Betta + Mirror

[Luzi]

I've got a lovely little 25L (6gal) which is currently a hospital tank, but will soon be free for use once the fish is cured It will just have 2 otos on the bottom, so i was thinking of getting a betta for it. I've never had one but they look amazing.
I've just realised that the whole back wall is actually a mirror, which could be a problem with a betta Would it stop me from getting th fish? If so, are there any other options?

 

[Westwood]

Im not sure if it would be a problem, but you could try putting a waterproof background over it all?
I am no expert, but could just be a option

 

[justjon]

I had a betta and had to cover the mirror as it's not good for them to be flaring constantly.. Could you perhaps paint it?

 

[Luzi]

I'm just worried it would be stressed, the silly thing

I'd rather not have a background - it looks great with a mirror. The fish i've had in there just though it was more fish and played with it, but they weren't aggressive

 

[Bettawhisperer]

Flaring does not harm them. I have the little round 1" mirrors on a few of the tanks my Bettas are in. The whole back being a mirror you could place some silk plants in front of it so he isn't near it constanly. But no a mirror won't hurt them. Actually they do get bored after awhile looking at themselves all the time.

 

[elisew]

I'm just worried it would be stressed, the silly thing

I'd rather not have a background - it looks great with a mirror. The fish i've had in there just though it was more fish and played with it, but they weren't aggressive

I don`t mean to be rude so I apologise in advance if that`s how it sounds but.....

You`re saying you don`t want the Betta to become stressed yet you don`t want to cover it up because you think it looks great? Hmm, you obviously know there`s likely to be a problem which is why I`m guessing you`ve posted here.

It`s going to come down to a choice......doing what`s probably best for the Betta or not. Your other fish may well have 'just played' with the reflection but a Betta is a completely different story. A Betta uses a lot of energy when they`re constantly flaring and that`s really not good. Imagine yourself being tightly wound up and stressed to the max on a constant basis........how would you feel if you never got a break from it?
Flaring is a natural reaction for a Betta but it can take a lot out of them, if you really want the best for it then you need to accept that you have to either completely cover the mirror up with a background/paint etc of at the very least try to plant some dense plants to block the reflection. Or you could just buy a bigger tank that doesn`t have a mirrored section to it

 

[Guppy P]

I'm just worried it would be stressed, the silly thing

I'd rather not have a background - it looks great with a mirror. The fish i've had in there just though it was more fish and played with it, but they weren't aggressive

ya bettas are not that great with mirrors haha... i remember one time we accidently left a mirror in front of the fish and came back home and he had trouble putting his gills bak down... i'd reccomend either choose a different fish or just paint it.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Actually they do get bored after awhile looking at themselves all the time.

Sounds like a teenager lol

 

[Luzi]

I don`t mean to be rude so I apologise in advance if that`s how it sounds but.....

You`re saying you don`t want the Betta to become stressed yet you don`t want to cover it up because you think it looks great? Hmm, you obviously know there`s likely to be a problem which is why I`m guessing you`ve posted here.

It`s going to come down to a choice......doing what`s probably best for the Betta or not. Your other fish may well have 'just played' with the reflection but a Betta is a completely different story. A Betta uses a lot of energy when they`re constantly flaring and that`s really not good. Imagine yourself being tightly wound up and stressed to the max on a constant basis........how would you feel if you never got a break from it?
Flaring is a natural reaction for a Betta but it can take a lot out of them, if you really want the best for it then you need to accept that you have to either completely cover the mirror up with a background/paint etc of at the very least try to plant some dense plants to block the reflection. Or you could just buy a bigger tank that doesn`t have a mirrored section to it

I'm just looking at fish options ATM, and a betta seemed to be the best option for such a small tank. I genuinely though it would be great until i realised about the mirror. With the advice that i've got here, i'm probably opting for a different fish.
Painting / covering it is not a good option - i'd have to empty the tank, 'store' the otos then re-cycle it which wouldn't be great for the tank or the fish. I may go for the plants, but seeing as this might not work i think its best to get a different fish which doesn't mind mirrors.

Any thoughts on a single honey gourami?

 

[elisew]

I`m not sure about the Gourami in a 25L to be honest, maybe someone else will be able to comment better. Have you thought about the Emerald Dwarf Rasboras or the Galaxy Rasboras?

In a 25L you could get away with 6-8 of either of the Rasboras, they`re small little fish but can be really colourful

 

[Luzi]

I'd love some microrasboras but LFS is pretty ... bad

I think the only raboras they have are harlequins. No endlers either

Any other common shoalers?

 

[elisew]

Apart from the micro-rasboras, I`m not really sure what would be suitable shoaling fish for 25Ltrs to be honest, sorry

Hopefully someone else will be able to advise you on what you could have though