I guess you are a proud betta owner and you have every right to be proud of your pet. Betta, also known as Siamese Algae Eater, is an immensely rewarding fish with their glorious presence in your tank.

As a pet owner it is your solemn duty to provide your pet the best possible environment to live in. Bettas are tropical fish and that means they don’t like cold water.

To keep your betta comfortable in the aquarium you should install a heater so that during cold nights it don’t go below certain temperature. In this article I have compiled and reviewed the best heaters for a betta tank. Let’s check out the options we have.

Top 5 Heaters For Betta Fish Tank: Side By Side Comparison

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Does Betta Fish Need Heater?

Let me clarify one thing. Let’s say the ideal temperature for a fish is 26 to 28 degree centigrade. If you keep it at constant 25 or 29 degree is that bad? Well it is not the worst thing in the world and certainly your fish can survive. But it is much worse if the temperature goes down to 25 and goes up to 29 frequently.

Fluctuating temperature will get your fish stressed and cause health issues in the long run. Not providing the optimum temperature can also cause health issues.

Best Heaters For Betta Tank

In lower temperature the betta will eat less, they will have troubles swimming and it may cause their death at some point.

To avoid such scenario you should get a heater for your betta tank and make sure the heater has some sort of thermostat feature. Otherwise the temperature rise could be uncontrolled or you will need to connect an external thermostat with your heater to maintain the optimum temperature.

The most common and ideal size of a betta tank is 5 gallons and for such a size a heater with 25~50 watts is sufficient enough.

To keep your betta healthy and thriving it is recommended to get a good heater.

Ideal Temperature for Betta Fish Tank

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Being a tropical fish Betta likes warm water. To ensure you pet’s health, the temperature should never go down below 74° Fahrenheit (~23.5° Celsius). And ideally you need to maintain the temperature between 78° to 80° F (25.5° and 26.5° C).

So along with the heater you would need a precision thermometer to keep an eye on the tank water temperature. Though most of the heaters come with a built-in thermometer it is always safe and recommended to install another piece of thermometer to check and calibrate the heater’s one.

To be in the safe side you can select a heater which would never increase the temperature above the tolerable range of your Betta fish.

Best Betta Tank Heater Reviews

1. Tetra HT Submersible Aquarium Heater With Electronic Thermostat

2. FREESEA Aquarium Fish Tank Submersible Heater with LED Temperature Display

3. SZELAM 25W Smart Mini Aquarium Heater

4. Boxtech Submersible Aquarium Heater

5. Aqueon Submersible Aquarium Heater

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of heater is best for betta fish?

A submersible heater with protective cover should be perfect for betta fish. Most of the heaters have built-in thermostat to protect the aquarium from over heating. As a safety precaution you should use another precision thermometer to check the tank temperature.

Do Bettas really need a heater?

Betta is a tropical fish and and it doesn’t do good in cold water. So if you live in the colder region a heater is a must for your betta fish.

How can I keep my betta fish warm without a heater?

There are several ways to keep betta warm without a heater –

1. You can keep the ambient temperature warm.
2. Use a room heater so that there is no drastic fall of temperature.
3. Use a hood or canopy and use a powerful light. It will keep the tank water warm.
4. Place the betta tank in a warmer place of your room.
5. Use warm water for water changes

Is a 50w heater too much for a 5 gallon tank?

For a 5 gallon tank a 25 watt heater is enough. However, if you use a 50w heater it will heat the tank water much faster. Keep an eye on your thermometer and use a reliable thermostat and you are good to go.

What size heater do I need for a 1 gallon tank?

First of all, 1 gallon tank is no way sufficient to house your betta fish. At least get a 2.5 gallon tank, 5 gallon is the ideal one. Regarding the heating part, there is rule of thum- you need 5 watts of heating for 1 gallon of water.

What is the ideal temperature for a betta fish?

Ideal temperature for betta fish is between 78° to 80° F (25.5° and 26.5° C). That’s a pretty narrow range. However betta can tolerate between 72-86º F (22-30º C).

Final Words

So from the above models it is your turn to decide which betta tank heater is perfect for you. The purpose is to ensure the optimal environment for you precious betta and have peace of mind. Most of the betta tanks are 5 to 10 gallons of capacity. So, the heaters we discussed should work perfectly.

The best heaters for betta tank will not overheat the water and the built-in thermostat won’t malfunction. However it is wise to have a good thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature or identify any issues beforehand.

Check our extensive guide on betta fish care.

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