Mirrors

[modernhamlet]

I know that it's good for betta males to have a mirror on occasion to work on their flare and blustering, but how often and for how long is it healthy to leave the mirror up? Horatio is just going bonkers over a piece of reflective metal I put outside his new home. It's not even a real mirror! He's acting like such a tough guy! B)

I can't imagine it would be good for him to be doing that all the time though! He'd get worn out, wouldn't he?

Where do the experienced betta keepers stand on this?

 

[Pointy_kitty]

i don't know if there is a general rule but out of my experience i found it best to put a mirror up a few hours a day.
the problem i had with leaving it up too much is that my bettas began to catch on that there was no intrudor and they stopped flaring up.
it then became difficult to get them to flare and i found myself making rediculious "scarey fish" faces to make them do so! )
that might just be my boys though

 

[modernhamlet]

Sounds like they have you trained well!

Thanks! A few hours sounds about right to me too. It'll be his daily workout.

 

[AmberC]

i found myself making rediculious "scarey fish" faces to make them do so! )