small heater?

[valerie]

is there a company that makes small heaters? say around 15 watts. I want to use one in a jar for when i get a betta. I have an old heater that is about 6" long that i got second hand but it doesn't work and the label is worn off so i can't get a name.

[Woozledad]

I think Betta's in a jar at a decent room temp usually don't need a heater, do they??? Anyway, I've seen heaters at Walmart that were very small, smaller than usual anyway....Hope this helps....

[Heady]

I raised bettas for years and never needed a heater.

One time during an Illinois winter, my car broke down in the middle of nowhere and I had my betta with me (college student en route back to school). This is Illinois mid-winter we're talking about here - probably about 40 below with wind chill. He was in that little mayonnaise jar for about an hour. I tried to keep the jar in my jacket but it wouldn't fit. He kept moving slower and slower, and going clearer and clearer until I could see his poor little organs in there and he was lying on the bottom of the jar. Then help arrived and I brought him to my warm room and let the water heat back up naturally to minimize shock. After just a few hours he was as good as new!

Not that I would recommend you keep your betta in freezing water, but I have never had a need for a heater, EVER. He will be just fine without it! :cool:

I would be more worried about what would happen if the heater malfunctioned and overcooked the water and the fish. It's been known to happen.

[valerie]

well i live in canada and the betta will be inthe basement so it gets cold in the winter. plus bettas are tropical fish and need the higher temps then the 70 degrees my basement is.

[Heady]

The ambient temp in my house was 68 degrees in the winter, and not only were they perfectly happy and healthy, but they were even breeding at that temp.

[Woozledad]

My LFS keeps them in little plastic cups and they seem just fine at well below 70...always cold in there for some reason....

[Raithan Ellis]

To answer your original question... I've seen heaters as small as 25w. If you really need one, check out That Fish Place (http://www.thatfishplace.com)

Cheers,
Raithan O. Ellis

[valerie]

ok haven't decided if i want a heater, maybe i'll wait untill winter comes again to see how cold the water will actually get. I found a 7" tronic heater for 30$, but i don't think i want to spend that much. Thanks for hte help.

[Raithan Ellis]

At That Fish Place they carry a Visi-Therm Deluxe 25W 6 3/4" Heater (Aq. Systems) for $12.99

Cheers,
Raithan O. Ellis

[valerie]

I live in alberta,canada nothign is ever cheap here. There are some crappy heaters i can get for 10$ but i tried taht once and it broke quite quickly. All the better quality heaters cost 25$can and up.