Heating my betta...

[Miss Em]

Ok...so I have just recently bought a betta (eg. 2 days ago) and it was very much an impulse buy..I saw him and was smitten!

I have very little knowledge on bettas and as I live in the midddle of the outback (in Australia) I dont have free access to a pet store.

From reading all your posts I have a feeling the guy that sold me Scarlet (my fish!) was uninformed.
My tank is an ok size..but at the moment I dont have a heater-he told me I didnt need one.Which I now think wasnt correct.
I bought a heater online which should be here in a week or so.
It is getting quite cold at night though, so I have started heating his tank with a lamp..its not ideal but I just dont want him to die..

Am I doing the right thing?

He is making bubble things at the top of the water and is very active..and a show off!!But I could do with some guidance and tips...

Thanks all.

[neenjar]

If you are running a lamp at night to warm the tank do not run it during the day. They need a light\dark cycle. Too much light will create stress. The pet store employee was certainly misinformed as most of them are.

[Miss Em]

Thanks heaps for that. Im glad that it will be an ok substitute untill the heater comes!

I just want my little guy to be comfortable..he seems happy enough so I guess thats a good thing!

Cheers!

[dramaqueen]

I think the lamp will be fine until you get the heater. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. :)

[MrVampire181]

As long as his water dosen't drop below 60 degrees farenheit he should be fine. Anything below that is VERY BAD.