do you need a heater?

[kimsoph]

hi all, really sorry if this is a silly question
BUT........... new to all this, and i keep seeing pics of lovely beetas but they are in
jars or little bowls etc, with no heater, do they not need one?

 

[kimsoph]

OOpps, sorry to the spelling police....... Bettas.

 

[kimsoph]

Hmmmmmmm.....
I guess it really was a silly question..... ???

 

[wuvmybetta]

It really depends on where you live, and how you keep the room temperature of your house.

 

[kimsoph]

hi
thanks for getting back to me...
I live in england, and my house is always quite warm, with central heating twice a day unless really warm over here..

 

[basia]

If you are in England you will probably need a heater, even with central heating. My heaters are coming on for short spells even at the moment.

 

[kimsoph]

ok thanks for that.
How on earth would i heat something like a small jar/bowl tho?
Can you buy heaters so small?
As I say new to all this but can't stay away from this site ... hehe

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Yeah you can get lil heaters. It's worth looking around for one as you can find the tiny ones real cheap. I have one in my bettas tank. I would never keep any tropical types without one in this country. But I do have 5 tanks right now. )
Hugs,
P.
Edit:I'd also recommend giving your betta a slightly bigger home. They might be small but they like room to swim about. Mine lives in a 10g.

 

[clover]

another way is if your room has a load of tanks with heaters going that makes ya room worm 24/7 then its fine and you shouldnt need heaters

 

[Bloo]

hi
thanks for getting back to me...
I live in england, and my house is always quite warm, with central heating twice a day unless really warm over here..

[snapback]876975[/snapback]​

Yikes - we've had our heating off since April and don't expect to put it back on until October really

Why don't you buy a glass thermometer and check the water temperature - even though the house might feel warm to you , it's not certain what the water temperature it. Worth checking
Remember these fish come from very very hot climates and therefore do naturally prefer warmer waters - yes even tank / home bred ones.

 

[boozybears]

I have mine in a one gallon tank and have yet to find a heater small enough to use safely... so Finnigan's been without a heater since I got him last winter. He's been fine. I keep an eye on the temperature in his tank.. but so far looks like my home has always been warm enough

 

[OohFeeshy]

Mine aren't heated, I find the temperature stays far more stable without one. My room isn't massively cold, but when I get a digital thermometer I'll double check it.

 

[Bloo]

Mine aren't heated, I find the temperature stays far more stable without one. My room isn't massively cold, but when I get a digital thermometer I'll double check it.

[snapback]877103[/snapback]​

Sorry but how can it stay far more stable if the heater does just that - keeps the temperature stable and constant ?
I'm not saying there is anything wrong by keeping them in unheated water if the house is warm enough, but I just don't understand your logic there.....

 

[OohFeeshy]

Without a heater, the water stays at room temperature, which is pretty constant. With a heater, theres going be a lot of small flunctuations as the water drops slightly then is heated again. And I have crappy heaters too

 

[Bloo]

Without a heater, the water stays at room temperature, which is pretty constant. With a heater, theres going be a lot of small flunctuations as the water drops slightly then is heated again. And I have crappy heaters too

[snapback]877134[/snapback]​

Ah OK crappy heaters might explain it then - mine are generally exactly whatever I set them to stay on. It doesn't let it drop much more than half a degree (if that) before it kicks in an keeps the temperature constant.

But yes, if you have a heated house and you're sure that your tanks will stay warm enough all year round it's fine.