Help!! I need to keep my Betta water warmer!?

I've always used desk lamps for smaller tanks -- works great for me, especially when I just need to raise the temperature a few degrees. The only problem with this method is algae if you keep the light on too long, but if it's only temporary, it should be okay. Also, you might want to keep an eye on the temperature and make sure it doesn't get too low when the light goes off, but I haven't had that problem yet, fortunately.

Hope one of the solutions everyone is offering here work for you!

Hydor make a great 7.5W heater to warm small volumes of water. These are available at your LFS or on the net and are ideal for a small bowl or betta tank.

Alternatively, get a heater that will be big enough for your new tank, because you will be facing the same issue on a larger scale shortly. Heaters cost, and are one of those things you get what you pay for.

A word of caution, however - the vase may be just too small for a proper heater, even though the thermostat should in theory keep the temperature even. I would consider buying a large bucket or small bin as a temporary refuge (however remember double handling and new environments are stressful, if your tank will be available in the next few days this could be counterproductive.)

Take the water temperature seriously, I recently lost a much loved Betta when the weather turned colder. You can get lucky but it is an added stress.

Heating pads are just too risky - they fluctuate too much and you could end up with the little guy getting boiled.

The 7.5 W heater may be a bit of a waste of $ ($AUD 27) if you are upgrading to a proper tank. It is a useful thing to have around for quarantine tanks, "hospital" treatment (dosing sick fish in a bucket without blowing away your entire tank ecosystem) or as a backup in especially cold weather but will not properly warm even a small aquarium in cold weather. (Also, no thermostat)

If it is a choice between this and a proper, thermostat contolled heater I would get the proper heater straight away as you will need it in the long term.

They sell water proof heating pads at Walgreens/Walmart/Target exc. for under $20.00

Make sure that it is one that doesn't have an automatic timer in it. (They shut off after half an hour or so.)

Start it on High until it get hot, put the bowl on it, turn it to med and keep testing the water until you get it to the temp you want it at.

You would be better off taking a bucket, putting the heating pad around the outside wall, and then putting the vace inside the bucket so that the heating pad isn't in full contact with the bowl, then there is less of a chance that you might accidently make soup.

You would have to keep it on med or high but it would have the air between the pad and the bowl to disapate excess heat and not chance an electrical issue with the pad.

ORRR...

You could go to petco and get an actual fish tank heater... But in a vace you would need to be REALLLLLYYYY careful with it... That is a small amount of space and those puppies put out a LOT of heat!!

I personally think you would be better off with the heating pad and the bucket.

Good luck! I hope this helps!

I know this sounds weird, but television components are good sources of heat - especially DVR units (Dish Network, Tivo, etc.) The DVR units run all day long and heat up pretty well. I've actually used mine to germinate tomato seeds. Keeping the tank near or on a DVR unit would kept your betta pretty toasty until your larger tank can arrive. Just make sure you monitor the temperature of the water to make sure it doesn't get too hot. It's a good backup plan if you have an enclosed refrigerator like me. Good for you for upgrading your betta tank!

69-70 degrees is fine for a betta. It won't kill him or mine would be dead from this winter weather (which kept them at that temp). I recently bought a 25w tank heater to keep the temp around 76 degrees which they love. Not many small heaters out there for betta fish but I found that I could put the heater in diagonally since it would not fit otherwise. Make sure to rinse the tank out in hot water before you set it up for the betta. You don't mention this but I hope you are getting him a heater. Make sure to gradually increase the Bettas water temp so he stays comfortable. Make sure the water you fill the tank with is of the same temp as the bettas bowl is. (I am sure you know all this, but just had to say it to be on the safe side).

He'll be fine for a short while in cold water. You can, however, put his vase on a heating pad to keep him warm until the new tank comes. I'd put a thermometer in there too, though, just to make sure his water doesn't get TOO warm. And keep the heating pad on low.

Obviously this isn't a permanent solution, but it'll work for now.

It's good that you're getting a bigger tank for him, though, since vases aren't good places to keep fish. A nice tank with a heater will be perfect for your betta. :)

thats good that you are getting a larger tank. just some tips for when you get it..

-cycle the water for at least a week before you put him in.

-test the water

=]] sorry i dont wanna sound mean :P

well to keep him warmer, put him in a room with a little heater, and maybe put a little warm water in his tank. just a little though. he should be alright. i've seen bettas suffer soooo much worse than that. =[ so i believe he will make it :)

Try the top of the refrigerator. That's usually a warm place in the house. I wouldn't use a heating pad because it will probably get too warm.

The Crowntails are beautiful fish. Good luck.

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You can put him under a lamp, that will help the water get warmer and at night wrap the vase in a towel at night it'll help keep the heat in.

Put the vase on top of your refrigerator. That should keep the water at a warmer temp.