What should the pH be for Betta's?

The tap water here is 7.4, one aquarium shop told me I should lower it to 7.0 using Seachem Acid Buffer, another shop told me not to lower it as it would always be fluctuating (which it was). They said the Betta would get use to 7.4.

Who is right? And if I do need to lower the pH what is the best way to do it?

if you lower the ph,i'd suggest using jungle ph decreaser.
myself i always set the ph in my betta tank at 7.0
personally,i'd say lower it to 7.0

do those jungle medicines actually work for you??? luckily for me the tap water is at a good ph (7.5 no probs with the betta actually)... and 7.0 should be perfect as Thelonious said..

the fungus clear i used a while back worked pretty good.
the ph increaser and decreaser always work

I don't know if the Jungle products are available in Australia, will look into it, thanks.

My worry about decreasing the pH to 7.0 is that it seems to go right back up to 7.4 again the next day. I don't understand why. But I would have thought a constant pH would be better for them then fluctuations all the time.

you are right Laura. a constant pH is better than one that fluxuates. if your betta can be acclamitized to a 7.4 ph, and he's left at that steady pH, then he should have no problems. you're going to only stress him out if you try to lower it... then it goes back up high with a water change... then you lower it...and so on goes the stressfull cycle...etc etc..

How would you know if he was having trouble coping with a pH of 7.4? Are there signs I should be looking for?

Lauramouse, I have answered your queuestion in the other post! Please do NOT play with your PH. I answered it it more thoroughly in the last post!