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Calling all FP Betta Experts

Just got my little guy a pet Betta. Right now he's in a small bowl and I'll probably move him out soon, but my question is temp. How low could these guys tolerate it. The bowl does not have a heater and will definitely drop below 70F at night.

thanks



Last edited by tetratech at 22-Oct-2005 17:26

My Scapes

he should be good. they will be ok in cold water, but expect no-slight movement, and a loss of color, but when it is dark they are usually in rest mode anyway.

Thanks bettachris,

So the bettas are more tolerant of temp swings than you average tropical fish? For example a swing from 68f to 74 day to nite.

My Scapes

IME, 72 is as low as i'd want to go. Anything below that drops their body systemsv and things tend to get sick if that happens.

Can you insulate the bowl at night? wrap it in a towel? put it in a foam box?

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

The towel is a good idea, I'll do that just to be safe.

My Scapes

Eh, that's kind of a big swing to do daily... normally you don't want to go over 2-3 degrees in 24 hours.

Id follow calla's suggestion and try and insulate. She is, after all, the resident betta queen

Maybe you can buy a heat patch & place it in the bowl, so you'll keep the water heated at night.


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I thought maybe a heating pad. I guess it would have to be placed to where it would heat the water evenly to do any good. That would hold out longer than a heat patch if youre talking about the kind Im talking about. Or, how about moving the betta closer to a heat vent at night. Maybe try to put it somewhere during the day and then somewhere else at night to where the temp stays the same, i.e. sunlight during the day, warmer room at night.

One -two gallon tanks arent that expensive. I know my Walmart sells a 2.5 gallon I think that has a filter and a heater can be put on for a little less than $20. It would look a lot better than just a bowl and the tank would be a nicer home. Youd also have a lot less water maintenance. I think the name of that tank is called Eclipse. The smallest heater are $7.

If it drops below twenty degrees, you may not have a betta

Sorry...I was wrong on the name and the price. Its more like $20 for the 2 gal. I did get a 5 gal acrylic hex with a bio wheel and built in filter for $29. Not a bad pirce when all you have to buy to add to it is your gravel, plants and heater. Which all that would run you about $3 for gravel, whatever you want to spend on plants and about $10-15 for heater. But the smallesat heaters at Wal Mart are like $6.99. But they are very basic! Oh, that 5 gal tank was made by Aqua Culture.