Betta Tank Need Heater?

[SwimminglyFishy]

I recently purchased a two gallon tank that I am planning on keeping a betta in. I have read that bettas need a heater but have also heard that they can live fine without one. My tank comes with an incandescent light hood that gets pretty warm. It also has a filter which will probably heat the water just a tad. I live in Southern California so my house never gets really cold.

Do I need to add a heater if I am only keeping a betta?

If I do need a heater, would a 25 watt submersible heater do the trick?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Hannys_Papa]

It all comes down to providing a stable temperature - temp swings stress the fish and they are more susceptable to disease.
I think for the most part if the tank stays above 75 (because your house stays that warm) you can go without heater. But you still need to make sure that you dont have large swings - as an example that the light heats the tank to 85 throughout the day (or because the house is warmer at daytime too) and then the tank drops to 75 at night.
If thats the case a heater would be good to balance things out a bit more.

 

[fishinAZ]

stable temps are very important. A heater would be a good thing for the health of the fish.

 

[liv2padl]

bettas are tropical fish and need a stable temperature ob 78-80°F

 

[Hereford]

You should also avoid a temperature swing when changing water. Fresh tap water can be 60-65 degrees which would be quite a jolt to the fish. An "instant read" meat thermometer is handy for comparing temperatures. The fresh water can be warmed in the microwave if necessary.

 

[pwrflpills]

I have the same set up and have a 25W heater that I keep at 81 degrees (closest to 80 I could get). I try to have the incandescent light on as little as possible because it does heat the water on the top to 85+! However, when it is on my betta always sits at the top on a plant and chills there until I turn off the light. So apparently he loves it. It's been this way for months, so I don't fix what ain't broke.

Before I got the heater the tank would swing roughly 6+ degrees each day and night. I knew that couldn't happen so that's why I bought the heater.

Also, I do not use the air pump that the set up came with. People tell me I should, but when I have it on and I look in and the fish is bouncing all around while he's trying to rest, I feel bad. I left the undergravel filter in place, so hopefully that's doing something since the tank cycled with it that way. I do frequent water changes and all is good.

 

[pat123123]

Well, I would not put a 25 watt heater in a 2 gallon tank. You're asking to have a fish fry that way. Also, if that size heater malfunctions, your betta will get cooked.

A 7.5 watt heater is made for 2-5 gallon tanks. Do NOT use them in less than 2 gallons of water. (I prefer to NOT use them in less than 2.5) You'll risk cooking your fish. The main problem with these heaters is that there is no temp control. They just heat the tank to about 4 or 5 degrees (give or take) above room temperature.