I set up a mirror next to my betta bowl, so Badinton (my fish) flares his mirror image often. He is so pretty, I love watching him. Will this cause him stress or is it OK? There is a place on the other side of his bowl he can swim to where he cannot see himself.

I am not sure what the experts will say, but causing a fish to flare up due to the mirror image sounds like a cruel thing to do as it will constantly see its own image and think it is another male.

But that's just my opinion not a well informed one either.


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I have heard that this is extremely stressful to the fish. They would normally fight another male betta, and that's what they do is flare up to look bigger and intimidating.
When I bought my Beta the (uggg) pet store gave me a phamplet on caring for Betas, and it said to NOT put a mirror close to them or another fish tank with beta's in it.

I don't know a lot about fish, but I have had Betas. Do you know why they put them in little cups side by side in the pet stores? Because they're aggression towards each other will make their colors truly shine.

The thing is, Betas will fight other males to the death. So, like Aurora said, it's very stressful to them to be in constant attack mode.

I would remove the mirror, but that's just my opinion. :)

It is actually a good thing to let them flare up at a mirror.
I do this with my Betta for just a couple of minutes every day or so.
It's good exercise for them, it stretches the muscles and keeps them from just being bored, mopey fish.

It's what they do, it's not cruel at all doing it for a few minutes.