Do Betta Fish Need A Heater – A Complete Guide & Answer

It is true that betta fish need a heater in aquarium to live. It can live only under optimum water temprature.

It is usually asked if betta fish needs a heater to survive. An average betta fish cannot survive in cold water. As they came from Southeast Asia, they are familiar to live in warm waters. Temperature below 68°F is considered cold for betta fish. 

Indeed, bettas don’t need a heater to function but they prefer to have it. A heated aquarium makes their immune system stronger and saves them from any form of illness. The sudden temperature change can make their immunity weak.

Why It Is Necessary To Keep Betta Fishes With Heater In Tank

Lower temperature doesn’t cause sudden death of bettas, however, it leads to making them dull. It makes their immunity weak and they easily get caught by some diseases. In the end, it leads them to death.

What Makes Betta Fish Different From Other Fishes?

Betta fish is also called Siamese fighting fish. It originated from Southeast Asia but you will see them thrive in aquarium tanks all over the world. These fish are among the oldest species of domesticated fish. Betta fish has a lot of varieties and can be easily found in pet stores. Betta fish is well-known because of its decorative fins, beautiful colours, and fighting abilities. 

What You Sould Do To Keep Betta Fish Survive?

If you want to keep your betta surviving, a heater is the best way to keep the temperature warm. An aquarium heater will adjust the temperature according to their requirement. However, if you don’t have an aquarium heater, there are many other options to keep the water warm. Different methods can be used to make a healthy environment for betta fish. By keeping the environment warm, your fish will live longer and happier.

Are betta fish different from other fish? 

As every fish has a different appearance and different requirements, betta fish is also different from others. It has beautiful colours, decorative fins, and fighting abilities, which make the fish distinguishable from others. These fish are becoming more and more popular among people because of their eye-catching appearance. 

There is a misconception that betta fish should be kept alone because it tends to fight. However, female betta fish can be kept in small groups as they are not much aggressive. Male betta fish, on the other hand, mostly fight with other male betta fish, so it is better to keep them separate. This feature makes them different from other non-aggressive fish.

Another feature that makes them different from other fish is that it needs a lot of space. Some people think that they can live in a tiny tank with just a plant. However, no fish likes to live in a small area without any decoration. It will lead the fish to live lonely and dull lives. So, you should keep them in large aquariums to thrive happily.

Betta fish cannot survive only on plants. These fish are omnivorous and like to eat insect larvae and insects. Plant root diet may keep them alive for some time, but it will gradually make them sick and prone to death because it doesn’t contain adequate nutrition necessary for betta fish. 

Betta fish mostly take their oxygen from the surface of the water. If you place plants on the top of the tank, it may hinder the access that they need to get oxygen. So, it is wise to place plants and decorations accordingly.

As they are native to Southeast Asia, they live in the shallow water of ponds, rice paddies, or streams. Because the water is shallow, it keeps the temperature warm. Betta fish needs a minimum of 2.5 gallons for each fish and the temperature should not decrease from 76 to 82 degrees.

Betta fish likes to live in a clean environment, so it is recommended to clean the water regularly and partially change it after every two weeks. You can add decorations in the aquarium such as rocks, hiding spots and live plants to make it a pleasant place for betta fish.

Many people think that betta fish are lazy because they observe them in pet stores where they are placed in small vases that obstruct their activity. Betta fish are playful and active when kept in a healthy environment with a proper setting.

Some Of The Basic Requirements For Betta Fish 

Since betta fish is a hardy fish and easy to keep, it does not mean it can survive without any care. Like every other species, betta fish have some requirements to grow healthy and happy. The average age of betta fish is around 3 to 4 years. However, you have to create a healthy environment according to their requirements to help them live their life span. An appropriate tank, proper light, required temperature, and healthy nutrition is some of the basic requirements of betta fish.

Tank setup

There is a misconception that bettas can survive in small vases. Bett fish require spacious tanks to swim freely and happily. Bettas require a minimum of 5-gallon tank, and you can also use a 10-gallon tank to provide them good space for swimming. Bettas prefer to swim in shallow waters, so make sure the tank is not too deep. 

A square tank is a good option for bettas because rounded bowls have small openings at the top and limit the filter options. 

Filter System

Bettas are very sensitive to bacterial maladies, so make sure to add a good filter system to the tank. Change the water partially after every one or two weeks to keep the tank clean.

Tank Temperature For Bettas

Betta fish are temperature sensitive and cannot thrive in cold waters. It is essential to add an aquarium heater to the tank to keep the temperature accordingly. Idea temperature for bettas is somewhere between 78 and 82 degrees.

Food

Since betta fish are carnivores, they like to eat larvae and insects. You should provide them with fish food containing protein to balance their nutrition. You can also give pellets, flakes, and frozen foods particularly made for them. You can find them in pet food stores easily.

Betta fish do not know if they are full or not. They are always in search of the next meal. If they are overfed, it can be harmful. So, it is your responsibility to feed your bettas the right amount of food. It is better to feed them twice a day. A food portion should be equal to 5 per cent of their body size. Provide them with enough food to finish within two minutes. If your fish dawdles while eating, you can give those five minutes to finish the meal.

Betta Fish Temperament

Though betta fish is called ‘Siamese Fighting Fish’, they are not as wild as people think. Female bettas are not that wild and do not fight much. However, male bettas are highly territorial and attack each other frequently. They sometimes attack their image in the aquarium. So, it is better to not keep betta fish with other bettas to avoid fighting.

