I frequently observed my betta fish lurking beneath the heater. I initially believed that the water being too cold was the only cause. But as the years went by, I discovered a few additional elements that might motivate bettas to hide behind heaters. I wanted to share what I’ve learned to fix the problem in your tank.
When the tank temperature drops below 75 degrees F, betta fish often hide beneath heaters. That typically occurs in aquariums that are overly big or as a result of broken heaters. However, bettas can also become trapped behind heaters because of strong water currents, shallow water, or a lack of hiding places.
I’ll provide a few tips as we go along to help you deal with the problem of your bettas hiding in your tank. I will also show you how to spot bettas that are healthy and are only attracted to heaters for aesthetic reasons.
Why Is My Betta Hiding Behind The Heater?
No one will fault you for being alarmed since your betta fish keeps hidden under the heater, even though it isn’t the most worrisome of habits. Heaters pose some level of risk. They are intended to elevate the water’s temperature, as their name suggests.
As a result, notably, the internal components that are located inside the tank, are fully capable of scorching your fish. Fair enough, heater burns are uncommon. However, the possibility of them should prompt you to look into any betta which has developed to congregate around the heater. The following are some possible causes of this behavior:
Individual Preference
Don’t jump to the conclusion that your betta’s behavior indicates something is wrong. Bettas are known for cuddling up to items like filters and heaters. If your fish isn’t exhibiting any other signs of stress, you should take into account the potential that he merely likes to spend time in that specific location behind the heater.
Fish have personalities, something you should be aware of if you’re new to aquariums. The organisms are different, much like people. The actions they take in the tank are not always predictable. A betta fish showing a preference for the heater isn’t all that strange.
You should only be concerned about this tendency if the creature starts to burn from being so close to the device. If there is no threat of such injury, I advise you to leave your betta alone. As it is, the fish is presumably content.
Lack Of Hiding Places
Bettas enjoy landscaped aquariums. You are not required to only put plants in their tank, though. Additionally, you can include ornaments like pots, caverns, and rocks. However, plants are well-liked because they can alter how the aquatic environment of the tank seems.
Additionally, Bettas rely on them to conceal themselves. Because they remind the species that they may always seek safety if predators show up, hiding places help reduce stress. The opposite is also accurate. Fish experience stress when there are no plants around.
This includes fish that reside in aquariums with other little, tranquil fish. Your bettas might make do with anything they can find, such as the heater, if your tank has no or few hiding places. The betta will frequent the area once it determines that it feels secure there behind the heater.
New Fish
The creature’s decision to hide under the heater shouldn’t surprise you if your betta is a new addition to the tank. Stress is often brought on when shifting fish to a different aquarium. Some fish need a very long time to adjust to a different aquatic environment.
You will notice several odd behaviors during this time that can be attributed to the new betta’s struggles to establish itself. A new betta probably doesn’t feel safe anyplace else if it’s hiding beneath a heater. You must give it some time. Resist the impulse to coerce it into opening up.
You should be relieved that it has located a comfy location in the tank, if anything. Stress ultimately gets to new bettas who don’t sense safety anywhere in an aquarium. Give the fish some time. Wait until it is prepared before attempting to lure it out of hiding behind the heater.
Convenience
Bettas often prefer to lie down close to the tank’s top. They frequently will land on aquatic plants. However, if your heater offers an equivalent vantage point and you don’t have any plants which can climb it, they might settle for it.
Strong Currents
Strong aquarium currents are not appreciated by the fish. Because they require the fish to invest a great deal of energy to retain their position, they generate stress. That may eventually exhaust them.
The heater may be the sole place where your betta may escape the drag of either the flow if it is hiding there. Have you noticed your betta’s lovely, long, flowing fins? Strong currents were not intended to be a problem for them.
Low Temperatures
For aquarists, this is the initial thought that comes to mind. The ideal temperature range for betta fish is around 80 and 75 degrees. Your bettas may gravitate toward the heater based on the heat it provides if the aquarium is too cold. They seek out the hottest places to remain.
The heater may have broken down, causing the temperature to be lower than planned. Sometimes the tank is simply too large for the heater to uniformly heat. In another sense, the betta has discovered and settled near the only consistent source of warmth it can find because the water includes frigid patches that it might want to avoid.
Poor Water Quality
Beginners who don’t grasp how the quality of water could force fish to conceal themselves behind heaters can be surprised by it. Fish retreat from stress by hiding. Bettas will use your plants if you have them to hide from view.
If you don’t have any vegetation, the fish will rely on the heaters and other items in the tank instead. The heater could still be preferred by a stressed fish, especially if you have plants. As was previously said, fish have distinct personalities, thus it’s not always possible to forecast their preferences.
