Betta Temperature

[Crab Paste]

I know what the reccomendations and theories are, but I'd like to hear from anyone who actually keeps their betta constantly at 72F and if its healthy and seems happy. Would you reccomend it? All mine are currently 'heated' at around 79-80F and will remain at this temp. I want to know for a future betta and small tank that can't be heated and would always be 72F room temp.

Thanks, any help appreciated.

CP

 

[OrkyBetta]

My bettas are kept at 72. Never had a problem. My boys are all healthy...*knocks on wood*

 

[AlexsDaddy]

Nope. 72F isn't healthy for a betta. Since they are tropical fish they need tropical temps. and keeping them in a low temp for a long period of time will weaken their immune system making them more vulnerable to disease. That's the theory. My experience says the same thing. I think that's the biggest reason I just lost my wifes betta to Velvet (after battling it for 3 months) is because he was in an unheated 2.5 gal and the temp was constantly bouncing up and down, but staying mainly in the mid to low 70's, thus stressing him out and destroying his immune system. I think the smallest heater made is for a 2.5 gallon, but I have used adjustable heaters for 5 gal tanks in a 1 gal bowl successfully. That was after 2 or 3 days of testing to make sure the temp stayed steady. So no, I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[Crab Paste]

Thanks for your replies. I guess in practice it can work, then again it might not.

After keeping a check on my room temperature, it doesn't get lower that 74F even at night. If it's a particularly cold night then it would hit 72F.

I don't want to risk making a betta unhealthy if 72F or 74F isn't sufficient.

I'll most likely get another 2.5G and 25watt heater. I can't find any lower wattage heaters locally but I'm already having success with a 25watt in a 2.5G.

Thanks again.

CP

 

[BettaMomma]

In practice, if you keep your water sparkly clean and are prompt about your water changes, AND the temp were to stay at a consistent 72 degrees, it would work fine. I have 4 bettas here on my desk at work whose temps during the entire 3, 5 and 6 months (approximately) they've been with me were at 74 degrees. They're all perfectly fine. I slipped on water changes for a little while, and little Charlie wound up with velvet too - but everyone else is doing just fine and now the water changes are back to religiously twice or even three times a week.

When the summer rolls around, I'm afraid it will be a different story, because the a/c will be on. I'm going to see what I can do about having some sort of larger, heated maybe divided tank though..

But... the key is having a consistent temp rather than fluctuations. Having a steady 72 or 74 is much better for them than having 80 one day and 75 the next etc.

However - i do agree - higher temps overall are much better for tje,/

 

[OohFeeshy]

Well, at the moment, one of mine is in an unheated 3g. As soon as I get some dechlor (although I do have aged water on hand) he'll be moved to the heated 3g. However, I'm finding that temps flunc less in the unheated tank than they do in the heated. TBH, I'd much rather get another 20g and divide it up, but I have no space.

 

[Raechal]

Most of my bettas are in unheated tanks but since the tanks are rather small and I keep the lights on for 12 hours a day, it keeps the water warm at around 74-76 degrees all year round.

I put a heater in my oldest betta's tank and it heated the water up to around 79-80 over a day or two and he became very lethargic and would stay in a corner all day. Then when I lowered to back down to 76 he started swimming all around the tank and looking much healthier. I guess it really depends on the betta maybe?