chickadee

I found this while searching for some more Liquid Gravel Vac and getting sidetracked....

http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products.../Itemdy00.aspx

I never have a problem with mine eating, but why give them something to play with and then give a warning not to let them have it too long or they will be seriously stressed.

I do not know about this. I think I will continue to do it the old fashioned way. I do like the Ocean Nutrition Atison's Betta Foods (especially the Pro variety for my small Bettas and the pellet size is right for tiny mouths) but this is ridiculous.

Rose

divakeeks

I have seen that in the stores and thought it was just a food container. I had no idea it was meant for the bettas to play with. HOW STRANGE!!!

chickadee

As I understand it you sit it outside of the tank and make them think it is another Betta and let them flare at it. It is stressful to allow a Betta to flare for a length of time when it is not "necessary". I realize when they flare at their own reflection there is nothing we can do about it, but to put up mirrors or to put up "toys" to make them do so is not only cruel but damaging to their health should you forget to go back and remove it within a very short time.

I forgot to take a small mirror away from Azul that I had placed for him before I knew better, and he had it for about 10 minutes. I thought he was going to have a heart attack he was so stressed and it scared me to death. He was racing around the tank in an erratic manner and was clearly very distressed. It took a couple of hours to settle him down and he would not even eat for a whole day. (who says that Bettas do not have memories).
Can you imagaine a Betta being so upset he would not eat when he wasn't sick??

Rose

divakeeks

That is certainly interesting! i mean, sure, the bettas look pretty and cute when they flare but all I have to do is get real close to Lilex's tank and make a kissy face (or bring out the camera) and he flares at me

i have never given any of my fish anything to make them flare intentionally.

if only everyone could be a member of this board and partake in the knowledge it had to offer maybe there wouldn't be so many crazy miconceptions...

poefox

Apparently they do actually need to 'exercise' and flaring helps them do that. However they need to have the option not to or they kind of go nuts. I remember when I had Darth that I had to adjust the light because the tank walls were too reflective when I had the light on at night, or I found to my surprise that he would flare for a loooong time and then be exhausted afterward.

Rusty has such a big tank (10g) for a betta that he will flare at the side that is most reflective but he can also wander away and relax a bit too. He gets plenty of exercise. I think that any betta in a decent sized tank probably does. Anyway, some 'toys' for animals are actually made because people think the animals are interesting when using them, not because they are actually good for the animals.

chickadee

Yes, Bettas flare as a defense mechanism and it does not hurt them as long as THEY can decide when to stop. And flaring at their own image seems to not cause a large amount of stress and a surprised flare like if they are startled or just saying "stop that!" to us is not going to hurt them; but the LONG term froze in a stare type flare is very damaging and that is the type this type of toy induces. (or mirrors as far as that goes)

A lot of breeders will use a mirror momentarily to get a good picture of a betta they intend to sell. But they use it MOMENTARILY never for more than that.

Rose