Is 74 too cold for a betta?

[LeahK]

I'm in Hawaii and I don't usually need a heater in my tanks. I've been keeping an eye on the temperature in the 20 gallon where I hope to put a betta, and it's fairly consistent: It's 74 during the day, and drops to 73 overnight.
By April or May, this tank will be at 80, but will I need a heater if I want to put the betta in there now?

 

[sleepyskater]

seems good, I'd be worried if it was like 60 or something

 

[rich311k]

78-80 would be much better. Bettas are a warm water fish.

 

[jpappy789]

I agree, they seem to be more active in warmer water.

 

[ChrisK]

While not Ideal...will be o.k. get a heater if you can.

 

[LeahK]

While not Ideal...will be o.k. get a heater if you can.

Yeah, I'm not opposed to buying a heater. I just wasn't sure whether I needed it. With my tanks climbing to 81 from April to October, I'm usually more concerned with keeping them cool than heating them, but I'd heard that bettas prefer warmer water, and I wasn't sure if 74 would cut it.
Thanks for the advice, everyone.

 

[sleepyskater]

From April to October it will be more active than when its November to March
It'll go through phases haha

 

[7itanium]

Personally I always keep a heater in all my tanks no matter where I am at.

Just because you live in a hot climate doesnt mean you dont need a heater-- a heater provides constant and consistent heat which is much healthier for tropical fish... betas need 80 degree water to flourish to their full potential

 

[jpappy789]

:iagree:

consistency, consistency.

 

[OldMan47]

The bettas will do better above 78 or so as most have said. The idea of constant temperature I have started to challenge in my tanks. I have been setting the heaters at the minimum recommended temperature for each species only tank and letting the temperature move with the house when it is warmer. So far it looks like the fish are at least as happy with the temperature regime and some, like my goodeids, are doing much better than when I kept them at a constant temperature in the middle of their range. The jury is still out but I expect to do much more of this in the future. There is no such thing as a natural freshwater environment with a constant temperature. Things like rain will move a whole lake several degrees and of course the shallow areas, where many of our fish come from, move a lot between night and day.