Mirror Time?

[fishRfriends]

Ok, this has probably come up before. I did a search but was only getting like one relevant topic every few pages and none of them really had a definitive answer. I was just wondering, is it true that bettas should have some time with a mirror? I've heard anywhere from 5-30 minutes a few tmes a day to only once a week to not at all, so I'm so confused! In your experience, what has worked out best? I let him see a mirror for just a few minutes today and he was swimming around like crazy and blowing bubbles into his nest lol. Is this a good sign or does that mean its stressing him out too much? Also, a really dumb unrelated question...when you clean out their tank should an attempt be made to save some of the bubble nest, like in a jar or something? I feel so bad destroying it on cleaning day after he spent so much time on it lol. He goes back in and is like..ummm, hey! Where'd it go?! Thanks!

 

[dmarie04]

I do about 15 minutes every day or every other day. Except I don't use a mirror, I use other bettas...same difference, though. It helps them to stretch their fins and get some exercise. It keeps them from getting bored and biting their own tail, if you have a tail biter, too. Some people try to save the bubblenests, but I never do. I do feel a little bit bad when I destroy the nests, but they usually get right back to work building another one, so no harm done.

 

[devon_charm]

I do the same as dmarie04, i find it helps to stop them from gettin bored they soon calm down after and never get stressed. My males in my barracks see each other 24/7 byt have things to swim and hide behind and they are all fine. I guess what i mean to say is each betta is different so its a case of trying to see what they like best, try 15 mins some days and then try less or more there after.

 

[fishRfriends]

Thanks for the replies! I will try that and see what he likes!