Heater Cage/guard

The idea of not keeping it virtical is so that the thermostat part of the heater is not in the rising warm water and so not reading the correct tank temp. However, if you have a tank thermometer you can just keep adjusting the heater until you get the required temp.

The heater guard is because some species of fish like to hide in small spaces, and behind the heater is very inviting. So it depends on what fish you have.

I used to have heater guards in all my tanks. The ones I used clipped onto the heater bracket; the suckers eventually stopped working so every so often I had to buy a new bracket. But they've stopped making the brackets so I don't have guards any more. I've only had problems in one tank.

My current betta, I've had him 16 months, has always had a ragged tail. I used to treat him for finrot but it kept coming back so eventually I just kept an eye on it and it never got worse but slowly healed up. I think I recently discovered the problem. The heater was at 45 degrees with no guard and I caught the stupid thing lying on it  with his tail draped over the bit with the element even though the red light was on  The heater is now vertical.
Unless you have stupid fish like this, not having a guard isn't a problem.



He may be stupid but he's the most active, inquisitive, interactive betta I've ever had