Poor water quality is one of the main causes of stress in fish. This comprises an excessive amount of pollutants such as ammonia and chlorine, as well as the incorrect pH, temperature, and hardness. Bettas’ odd behavior can be attributed to poor water quality. They have a variety of possible hiding places to select from, including the heater.
Do Betta Fish Need A Heater?
Although heaters are not strictly necessary for bettas, they certainly enhance their standard of living. An occasional cold front may move through the region. Betta fish have acclimated to any of these cold spells since they reside in shallow waters. However, keeping bettas in warm aquarium water is bad for their health.
Faster growth is also encouraged by consistent tank temperature, and maintaining their optimum temperature range with a heater can aid. The betta fish’s fins, colors, as well as shape, are more appealing to the eye because it is not always battling opportunistic infections.
Type Of Heater A Betta Needs
The types of heater a betta fish need can be as follow :
Submersible Heaters
The most popular aquarium heaters are submersible heaters. These heaters effectively disperse heat because, as their name implies, they are fully submerged in the water.
The heater can be positioned deep within the water or at the top of it, horizontally or vertically. However, avoid putting it on the substrate because it conducts heat differently than water and can harm your heater or glass aquarium.
Immersible/Hang-On Heaters
Immersible heaters are suspended over a fish tank’s side or back. Some heating components are preserved outside the water while others are submerged in it. A water line designates the maximum possible level of water on the heater, and these are commonly constructed from glass with a heat source on the inside.
Because they prevent heat loss in the area of the heater that is above water, immersion heaters don’t provide as efficient heating as submersible heaters do. Small aquarium kits frequently include an immersible heater, but if you have the opportunity, we suggest going with a submersible heater because they are more efficient and entirely submerged.
In-Line Heaters
The water pump or filtration is used to transfer the water via in-line heaters, which are mounted outside the tank. Despite being less prevalent, these are popular since the water’s temperature is consistently maintained. Additionally, they are popular since the aquarium is devoid of ugly items.
Substrate Heaters
Cables or coils placed beneath the substrate of your aquarium serve as substrate warmers. They are made to heat the sand or gravel at the tank’s bottom, which then radiates heat upward into the water. They are yet another covert heater that keeps the aquarium’s aesthetic pleasing.
This kind of heater is especially useful for maintaining a warmer tank temperature so that aquarium plants can grow. Other heater types may use the substrate as an insulator to maintain cooler temperatures at the plant roots. As an alternative, substrate heaters warm both the water and the substrate.
Filter With Heater
Some aquarium filters have heaters integrated right into them. The water is heated as well as filtered concurrently, similar to an in-line heater, except this time, the filter but also heater are integrated rather than built separately.
What Happens To A Betta Fish If The Water Is Too Cold?
When the water in a betta’s tank is excessively chilly, the fish grow lethargic and run the risk of dying. A betta fish’s metabolism would slow down in cold water, and it won’t be able to replace worn-out cells or repair its fins.
Additionally, the betta’s immune system will deteriorate, making it incapable of defending itself against disease. Your betta fish should never be exposed to cold temperatures because they are harmful to their health.
Temperature Fluctuations And Shock
Betta fish, however, might experience temperature shock if the heat exits the tank too soon. To adapt their biology to new water conditions, fish need time. For this reason, you should float the bag within the tank for ten to fifteen minutes after purchasing a new fish and bringing it home.
The fish would most likely experience temperature shock if dropped directly into the tank. Fish that are in shock float along the bottom or close to the surface. They exhale quickly and twitch ferociously.
Not always. Temperature shock is lethal. However, it increases the stress that your young fish is already through.
Cold Water And Betta Biology
Without heat, cold-blooded creatures like fish also develop more slowly. Since betta fish seem to be ectothermic creatures, the environment affects how they function biologically.
To efficiently digest their food, they require a warm atmosphere. Heat also guarantees that their rate of growth is steady and that their immune system is effective in warding off illness. If your betta fish is sick, you should turn up the heat.
Water Temperature And Diseases
Your betta has a better chance of making a quick recovery if the temperature range is increased to 84-87°F. Many disease-causing organisms’ life cycles are accelerated by heat as well.
Some infectious diseases, such as aquarium ich, only react to drugs at specific times in their life cycles.
What Happens To A Betta Fish If The Water Is Too Hot?
It is uncommon to experience the opposite issue, which is too-hot water. This typically occurs when a heater breaks out. Additionally, the betta fish tank placed in the sun might get dangerously warm.
Warm Water And Oxygen Loss
Betta fish prefer warm environments. However, they are at risk under prolonged temperatures of 90°F or above. Your betta will spend the majority of its activity near the water’s surface if it is too hot.
Due to heat transfer to the air, the water is colder here. Additionally, there is more dissolved oxygen. Water can hold less oxygen the warmer it gets. When necessary, the bettas will however, fast breathe directly from the air.
