Cutting straight to the answer you are most likely looking for, the ideal water temperature for betta fish is between 78° and 80° Fahrenheit (25.5° and 26.5 Celsius).
Now that the most common part of that question is out of the way, there’s a lot more to know about betta fish and their heating requirements!
Why that temperature for betta fish?
Betta Fish (Betta Splendens) are tropical fish in nature. They come from the temperate climates of Thailand and Burma where, in nature, they see these tropical temperatures consistently. There have been questions about the domesticated betta fish not requiring these tropical temperatures anymore. While there are some differences between wild betta fish and the betta fish you would keep as pets, their needs for that tropical climate is not one of those differences.
While it is suggested that you try and maintain your betta’s aquarium at a temperature in the range of 78 and 80 degrees, betta fish can and will survive outside of these limits. The difference is that they will “survive” and not “thrive”.
If you find it difficult to maintain the temperature right in the zone of 78 and 80 degrees, if anything, err on the warmer side. Betta fish would rather be a bit too warm than a bit too cold. Depending on where you live, it may be an issue dealing with either temperature that is too cold or to warm.
Survive or thrive?
We will call the 78-80 degree range as the betta’s thriving range. Betta’s also then have a “surviving” range. Betta fish can just survive in temperatures between 72° to 86° Fahrenheit (22.22° – 30° Celsius). If your betta’s aquarium were to drop below 72° or above 86° for more than an hour, you will most likely lose you betta fish. The closer you are to hitting that 78°-80°F mark, the healthier and happier your betta fish will be.
Is 84° too hot for a betta fish?
If by “too hot” you mean deadly, then no. If you mean uncomfortable for your betta, then yes. This is the “survival” grey area that we’re referring to above. Yes, a betta fish can technically survive in 84° water. However, it’s well outside where a betta would be comfortable. If you keep your tank at this temperature, you betta will likely show signs of discomfort and stress.
The same goes for keeping your tank at 74°. It’s not lethal, but it’s also not ideal, meaning it will negatively impact your fish’s quality of life.
Think of it this way. Most people will notice if their home’s thermostat is changed from its usual setting to one or two degrees higher or lower. I, for one, can be perfectly comfortable in a house set at 70° but feel like crawling out of my skin if things warm up to 72°. Imagine someone cranking your pleasant 70° house up to 75° or down to 65°. It wouldn’t kill you, but you might want to kill them. Now consider that betta fish are even more temperature-sensitive than humans are!
Moral of the story, if you want to be a good, responsible pet owner, keep your betta within the thrive-zone of 78-80° F.
Lethargic vs Over-Active Bettas
Is your betta too cold?
While a lethargic betta fish can be a symptom of many different ailments, betta fish lethargy is a tell-tale sign that the aquarium is too cool. Cooler temperatures slow down a betta’s metabolism. With this slow down comes inactivity and loss of appetite. You will notice that your betta won’t eat as often, or at all when the betta’s tank is below the ideal temperature.
Is your betta too hot?
A symptom suggesting that the aquarium is too warm is overactive behavior from the betta. Darting from one side of the aquarium to the other non-stop, and sometimes a sort of “burrowing” into the gravel, is commonly seen in tanks that are too warm. The easiest way to see if the temperature is right or not is with a simple aquarium thermometer. You really don’t want to get to the point that your betta has to be the one to tell you that it’s too hot or cold in his house.
A betta heater is a hot idea!
If you live in an area that is consistently below 75°F, it would be a really good idea to invest in an aquarium heater. There are many different makes and models available for use in various tank sizes. Most are considerably affordable at less than $20 for a decent heater that will warm a 2-10 gallon aquarium. This is a very small investment for something that will keep your betta healthy. Of course, if you yourself live in a tropical climate, you don’t need to worry about keeping your betta warm enough.
If you decide to get a heater for your betta, don’t let this be something that you cheap out on. You really don’t want the trouble a sub-rate aquarium heater can cause. With a good quality aquarium heater, you really don’t have to worry much about having it malfunction and turning your betta’s tank into a fish fry. Poorly made “cheap” aquarium heaters also run a greater risk of property damage. Property damage meaning your entire property. It’s a really good idea to never get too cheap with anything designed to heat something up on purpose. That’s just this author’s 2 cents.
Temperature Changes
Betta fish are very sensitive to changes in water temperature. Quick changes to the overall temperature of the aquarium can stress a betta greatly. Such stress can lead to shock, bloating, and other ailments. For this reason, make sure that any changes to your aquarium are done gradually. This includes things like changing the water and switching on aquarium heaters.
Ambient vs Actual Temperature
Another thing to note is that the temperature of the water in your aquarium will be significantly lower than the ambient temperature of the room it is in. If the temperature of your room is 78°, the temperature of your betta’s aquarium will most likely read around 76°. For this reason, it is really a smart move on your part to purchase an aquarium thermometer.
Wrapping Up
At the end of the day, if you want your betta to live a long, happy life, you need to be serious about what temperature you’re maintaining in the tank. Get a tank heater and a thermometer and monitor the water temperature regularly. You want to make sure your betta is thriving, not just surviving.
Always shoot for 78° and 80° F!
I have constant 33 degree Celsius temperature for betta in 1 gallon is it ok or not ??