Betta fish/heater

[0o.Kelsey.o0]

Do Betta fish need a heater?? I was thinking of setting a tank up in our bathroom on the vanity but definitely don't want a long ugly cord running across it. I just started looking into it and so far I've read that yes they do, or at least they are happier with one. I previously kept one for two years with no heater so i feel kinda bad. Just wanted to know what everyone opinions on that were.

Thanks!

 

[aquabeast]

when i had my bettas, i would run a heater during winter, then without in the summer cause of natural heat, but ive heard its better for the fish to have it.. depends on if you want to or not really.. what size tank? i have to ask that.. cause if its less than 5 gallons dont bother..

 

[Homedog98]

They definitely need a heater... Unless you usually keep your house at 78 degrees year round...

 

[aquabeast]

thats the temp my house is, but i still run the heater anyhow..lol

 

[0o.Kelsey.o0]

nope only about 20, guess ill have to find a new place for him to go, maybe the basement living room. That could be awhile though since the living room isn't even close to being done Dang renovations. Tank size i wasn't too sure yet hadn't researched the min size. You say 5 gallons??

 

[siva]

Min size is 5, of course 10 would be even better. Bettas thrive at 80F. The Hydor Theo heater is what I use in all my betta tanks. It has a temperature control dial so you can actually set it to 80 and it's very reliable. Bettas are uncomfortable, inactive, and get clamped fins when they get too cold.

 

[0o.Kelsey.o0]

We have a few 10 gallons lying around so i guess it would be easy to use one instead of buying a 5 haha. We actually have one setup in our upstairs living room (no heater either) but it is holding our baby goldfish from last summer. They will be going out as soon as it warms up more so maybe ill clean that one up. What other fish can i keep with them?? There is a small pleco of some sort(nothing fancy) and one other small old fish that we've had forever...not too sure exactly what he is. Is the 70 gal min tank for plecos recommended for growing room? He's been in there awhile (i don't even remember when we got him), I haven't paid much attention to the tank inhabitants though since i have my SW tanks keeping me busy. He could be returned probably.

 

[siva]

A common pleco needs a min. of 125 gallons And then they'll usually outgrow that..

 

[0o.Kelsey.o0]

Is it just for growing space? I mean he obviously doesn't swim around very often haha. Should i return him? He's very small now but i know the tank size can effect how they grow too so that probably wouldn't be good.

 

[siva]

I think they can grow all the way up to 24" and need 10 gals of water for each inch. They have a large bio-load so even a smaller one isn't great for a small tank. If kept in a small tank they will eventually go through a painful process called stunting which will kill them. I would take him to the lfs or rehome him if you don't plan on having a larger tank for him soon.

 

[0o.Kelsey.o0]

Yah we probably wont get a larger FW, too many SW ones haha. Just curious, how do they have a large bioload? All he eats is algae, and there isn't much in there so i don't really know how hes gotten this far, poor guy. Or do you mean once they are large they have a large bioload?

 

[WendiDell]

Yah we probably wont get a larger FW, too many SW ones haha. Just curious, how do they have a large bioload? All he eats is algae, and there isn't much in there so i don't really know how hes gotten this far, poor guy. Or do you mean once they are large they have a large bioload?

Plecos don't only eat Algae. They eat the excess food you feed all your other fish that falls onto the gravel. Plecos swim around a lot at night, that's also when they graze from the bottom of the tank and get their fill of food.
If all a Pleco ate was algae, it would die of malnutrition.
Think of a Pleco as a horse. They only eat hay or alfalfa, a few cups of oats and gallons of water. Have you ever seen how much manure 1 horse can produce? That comes from the horse grazing, just like a Pleco grazes at night.
Hence, the large bio load

 

[siva]

good explanation!

 

[0o.Kelsey.o0]

Ohhh, learn something new everyday. Thanks! Would male guppys be okay with a betta? Or some other small fish, maybe some mollys?

 

[siva]

Mollies are actually a larger fish with a high bio-load to size ratio and I wouldn't keep them in anything less than 29 gallons. Guppies are good for 10 gals but are risky with a betta. The typical rule of thumb with mixing bettas is nothing with flowing fins so it doesn't mistake them for another betta, or nothing that is known to get nippy with fish that have flowing fins. Personally I would try a couple platy (get one sex so they don't reproduce) with a betta in a 10 gal. If you were to put a betta in a 5 gal it really shouldn't have tankmates IMO.

 

[Homedog98]

Mollies are actually a larger fish with a high bio-load to size ratio and I wouldn't keep them in anything less than 29 gallons. Guppies are good for 10 gals but are risky with a betta. The typical rule of thumb with mixing bettas is nothing with flowing fins so it doesn't mistake them for another betta, or nothing that is known to get nippy with fish that have flowing fins. Personally I would try a couple platy (get one sex so they don't reproduce) with a betta in a 10 gal. If you were to put a betta in a 5 gal it really shouldn't have tankmates IMO.

The one sex thing isn't entirely true... Female plates can hold sperm for up to three months, so your still likely to get fry if you get females... I'd go with males if you'd rather not deal with babies

 

[siva]

lol of course Lauren! You'd think with the two fry I have here dropped off from a female I would think to mention that Then again, something tells me with a betta in the tank the fry most likely would never grow up to be a problem But you never know...

 

[Homedog98]

lol of course Lauren! You'd think with the two fry I have here dropped off from a female I would think to mention that Then again, something tells me with a betta in the tank the fry most likely would never grow up to be a problem But you never know...

Lol, true that.

 

[Bettababe1011]

Daddy cares for em till they're free swimming. THEN they might be snacks, lol.

 

[0o.Kelsey.o0]

Lol plattys aren't that pretty though, maybe ill just get one or the other (guppy or betta). Any other nice looking fish suggestions for a 10 gallon tank, doesn't have to include the betta being in there.