Cooling Tank Water That Is Too Hot
Your fish will experience stress and finally pass away, whereas if water is overheated for an extended period. You must rapidly pinpoint the source of the extra heat. If the aquarium is receiving too much sunlight, you might need to move it or cover a window.
While you reach further into the aquarium to retrieve a broken heater, you should unplug it. If your fingertips get moist, it has the potential to short-circuit and shock you with electricity. When the tank reaches 90 °F, you can let it cool naturally. I advise completing a 25 percent water change and inserting colder water if, somehow, the temperature is significantly higher. The temperature drops to 83–85°F very barely. Any more could cause your aquarium fish to experience temperature shock.
How To Treat Betta Fish That Hide Behind Heaters?
The following actions might persuade your betta fish to leave this specific spot if you’re sick of seeing it behind the heater:
Improving Water Quality
I advise performing more significant water changes if the contaminants have become too strong or the pH is below 6.8. The water’s quality will rise as a result. Replace 15–25% of the water every week to start. Even if the circumstances are not ideal, gradual changes are essential.
After a passage of water, you may tell that the water quality caused the betta’s behavior if the fish emerges from its hiding spot behind the heater.
The pH for betta fish should ideally range from 6.8 to 7.5. Nitrites and ammonia should both be zero, whereas nitrates should be about 20 ppm.
Using a Heater Guard
You should first make sure the betta is truly in distress before trying to drive it out from under the heater. Some bettas choose to hide behind heaters, as was mentioned above.
You should not interfere while your betta is content in its current location. But if you’re concerned that the creature might get burned, you can provide it protection by including a heating guard.
Introducing a Few Plants
My first piece of advice would be to provide your fish with a few hiding places if your betta likes to hide behind the heater. As many plants, even a tank can support, add them. Get actual plants if at all possible. They offer a wide range of advantages. However, fake plants will suffice if you don’t have the patience to take care of genuine ones. You can also include caverns and driftwood.
The safer the betta feels, the more likely it is that it will inevitably leave its hiding location behind the heater. When a fish is brand-new, the abundance of things and plants will tempt it to investigate, which will draw it aside from the heater.
Adjusting the Current
Betta fish that conceal under heaters occasionally come out, especially while they’re feeding. Take advantage of the chance to observe them. The flow is too strong if they are floating at odd angles or appear to be having difficulty navigating the water.
When the chance presents itself, the bettas won’t think twice about running back to their preferred hiding spot under the heater. Fortunately, you can weaken the current by including plants. They will erect barriers that will cause the water to move more slowly.
A more direct method entails changing the flow of the filter intake. An adjustment switch is a common component in modern electronics. Puncture teeny holes inside the output pipe if that isn’t a possibility. That will directly lessen the flow’s force.
Getting the Right Temperature
Here, taking a temperature reading would be the first thing we would do. If it’s too cold, make sure the heater is operating properly. Additionally, you want to examine the heater’s quality. When choosing a heater, aquarists are expected to consider many elements.
The tank’s position is important as well. For instance, because of the greater ambient temperature, tanks in sunny areas tend to warm more than containers in a basement. The tank’s size is equally crucial. For a 5-gallon tank to gain 10 degrees in temperature, 25 watts are required.
FAQ
Do Bettas like heaters?
Yes, betta fish aquariums need heaters unless the outside air temperature is consistently exceeding 78 degrees Fahrenheit. As was already said, keeping betta fish in cooler environments puts them at risk of getting sick and even dying.
Can Betta fish get burned by the heater?
Is it feasible for a fish to be burned by an aquarium heater? This is conceivable even though it is unlikely. Only when a fish becomes wedged in between an aquarium’s glass and its heater does it occur. Secondary infections provide the greatest threat to heater burn wounds.
Do Bettas like hot or cold?
A lot of betta owners are unaware that their betta needs warm water, not only water that is room temperature (68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit) (21–23 degrees Celsius). For a betta, the water’s ideal temperature is 78–80 degrees Fahrenheit (25–26.5 degrees Celsius).
How do I know if my fish is too cold?
The metabolism of your fish will slow down if your tank is too chilly, which can make them drowsy and lethargic. On the other hand, too-warm water speeds up your fish’s metabolism. Fish will grow more animated if not hyperactive.
Conclusion
Bettas most frequently hide under heaters whenever the water is too chilly for them. So, using a thermometer to measure the water would be the first step. Additionally, I strongly advise checking the water for pH, nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia.
Your betta will pick the heater out of stress if one of the aforementioned parameters is out of range. If your tank lacks adequate plants or decorations, that would be even more likely. To give your fish a sense of security, you should perhaps add a few plants.