Q&A for How to Keep a Betta's Water Warm

Try to change 50% of the water in the tank twice a week to keep it nice and clean.

A betta fish with fin rot will appear to have damaged, frayed, or sickly looking fins.

You should use either a pad type heater if the tank is small or a probe heater if your betta is in a larger aquarium.

A heater for tropical fish (about 78 degrees Fahrenheit) is recommended. Bettas are tropical, and like reptiles, can get sluggish if temps are not warm enough. Bettas do well in 2.5 gal tanks and above, but a heater is really important. If you can, get a bigger tank and a filter that minimally disturbs the water.

Yes, get the Marina Betta Submersible Aquarium Heater. It preheats the water to 78 - 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and is good for up to 1.5 gallon tanks. Very useful for quarantine. It's cheap, too.

If where you live gets cold (like winter), you should definitely buy a heater. Make sure the water temperature is above 20 Celsius and lower than 28 Celsius.

Create some kind of box made out of styrofoam to put the bowl in. Styrofoam can keep heat, so it is really handy when you have a betta fish.

Yes, this is on the warm side for a betta. However, your betta can probably survive -- better that it's too warm than too cold.

Yes, it works well for betta fish.

Just be careful not to touch your betta. If this is impossible because of a small tank then you'll have to remove the betta (slowly!) and put him into a container of tank water. Right after moving the heater into place, you can put the betta back. Make sure no plugs or anything non waterproof from the heater is in the water or wet (install drip loop according to instructions).

Betta swallows their food and throws out their food. It is very natural. Don't give the betta excessive food because the excess will spoil the water. Feed them twice a day. Bettas are quite shy and calm.

There is no correct spot to put a thermometer in a fish tank. Just stick it wherever you like, but make sure it's fully submerged!

You could try heating pads/lamps, but you can't adjust the heat with those, so you should really look into getting a heater.

Hopefully he'll be fine. Make sure you do regular water changes for your fish. Maybe even set up a water change schedule. I recommend changing the water 25% once every week.

I've read up on the product and the amount of water it holds is not recommended for a betta. Try a 2.5 gallon tank with a heater and filter.

That really depends on the heater. If it’s unpredictable and doesn’t keep the temperature stable, then you’ll want to lower the temperature while away and have someone come check on your fish. You’ll need someone to feed it anyway.

You may bake the fish accidentally. I wouldn't put the thank within 4 feet. The heaters that you can buy and place in the tank are the safest.

Since your tank is not big, I recommend just keeping your betta in a relatively warm room, preferably around 35 C. Of course, your betta would be a lot happier in a larger tank, so it would really be best to upgrade your tank and then you can get a heater.

It should be at least 76-81 degrees, any lower than 74 is not recommended for bettas. You can upgrade your tank to a larger one that can accommodate a heater with a thermostat that maintains a constant temperature. Do not trust betta heaters. They only heat up water and don't maintain a consistent temperature.

Yes, you should get a filter for your betta. It cleans the waste that it produces and prevents a disease called fin rot, which occurs when the fish is always surrounded by its own waste. A heater is also necessary, because bettas are tropical fish. But cold water holds more oxygen, so make sure the water doesn't get too hot.

That should be safe, but you should keep an eye out for any algae growth.

You can touch the water and estimate the temperature based on your body temperature, but this is very unreliable. You should get a thermometer as soon as you can.

I suggest reading wikiHow's article on fixing swim bladder disease in goldfish for some advice.

Yes, betta fish are completely fine without a heater. Heaters help them live longer lives, but they're not required.

Two females are fine, but make sure they don't fight. Some get along and some don't. I suggest putting one in a tank, then putting the other in a small container or bag inside the tank. If all is well, release the one in the bag. If they fight, separate them immediately. Bettas need a lot of space, though. You should have at least a 5 gallon tank for two of them.

Yes. You don't need to have a filter system in your tank to have a heater. I highly recommend both, though. It's better for your fish.

Cchange the water every week or so. Try to do a 15% water change.

There are a lot of negative people out there who give bad reviews just because they can. Go to a pet store near you and buy a betta heater. Don't just buy a super cheap one, or one that doesn't meet the temperature and tank size requirements, but the point is to just buy one that matches the tank size and put it in your tank. It sounds like you've really done your research, so trust your own judgment. Only a very small percentage (.000009%) of heaters out there are bad and if you keep an eye on how the new heater is working, you can be certain you've chosen correctly.

No. Bettas are freshwater fish, and saltwater can irritate their skin and gills.

That’s not good! There is a Tetra 50 watt Heater that is very affordable and should fix your issue.