What temperature should my bettas water be & do I need a heater?
The betta, as a tropical fish, prefers a water temperature of 75-80ºF (24-27ºC). Many bettas can tolerate water temperatures (room temperatures) down to 70ºF (21ºC), but some may act sluggish and refuse to eat at temperatures below 75ºF (24ºC). All temperatures below 70ºF (21ºC) should be avoided. Cooler temperatures may depress the immune system and a betta may no longer be able to fight off disease causing organisms, which are normally present in water. With temperatures greater than 86ºF (30ºC), a betta may begin to show distress, most often respiratory with rapid breathing. A temperature of 80ºF (27ºC) is ideal for betta breeding. Water temperature changes of more than 2-3ºF per day may act as a “stressor”, making your betta more susceptible to disease, therefore, temperature fluctuations are to be avoided. Be sure to get a stick-on-the-outside thermometer, a.k.a. a liquid crystal thermometer, from your local fish/pet store to keep an eye on your betta’s water temperature. If your
