Should I remove my fish before adding a new heater to their tank?

You can float it in some warm tap water but it will need to come out of the bag before oxygen levels drop and waste levels rise. Hot water bottles or a light over the tank may also keep temps out of dangerous ranges until you replace the heater. Buy two and keep a spare ready just in case.

The water temperature should range between 78F and 80F. You can use a submersible heater. Make sure it has an adjustable thermostat to control temperature. You should also have a thermometer in the tank to monitor water temp.

Ideally you would quarantine any new Fish in a separate aquarium for a few weeks to make sure they do not show any signs of diseases or infection. Once 2-3 weeks have passed without any signs of a problem then it is usually pretty safe to introduce to the common aquarium. Good luck and I hope they do well!

A fish tank will need a filter, a light/hood and a heater. Make sure the filter is rated for at least twice the tank volume. The heater should be adjustable since water temperature will depend on the species of fish. Good "starter" fish include Tetras, Mollies, Danios or Tetras. A new tank should be set up and left running empty for several weeks before adding fish. A pinch of flake food can be sprinkled in daily. This "cycling" will allow a population of beneficial bacteria to colonize the tank and filter. These bacteria will break down wastes (ammonia, nitrites and nitrates) which are toxic to fish.

Hello, and thank you for using PetCoach. The most common (and easiest) way to clean a fish tank is with a siphon-style cleaner. Fish tanks should be cleaned in stages, generally replacing 10-15% of the water at a time. There are times where a larger cleaning might be necessary, but removing the fish and changing too much of the water at once can be quite a shock and can be dangerous to the fish, so this should be saved for only extenuating circumstances. Here's a helpful video on using a siphon cleaner: http://video.petco.com/v/18852/how-to-clean-your-aquarium-with-the-aqueon-siphon-vacuum-/ And some more reading you may find interesting on general fish tank cleaning and maintenance: http://www.firsttankguide.net/waterchange.php Hope this helps!

Bettas are tropical fish and do best in water between 78 F and 80 F. A heater is typically required to maintain stable temperature. Rapid fluctuations in temp can be stressful. You should also check the water quality and chemistry. Poor water quality can cause the symptoms described. Filtration and regular partial water changes are necessary to keep a tank clean.

I would recommend to have the water completely changed. New water should be ideally submitted for quality testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or a nominal fee. High ammonia levels, PH imbalances may be responsible for that as well. Oxygen concentration and quality of the filters should be determined as well. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.