How to Make a Betta Flare

My fish have a habit of having problems in places that I can't see, so they go unchecked. My goldfish has had a cyst between the fins of his double tail in the past, and now my rosetail betta has finrot. I noticed Talos' (the betta) fintrot a while ago, and I treated him for it. I thought it was cured, but now I'm not sure. Most of it looks like it's healing, but there is a loose ray in the folds of his caudal fin that looks suspicious, and I have no idea if it's getting better or worse. He's also copper-colored, so his fins are completely opaque and do not show discolored edges.

I need to get him to flare so I can get a good look at it.

He's never been big on the flaring. He's flared once for each of the toys I got him, and I already blew that long ago when he first played with them!

Talos' toys:

• Zoo Med floating mirror
• Ping pong ball
• Ladybug lure
• Small shiny minnow lure
• Orange plastic leaf

The only thing I can think of is to get more lures, but he seems to be onto me, loosing interest in new toys more quickly. He does charge and bite the minnow lure every time I put it in his tank, but he doesn't flare at it.
I'd never thought I'd have such a mellow betta.

 

My mellow betta flares at pens. Anything that is colorful and resembles another male betta could work. Heck, try one of those plastic goldfish finger puppets if you wanted!

 

Use a mirror

 

Find a video of a betta flaring on your phone and put it up against the glass

 

Find a video of a betta flaring on your phone and put it up against the glass

Hey, I didn't think of that! Great idea! I'll see if it works.

Update: Darn it. It didn't work. I think the light from the video scares him.

 

Why are we making this hard looking for videos etc. he will flare at himself just use a mirror

 

Why are we making this hard looking for videos etc. he will flare at himself just use a mirror

Becasue it doesn't flare at a mirror. Read the OP's first post.

 

Why are we making this hard looking for videos etc. he will flare at himself just use a mirror

I have 2 mirrors: the Zoo Med floating mirror, and a regular mirror. Neither interests him.

 

Ok that was more my point having a full mirror as opposed to one he needs to swim upto

 

Ok that was more my point having a full mirror as opposed to one he needs to swim upto

What is a full mirror? One that spans the length of the tank?

 

A large mirror that you can move upto the tank and he has to look at

 

Use a mirror

a mirror is good but will kill the fish sooner

 

I already showed him a 6x7in plain mirror. He didn't care for it at all. He seems to like having things in the tank with him.

Hmm... I know there is a "Betta Buddy" toy, and a pet store nearby sells them. I'll go get one tomorrow and then see what lures the game and fish store has. Maybe I can dress up a lure to look like a betta.

 

My mellow betta flares at pens. Anything that is colorful and resembles another male betta could work. Heck, try one of those plastic goldfish finger puppets if you wanted!

AAAAAAA, I just remembered I have a fish-shaped pen! I use it at work though, so it's in my work locker.

 

Well, during feeding time this morning, Talos stayed in one position for several seconds with his tail relatively open, so I was able to look at his tail. The loose ray looks like it's healing too, but it tore pretty deep into his fin when he had finrot. It could be that it's so deep that his normal swimming movements are agitating it. I'll give him some Stress Guard.

Thank you all for your help!

I'm still going to get him more toys.