Bettas a problem here?

[Fathomed]

Yo,

I stocked my 20g with 5 tetras, 3 cherry barbs, and 3 cories, living quite peacefully together.

I recently got gifted a 2.5g hexagonal tank and I figure I throw in a Betta - there's no room for a heater or a filter.

My Betta has been living in there for 2 days and 2 nights. Then I decide to check the temperature and I find the water is 18 degrees. That's waay too cold. I put him with my community tank (the peaceful 20g) and see my Betta sometimes puffing his gills and chasing others. Mostly the barbs.

All my fish easily out-swim my Betta, slow guy =P but I wonder if it is stressful for him always trying to intimidate his tankmates.
What should I do? I don't have room for a heater on my 2.5g, my 20g has a community problem, and my 78g has a turtle that will definitely eat my Betta, he's so slow.

Thanks~

 

[jcarlilesiu]

I wouldn't be moving your fish around, especially between two very different tank temperatures... that alone is very stressful.

Second, barbs are typically semi-aggresive fish, so they may be nipping at the fins of your betta, but other than that, I have always heard that a single betta in a community tank is ok.

 

[jsoong]

Perhaps you can get a mini heater, like this 7.5W:
http://www.bigalsonline.ca/BigAlsCA/ctl3664/cp18116/si1319420/cl0/hydorminiheater75watt

I think an occasional display is OK for the betta .... keeps him entertained. But if he is doing it 24/7, he might well be stressed out.

 

[bluerose]

They make mini heaters for tanks that small... drsfostersmith.com has one that's flat, sort of a mini heating pad sort of thing but it goes in the tank.

I agree with jsoong on the flaring/stress issue. Tetras will sometimes nip at bettas as well.

 

[Fathomed]

Ah, thanks. After a day they seem to stop fighting. My Betta must have gotten tired and stopped chasing the others around.
I think I'll leave the Betta in there until the weekend, then i'll get myself a mini heater.