Mirror -- was this a good idea?

[Emerson]

For days Horatio has been looking a little mopey...not building a bubble nest, and with his fins a little bit clamped. I wondered if, because he is the only fish in the house (for now; I'm considering buying a Paradise fish with his own tank), he might be a little depressed or lonely.

I had never tried the mirror trick, but decided to give it a whirl. It took Horatio a little while to figure out that the mirror was there, but suddenly he went into full alert when he saw his reflection. I had never really seen him flare before (he'll sometimes give a half-flare if I introduce a new food into his tank), but this was a full-blown fare with gills wide open (he's a little lop-sided), and top fin erect!

I didn't leave the mirror up long, but since then he has been swimming around, looking very ferocious, and flaring at his reflection in the heater.

Do you think this was good for him? I thought it really perked him up, but I don't want to stress him out -- especially when he hasn't been feeling all that well lately. Do you think another fish nearby will help lift his spirits?

[AuntieM]

Hi sef.... I can only tell you about my experience with the mirror since I just tried it on my Max last night. Now you have to understand, Max's bowl sits between Ruby's & Pearl's. He would see them, swim around lookin' all studley, but no flaring, no bubble-nest making. Just groovin'. Enjoying the female company I figured that he was just a wimpy male with no agressive traits. I only got him last week, so I thought it might take a while on his own to start to flare.

Then the other day, I read a thread on HB about the mirror trick. So I thought, what the hey, let's see if we can move this male along a bit. I brought the mirror home from work yesterday, set it up and "let 'er rip". Max took two swings around his bowl before he saw his reflection. And I swear I heard a tiny war whoop! ;D

He started to flare and his fins started to flare and I think there was even a little smoke rising from the top. I left the mirror up for about 15 min. because, like you, I didn't want to stress him out.

That night, he was more lively and alert then I've ever seen. He even started building a bubble nest. NO KIDDING For Max, the mirror was like having a dose of reflective viagara I think it was a good thing to do. It got his mojo going, if you know what I mean.

I put it up again this afternoon for a few minutes and the same reaction as last night. When I take the mirror away, he just goes back to his old groovy self. No harm no foul.

Since Horatio has been on the mend, I would probably limit the "mirror" time and yes, I think another fishy would be a nice thing for Horatio. Adding the mirror is just an added treat.

Good Luck .

[MrsSmitty]

Bettas are such scrappers! They love flaring, and healthy adult males can be something to behold. When I brought my Earendil home, he and Beaker flared at each other for over TWO HOURS through the divider. Needless to say, they now have a slightly less warlike male separating them in the big tank, but they are all in peak condition. No signs of undue stress or exhaustion, everything to the contrary. Actually, if I could improve anyone's health, it would be Narya, the peacable one! In my house whatever sad little near-death case I've brought home lately is given solitude to mend, but then immediately upon healing is given a flaring buddy. The only exception to this is my old timer, who I think is really slowly winding down. No worries, he must be about 3 by now.

Sef, in that BC Bettas website I mentioned in my other post, you can see their state-of-the-art betta barracks (if I'm remembering correctly). This setup, which I lust after, has males in full view of each other at all times. They can be separated from view if sick, but the rest of the time can flare all they want. Obviously, this isn't a pet betta setup (no plants or little castles, Smaug would be so sad!), but you can see for yourself the health of their fish.