Is This Benneficial?!

[furry catfish]

My lfs told me today if you put a mirror near a male betta so he can see himself and want to attack himself (that's a strange thing to say ) that it makes them feel more "natural" and "at home" are they right or is this like the endless stream of crap that they usealy tell me.I only ask about this one because I'm new to bettas and can sort of see the point of it,letting him flare off to his reflection and then giving him the satisfaction of winning the flaring match (take the mirror away)but as I said I'm new to bettas so please don't flame me


thanks



chris

 

[aly_starh]

To exercise a male bettas fins, they should see them selves in the mirror for approx. 10 minutes a day. But too much reflecting can lead to stress which will inturn cause death.

so use it with caution.

 

[rebrn]

I too was told this by my LFS and thought it was bunk until I had it confirmed here. I guess occasionally the LFSs get it right Any way don't buy the mirror from the LFS, they charge 50% more just because it is a "betta mirror", you can go to walmart, a dollar store or some other kind of discount store and get your self a little compact or camping mirror for 1/2 the price of the LFS. But be warned some Bettas couldn't care a less. At first my Betta ran and hid from the mirror (he was only in his new tank for a few days so still shy), but now that he is more comforatable I thought I would try the mirror, and doesn't do anything, he just swims around and looks at me as if to say "you think I am stupid enough to fall for a mirror" The only way I have been able to get him to flare is to add a snail. He doesn't try to attack the snail, but if by the off chance he sees it move, he will flare at it. To be honest, mine flares quite freguently at his heater, every morning I see him staring at the heater and flaring ... his reflection he doesn't care but the heater now that is evil

 

[furry catfish]

bettas are funny little creatures,thanks for the advise,I'll try with a mirror,I have one but I'm not sure it will be good in water,would it work outside the tank?

 

[rebrn]

I haven't tried my mirror inside the tank, only outside of the tank. That could be part of my problem, but I know he sees himself in it when it is outside the water he just doesn't care. I also have a black background on my tank, and so he will occasionally flare at his reflection in the black background, not often, maybe once, twice a day tops, not enough to cause him stress, if he sees me he stops flaring at what ever he has seen. But try it out of the tank fist and see what happens.

 

[furry catfish]

I tried with my sisters betta (don't have one yet) and he coudn't care less,but maybe that's because I was right next to the mirror,I'll try it again tommorow when I have more time but he did seem intrested in his reflection at first untill he got bored

 

[Tortea]

All bettas are different. My betta is soooo calm won't flare to save his life =P

 

[NinjaSmurf]

I had one who wouldn't stop flaring and freaking out, realized the food container was next to the tank, he was flaring at the betta picture on it lol.

 

[llamalord305]

My betta used to flare at the mirror outside of the tank. I don't think anyone does it inside.

 

[NinjaSmurf]

I've actually seen a thing called a betta exerciser, it's basically a small mirror with some fish string attached to a floating ball.