is it good for my betta fish to putted close to the mirror?

Question

i ask the petsmart manger if i could put my betta fish close to the mirror and this is what she answer:


I suggest not putting your Betta near a mirror if he seems to be aggitated(puffing up).
Male bettas are very aggressive toward their territory. They aren't mean, that's just the way they are. But, that does not mean that they can't be less aggressive than other bettas. Some bettas are calm and mellow. Other are EVIL!!! Some people think that bettas are that way because they are kept in small spaces and get all freaked out.

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Answer 1

I second Kerri, it's perfectly fine for short periods of time, sort of like exercise. just don't leave the mirror there all the time or he can exhaust himself, just like exercising.

just as a side note, since you seem to be a first timer, I wanted to give you some helpful tips and advice, take it or leave it.

for IDEAL health get your betta a filtered and heated tank of at least 2.5 gallons. keep the water temp around 80°F. bettas can survive in bowls for a while but the will not thrive! it's kind of like keeping a human in an unheated closet with no toilet! YUCK! keeping your betta in a bowl will cause him to be weak, slow, and prone to disease.

if you insist on a bowl remember, anything 1 gallon or under should be cleaned every 3 days. 2 gallons or larger once a week. if you don't like the idea of 100% water changes all the time get a filter. this would eliminate 100% water changes and only call for 20% water changes once a week.

*edit to everyone*
don't take everything your local pet store's friendly sales associates say so seriously! especially chain stores (yes, this includes Petco and Petsmart). they don't really know more about animals than anyone else. chain stores are out to make money, they don't spend time to make sure each store hires knowledgeable employees! they're just people off the street that needed a job. you might as well go up to a random person and ask them. the only real exception is non chain specialty stores.

Answer 2

It makes him think there's another male betta in the mirror. He fluffs up and becomes agitated, and will attempt to drive the rival away. It's a pretty display, and gives him some exercise, but don't leave the mirror there for more than maybe five minutes. He'll wear himself down and possibly injure himself otherwise. There's no harm in a short display, but these fish can fight to the death in the real world, and his instincts will force him to either drive the other betta away, kill it, or die trying. Since you control the rival, he'll kill himself in the attempt if you leave it there too long. Don't put the mirror inside the water, just hold it up to the glass, he'll see it fine. But don't leave it there for a long time.

Answer 3

when they flare up, they are under some amount of stress. At least that's my interpretation. They think that the mirror image is another betta, so they flare up.

I think that keeping a mirror near them all the time may be too stressful for them in the long term. So if you want your betta for a long time, take the mirror away. Just my opinion.

EDIT: When you put two bettas in a tank together, they will fight. But not until one dies. Usually one gives up and just swims away and gets chased usually. Then the poor little guy finds the most hidden part of the tank and never comes out. Poor dude.

Answer 4

I do not think putting a Betta fish close to a mirror is a good idea. Though it may make it look cool to puff up, it probably will aggravate him. Most Betta fish, especially males, will attack and sometimes kill other Betta fish so if you put him up against an enemy he cannot defeat he could get angry to the point of illness or he could hurt himself in attacking attempts.

Answer 5

Best with bettas buy two/ two separate lodgings and they can look not touch. The mirror works for some but not all. All fish are like that in captivity. From expensive tropicals that die all the time to goldfish. I have had them all. We dove for tropicals in Hawaii. SO fragile. I worked at a pet store too.
The betta is beautiful yet a very interesting fish to raise. Good luck.

Answer 6

The pet smart manager is essentially correct. betas ARE extremely aggressive and territorial. It will get agitated and it is not healthy for the fish. I do not believe that betas are a "mello" fish per say nor are they "evil". They are instinctive animals. And react purely on their basic genetic makeup.

Answer 7

you can absolutely put a mirror in front of the tank, its actually healthy for them. but only for no more than 15 minutes at a time. they stay active because of this. if the mirror is there for much longer than 15 minutes, the betta could become a bit stressed out.

i put a mirror up to my bettas tank everyday for 5 minutes.

Answer 8

I have a beta.. and I occasionally put a mirror up to the bowl to make him puff and get his heart pumping. Not all the time... but I think it's good for them once in awhile because it's their nature.

Answer 9

I second what the Petsmart manager told you. I worked for Petsmart (in management) for awhile. I also have had over my life several beta fish. The manager was correct in that the males are aggressive. I've even had them try to bite me! Of course they don't really have much in the way of teeth, so it wasn't a big deal.

Answer 10

The pet store person is correct. I would not suggest putting by a mirror just in case you have an aggressive one. If so, then he/she can kill him/herself by raming the glass trying to get the "other" beta.