also do you need a heater cover for your heater, or do these guys not sleep near heaters??

Betta's will do with out heat but I have found that if you can keep it around the 76-78F mark they are allot more active.....

They do like having a filter on there tanks but will live in a bowl..

I personally like to have my Betta's in a 3-5 gal tank with a filter and heart....

In fact i have a heavily planted 36 gal tank with 3 girls and one boy in there and everyone is good. since they have hiding spots and there is allot of room for them....

But I wont suggest that for a starting point...I would get a Eclipse 5 gal tank that comes with a filter on it and then a heater

great thanks for that koko, i do have a 5 gallon i was hoping to use, and i also have a small heater for it, and i also have a little filter to use, so i will set that up for him, but i was thinking maybe to get one of those plastic type tanks that have those plastic lids that breath, as i have heard they need to be able to get oxygen from the top and they also jump.??

Yes they do need a little room at the top for oxygen. It also gives a nice place for bubble nests.
I have heard that Bettas like to jump so you should keep a cover on the tank or bowl you have.

i have heard the saying bubble nests a few times, but what are they???

The betta with gulp air then place little bubbles back at the top, then when there is enough it looks like a nest.....Let me find a photo

http://www.nazarenenexus.com/betta_ed/imag...sbubblenest.jpg

Hi, Yes you will need a lid on whatever you keep him in because he will jump. I know because I've lost bettas before this way.

ok cool, cos i had 1 betta before but i had a glass lid on top and no filter and he died within two days, so tahts why i asked, but next time i will be prepared.