Betta fish and mirrors. What is it about them? Do betta fish like mirrors? Are mirrors good for betta fish? You are going to learn all there is to learn about betta fish and mirrors today.
The truth is, it’s not about betta fish liking mirrors. It’s about the benefits betta fish is getting from a mirror. In simple words, betta fish doesn’t particularly ‘like’ mirrors. However, mirrors can bring a lot to the table for betta fishes.
When I used a mirror for my betta for the first time, I discover a few things in betta’s behavior. The mirror has a positive influence on my fish. I’ve shared the benefits and disadvantages I noticed with you in the following sections.
Do Betta Fish Like Mirror?
Betta fish doesn’t have any extra affection for mirrors. But the advantages you can get from using mirrors are worth looking into. Read what you’re getting out of using mirrors and decide for yourself, do betta fish like mirrors or not.
1. A Scope of Fulfilling Their Natural Instinct
It’s likely that you already know about your betta’s natural instinct. They like to fight and act aggressively toward a competitor. When you use a mirror in front of your betta, you can make him feel like he has got a competitor to fight against. You will notice your betta flaring after placing the mirror.
Flaring means when your betta flares his fins and gills to appear larger in size than his competitor. After the fish has chased his reflection for some time, it’s time for you to remove the mirror. This way he will feel like he won the fight.
Few stressful moments followed by a sense of victory will encourage natural betta behavior. It’s one way of making him feel good.
2. Nobody Has to Get Hurt
Betta can often attack other tankmates as their natural habit is to fight. By using a mirror, your fish gets to fulfill his aggressive needs without hurting any other fish in the tank.
Think of it like this. The aggressive behavior riled up inside your betta will be let out on his own reflection. Everyone in the tank, including your betta, gets to stay safe. Besides, betta will act much less hostile towards other fishes residing in the tank when his aggressive needs are met.
3. A Cure for Boredom
Betta fishes get bored too easily. A mirror can be an excellent way to spice up things for him in the tank. Let the fish play with its reflection and get a taste of fun once in a while. Betta fish usually marks the area as his territory where the mirror is placed.
He then tries to protect his territory by making sure no one enters. Patrolling is an exciting game for your betta fish. Also, reducing boredom is necessary. Boredom can often lead to depression.
4. Helps With Constipation Too
As irrelevant as it sounds, mirrors can help with constipation in bettas. Betta fish can suffer from constipation depending on their food habit. When flaring, they can empty their bowels when flaring because of muscle functions.
So, if you feel like your betta is suffering from constipation, I suggest you use mirror therapy. Who knows, maybe a mirror is all you need to cure your fish of constipation.
5. Increases Breeding Instinct
When a male betta feels like he has got a competition by looking at the mirror, it increases his breeding instinct. If a female betta is present in the tank, the male betta will likely grow a breeding interest with the female betta when a mirror is present.
You will notice your betta build a bubble nest as a part of their reaction to the mirror.
6. Bonus Photographs
One little side benefit for the owner of a betta fish is better photography scopes. If you want to take your betta’s photograph with a reflection present in the tank, it’s a good idea to put a mirror. If you want flared photo of your betta, the mirror is an easy option.
How Long Before the Mirror Becomes Harmful?
Despite the advantages you are getting from a mirror with your betta fish, there are limits. Mirrors encourages stressful behavior that can harm your betta’s health. Make sure to keep the practices healthy and within limits while using a mirror.
If you want a general guideline of a precise time frame, I suggest you use the mirror for 30 seconds per day. This is if you wish to use the mirror every day. If you intend to put the mirror in front of your fish once or twice a week, you can use it for five minutes.
However, each betta is different in its own way. So my suggestion is that you notice your betta’s behavior and monitor when he is getting too stressed or upset.
Sometimes, the fish tank can reflect your betta’s image back to him, and you won’t even realize it. Whenever you notice that your betta is flaring at nothing, it’s probably because he sees a reflection of himself.
Your job as a betta owner is to make sure there aren’t any accidental mirrors present. Keep your betta stress-free by covering the reflective area with cardboards.
Bottom Line
Your betta craves playfulness. Other than that, flaring is a natural need for your betta fish. Mirrors play an important role in keeping your betta not only happy but also healthy. Your answer to the question ‘do betta fish like mirrors’ is, they don’t understand the function of a mirror, but the results can make them happy. That means, your betta passively likes mirrors.
You can use mirrors to encourage a healthy and natural environment for your betta but make sure you don’t overdo it. Everything is harmful when used beyond necessity.
