Fighters Without Heat

[andy_j]

Got into a bit of an arguement with a person who works at one of the lfs i go to. He mentioned that fighters can be kept in "cold water" quite happily.

Now i presume he meant "room temperature" or without a heater. I also said to him that it was the worst piece of advice i've ever heard.

Now i know these are hardy little beasts but i've always grown up believing that Siamese fighting fish are Tropical fish not temperate or cold water. I've also believed, as with all anabantids, they require temperatures at the upper end of the scale ie 78-84f

I would never dream of keeping ANY tropical fish below 75 anyway let alone fighters and the thought of keeping them between 60-70f appalls me.

What are your thoughts on this ?...have i been barking up the wrong tree for 30 years ?

Andy

 

[kg4t]

Andy im kinda new to this, but I beleave ur right, I read alot of places to keep the temp in upper 70's or so, so i beleave you've been on the right path. again im new maybe a pro should answer =).

 

[dusky]

The obvious assumption is that our water here is alot colder than the water where they originaly come from and have become geneticly acclimatised to. I always go for a heater and when i do a water change i put the new water on a radiator for few hours to warm up. Sad or what lol

 

[kg4t]

I always go for a heater and when i do a water change i put the new water on a radiator for few hours to warm up. Sad or what lol

Lol, what ever works =)

 

[devon_charm]

Bettas can infact live in unheated water in the uk as long as the room doesn't get too cold BUT they no where near like it and the become very lethargic. Its not fair on the fish tho and i think it should never be done. I like to see a happy active better and thinks its worth the lil bit extra money to see them that way.

Plus you open you fish up to more illness if your water is unheated

 

[Bubblenester]

They can adapt to room temperature more easily than most tropical fish (as long as it is at least 70) but you're right, they definitely prefer higher temperatures of around 78 degrees. They're more active, have better color, and are less prone to disease.

 

[littlest]

When I had a pest problem at my house my betta had to go stay with my boyfriend (due to pesticides being used at mine).
He had a small temporary tank and a small 7.5W heater. The heater wasn't powerful enough to keep the water that warm (it was winter). My usually active betta became very lethargic and didn't really do much. Once he was back in his bigger, warmer tank he perked right up. Hard to tell whether it was the tank size or tank temp, but I'm sure the temp had quite a lot to do with it.
I've also heard of people whose bettas suffer with ich more often in unheated tanks.

 

[CathyGo]

The other thing to think about is that during the day the tank probably stays pretty warm but at night the temp drops and this constant temp fluctuation can stress fish a lot. If you have a small tank or a bowl this effects it a lot more than a larger tank.

 

[happyannie]

I've always put the ones I have in an unheated bowl/box way up high on the top of a tall cabinet or bookshelf. It's a pain to lift it high up again after I'm done changing water but as heat does rise (warm air is lighter), I'm sure they appreciate that.

I had the furnace go out here last weekend and it got down to 59 in here. Luckily, I'd had the foresight to buy these little cheesy kind of heater pads that are for small bowls and raise the temp up to about 8 degrees warmer.. So, the betta in a box was in the room with a space heater and his heating pad thingie making a bubblenest and oblivious to the pain and suffering of other house residents. I'd put in a thermometer to keep track...