Leaving My Betta Alone.

I have been having good luck with my betta so far since the day I got him. I ordered a heater that I heard works extremely well for bettas and it arrived a couple days after. I let it sit in my 10 gal and let it run for about 30 minutes a realised that there was no change in the temperature. So I checked the heater and it wasn't warm. I checked the reviews for the heater and just realised that it was meant for 1.5- 5 gallons. To make sure it wasn't broken I added it to a 2.5 gallon tank I had and put my thermometer in there and after a few minutes the temperature was about 80 Degrees Fahrenheit. I'm leaving for a road trip in 1-2 days and I purchased some vacation block food for bettas and the heater for when I leave. I'll be gone for five days and we're going to off the heat and I'm worried. I've asked my friends and they said it should be fine. The heater won't even heat up in the 10 gallon and I can take my chances of asking my parents for another heater. What is my best bet and what should I do?

 

I wouldn't use the vacation feeders especially if your only going to be gone 5 days. They can easily go 10-14 days with no food. Those blocks dissolve faster than the fish eat it and foul the water. As far as heater anything is better than nothing. Hopefully it will be enough to keep your fish from freezing.

 

I wouldn't use the vacation feeders especially if your only going to be gone 5 days. They can easily go 10-14 days with no food. Those blocks dissolve faster than the fish eat it and foul the water. As far as heater anything is better than nothing. Hopefully it will be enough to keep your fish from freezing.

Thank you, but should I still put the food block vacation feeder in as well as the heater?

 

Your betta will be fine without it. I would leave it out, just so your ammonia doesn't skyrocket.

 

Your betta will be fine without it. I would leave it out, just so your ammonia doesn't skyrocket.

Thank you. I really appreciate it.

 

If your heater is designed for a 1.5 to 5 gallon tank it should work just fine for the 2.5 gallon. Is it adjustable? I've found that the preset heaters don't keep the temperature anywhere near where they're supposed to (mine normally sit at about 70°F) but if it has your tank at 80°F you're golden. I think you should try to get a heater that works for your 10G eventually, but I do have some bettas in 2.5G aquariums and yours will be fine there for your time away so long as it's cycled.
In the smaller tank you need to worry more ammonia spikes, so make sure you have your beneficial bacteria going in there. Has this tank cycled?
And I agree not to use the vacation block. If there were more than just the one fish it might be fine, but he may be happier with clean water even if he does get a little hungry.

 

The vacation block will also add to the danger of ammonia spikes.

 

If your heater is designed for a 1.5 to 5 gallon tank it should work just fine for the 2.5 gallon. Is it adjustable? I've found that the preset heaters don't keep the temperature anywhere near where they're supposed to (mine normally sit at about 70°F) but if it has your tank at 80°F you're golden. I think you should try to get a heater that works for your 10G eventually, but I do have some bettas in 2.5G aquariums and yours will be fine there for your time away so long as it's cycled.
In the smaller tank you need to worry more ammonia spikes, so make sure you have your beneficial bacteria going in there. Has this tank cycled?
And I agree not to use the vacation block. If there were more than just the one fish it might be fine, but he may be happier with clean water even if he does get a little hungry.

I added water from the 10 gallon so yes, it is cycled. I am still scared for him for freezing so I was thinking of putting him in the 2.5 gallon. I'm scared he might get stressed because its smaller than what he's used too. And the heater + the filter will take away a little more swimming space and I'm just super worried right now. What should I do?

 

How cold are you expecting the temps to get in the house while you’re away?

 

How cold are you expecting the temps to get in the house while you’re away?

I don't really know, the water is always around 2 degrees lower then the air without a heater. But since the heater is no avail to the 10 gallon, I might have to have him in the 2.5 gallon so he won't freeze but then he might get stressed.

 

How cold are you expecting the temps to get in the house while you’re away?

I just acclimated my better into the 2.5 gallon and its a bit crowded. I'm not sure if it's a 2.5 gallon anymore,it might be a 1.5- 2 gallon. He looks a bit stressed and after I add the filter and a couple plants I think it'll be way to crowded

 

I don't really know, the water is always around 2 degrees lower then the air without a heater. But since the heater is no avail to the 10 gallon, I might have to have him in the 2.5 gallon so he won't freeze but then he might get stressed.

I was only asking because recently someone was using a heater when it didn’t make sense to use one. He/she nearly cooked their fish. I just don’t trust heaters while I’m away for such a small tank. Don’t want to worry you with more stuff, as it sounds like you’re pretty stressed about this trip, but it is something to consider. I keep my betta in a small tank so it’s definitely not an issue. I don’t use a heater, as my room temp stays around 78.

 

I just acclimated my better into the 2.5 gallon and its a bit crowded. I'm not sure if it's a 2.5 gallon anymore,it might be a 1.5- 2 gallon. He looks a bit stressed and after I add the filter and a couple plants I think it'll be way to crowded

Others will disagree. But here’s what I’d do. It’s possible the filter is too strong for the fish for such a small tank. If so, turn it off. For the sake of simplicity, fast the fish a day or two before leaving. On the day of, do a large water change. For a 2.5g, might as well do at least 90%. Fish will be perfectly okay without food if you’re gone a week and even more than that. When you get back you can start worrying about cycling and filtration. Just keeping it simple since you’re leaving pretty soon.

 

Adding water from the 10G doesn't necessarily mean the 2.5G is cycled. Will the house stay the same temperature it normally does? Does the household heating work on a thermostat?

 

Personally I use an automatic feeder when I'm away for more than 4 days or so. Yes, they're a bit more expensive upfront and not completely necessary for shorter periods of time but I think it helps to keep the fish more comfortable than if they were nearing the limit on how long they could go without food.

 

Adding water from the 10G doesn't necessarily mean the 2.5G is cycled. Will the house stay the same temperature it normally does? Does the household heating work on a thermostat?

The thing is my room normally stays 75-80 so I don't use a heater. But because we'll be leaving I got one and it doesn't work in the 10 gallon. So now that I have the food problem out of the way I'm finding solutions on how not to freeze my fish.

 

Adding water from the 10G doesn't necessarily mean the 2.5G is cycled. Will the house stay the same temperature it normally does? Does the household heating work on a thermostat?

We'll be turning the heat off but the temperature won't be like the outside temperature it'll still be somewhat warm but it'll be like 60-70 which I believe is too cold for a better.

 

That is too cold for a betta, especially if it's not what the betta is used to. I wouldn't be too concerned about leaving a betta in those temperatures a little longer if that's what it's been used to, but letting temperatures sink to that is definitely not advisable.

 

Hmmm...are you getting an automatic feeder or fasting your fish? If you're fasting your fish, there will be less waste produced, so it may be better to put him in the 2.5 gallon with the heater. Is there a chance you could get a sponge filter and some start-up beneficial bacteria? Even the stuff that Walmart sells - SafeStart - would be good. I would advise putting a sponge filter with one or two hiding places and dosing the tank with beneficial bacteria a couple times before you go just to add to any you already have in the tank. If you're getting an automatic feeder, it could be a little more risky but should be ok so long as there is enough of the beneficial bacteria.

Know that either way you almost certainly won't KILL your fish, it's just a matter of his comfort. So if you don't get it perfect for this trip, you will have chances to do it right in the future. Don't stress yourself out too much, it will be ok. I know of people (and it makes my blood boil) that leave their bettas in a bowl, let the temperature in their room swing drastically, and don't do nearly enough water changes but have never managed to kill their betta.