Can Bettas Live With Other Tank Mates?

Bettas can live with other fish species, but it is recommended to keep them alone. Male bettas have long fins and make an appealing target for aggressive fish. So, keeping them alone is the best option. If you still want to add some tank mates in the aquarium, you must choose the most compatible fish which are gentle and small such as khuli loaches and corydoras. 

If you are bringing tank mates, you should choose a bigger tank to create sufficient space for the fish. It is recommended to add 1 gallon of water per inch of fish. So, if you have a 5 or 10-gallon tank, you will have to increase the size of each new fish.

What If Betta Fish Is Kept In Cold Water?

Though betta fish can live in cold water for some time, it will eventually harm their general health. Bettas living in cold water normally behave lethargically. Any temperature below 78 degrees is considered low for bettas. When they live in cold water for a long time, they become dull and do not like to eat anything. It makes them prone to different diseases. Eventually, they will end up dead. 

Betta fish is a hardy fish for sure and does not require a lot of maintenance, but leaving your betta fish in cold water is very harmful. It will harm the fish in several ways.

Prone To Diseases

Low temperature makes their immune system weak and they become prone to deadly diseases, parasites, and infections. Most of them will become ill and it will lead them to death. If infections and diseases are caught early, they can be treated by different methods. However, if you keep them in cold water for a long time, their life span becomes short.

Lethargic And Dull

If bettas fall sick, they do not show signs immediately. The first sign of their sickness is inactivity. Bettas will become lethargic and stop moving much if the water is cold. They start swimming slowly and sluggishly in the start. If you don’t make the temperature adequate, they will stop moving and rest in the bottom of the aquarium. So, you should always maintain an adequate temperature to make your bettas live long.

Decreased Metabolism

Cold water will decrease the metabolism of bettas and make them dull. It will also lead them to health defects such as constipation and swim bladder disease. In warm water, their metabolism increases and they eat sufficiently living a healthier life. 

How we can mantain betta tank temprature without a heater?

Since bettas cannot survive in cold waters for a long time, you must maintain the temperature of your betta tank. The ideal way to keep your betta tank warm is to use an aquarium heater. It will make it easier for you to keep the temperature according to their needs making them healthy. However, if you don’t have a heater, you can use different methods to keep your tank heated. Keep your aquarium in a warm area of your house to adjust the water temperature. You can use warm water for changing the water for cleaning. Make sure your aquarium has a good insulation system to keep the water warm. 

Here are some of the methods you can apply to keep your betta tank warm if you are not using an aquarium heater:

By Properly Covering The Tank

You can make your tank water warmer by covering your tank properly. The walls of the tank will emit heat. It will make the water temperature warmer and make a good environment for your bettas to survive. This is a very effective method to keep your tank temperature warm without a heater.

Place LED Lights In It

If your tank has a lid, you can use submersible light to heat your betta tank. Aquarium lights emit heat and the heat generated by them will be enough to keep the water warm. The only problem with this method is that bettas cannot bear the light at night. They need a different light cycle for day and night, so they can sleep peacefully. You can use a dim blue light at night, but complete darkness at night makes them healthier. 

You can also use fluorescent lamps or LEDs. It is wise to use a timer that turns the lights off at night to make them sleep peacefully. This method is really helpful to keep your aquarium temperature warm without a heater.

Keep In Sunlight Exposure

Sunlight is another source to keep your betta tank warm. You can place your betta tank in direct sunlight to heat the water. However, keeping your betta tank in direct sunlight can lead to two issues. One problem is that water temperature may fluctuate with the change of sunlight and bettas may boil and overheat when the temperature is too hot. Secondly, the water temperature will become cold at night making them sick. If you keep the tank in sunlight, you will have to monitor the temperature constantly. This method needs more work and maintenance than other methods. 

Keep Them In A Small Tank

The best option to keep your tank heated without a heater is to keep your bettas in a small tank. Filled with water, small tanks heat up quickly by using heating pads and lights. It will save you from buying an expensive aquarium heater. For this method, you can use a 24-inch long tank that does not take much space and provide adequate space for fish. However, make sure your bettas get enough space to swim around and live a healthy life. This method is frequently used by people who don’t want to spend on expensive heaters.

Conclusion

To conclude, you can say that since bettas survive in a heated environment, it is always better to install an aquarium heater in the tank. Aquarium heaters will help maintain the temperature according to their needs and they can thrive easily. You can set the temperature between 78 and 82 degrees, as it is the ideal temperature for betta fish. Aquarium heaters are produced by several companies; however, you should choose a heater that is reliable and affordable. 

If you don’t have a heater, you can still make your bettas live healthily by trying different methods. These methods will help maintain the water temperature as per their needs. You can cover the tank to generate heat inside and maintain the water temperature. Led lights are also a great source of heat to manage water temperature in betta tanks. Choosing smaller tanks also makes it easier to keep the water warm. However, if you do not have access to these methods, you can simply place your betta tank under direct sunlight. Sun rays will make the water temperature warmer. However, you have to constantly monitor your betta tank to identify the temperature fluctuation between day and night. Whatever method you use, always keep an eye on your bettas as these methods are not 100 percent reliable. 

It is always advised not to use these methods for very long and try to get a heater for your betta tank. It will save you from the hassle, and you can enjoy keeping your pet fish without so much work.