of him. Poor little guy. I REALLY want to fishnap him and take him home!

you can try this: most glass fishtank thermometer have the tropical temperature range marked in green. get one of those and put it in the tank. odds are good that your boss will go to have a look at it and ask about it. that'd be a good opportunity to explain about how the betta is too cold. or you might want to use some pictures of really nice bettas in tanks as a screensaver, so that your boss can see how much better bettas look when they aren't all cold and droopy.

 

[urbinsissy]

Just an update to this, in case you were wondering I cut a fedex plastic padded envelope to the diameter of the back of the bowl (the kind with the bubble wrap on the inside) and changed out his water yesterday. The insulation has kept his water temp at 72F - much better

 

[jollysue]

Great problem solving!