"Excercising" Bettas

[Jspigs]

Also this is the first I have heard of "exercising" Bettas prolonging their life.

I would not think it would seeing as you are stressing Bettas out when you exercise them.

I also think that the mirror method would be the least stressful method of "exercising" a Betta as the Betta can just swim away if it does not like the mirror, some of the other methods mentioned (powerhead, swirling the water, etc.) do not give the Betta this freedom and in my opinion even sound like they could be considered on the verge of being cruel!

When you think about it it must stress the Betta out greatly to have a whirlpool in the tank that it has to swim against. A low flow filter would be a much better option because it filters the water and as long as you provide a place or two where the Betta can get out of the current and the filter does not create a whirlpool the Betta will not be nearly as stressed and can swim against the current of the filter at will rather than being forced to.

 

[Troycool]

Honestly, a great method of excercising betas is chasing them around the take with the fish net. They swim away and it makes excellent excercise being that it is like a predator chasing it in the wild. I have heard a woman kept hers alive for about 12 years by doing this everyday.

 

[Jspigs]

Honestly, a great method of excercising betas is chasing them around the take with the fish net. They swim away and it makes excellent excercise being that it is like a predator chasing it in the wild. I have heard a woman kept hers alive for about 12 years by doing this everyday.

Doing this just causes unnecessary stress on Bettas.

Also being chased by a predator in the wild is VERY stressful on the Betta and is not beneficial to the Betta in any way.

Many thing contribute to a fish living a long time this is not one of them.

The longest I have ever heard of a Betta living was 8 or 9 years in laboratory conditions.

 

[Troycool]

Doing this just causes unnecessary stress on Bettas.

Also being chased by a predator in the wild is VERY stressful on the Betta and is not beneficial to the Betta in any way.

Many thing contribute to a fish living a long time this is not one of them.

The longest I have ever heard of a Betta living was 8 or 9 years in laboratory conditions.

I see your point. If you will not want to take this route than I suggest you wait until the fish is accustomed to the tank so it get a "feel" for things. Only then will you be able to succesfully use the mirror method.

 

[PaulJ69]

Get a bigger tank and a filter. there's your tredmill!

 

[halfmoonplakat]

Honestly, a great method of excercising betas is chasing them around the take with the fish net. They swim away and it makes excellent excercise being that it is like a predator chasing it in the wild. I have heard a woman kept hers alive for about 12 years by doing this everyday.

Really? 12 years? Do you have a link you can show us
I am actually really interested in this

 

[LeahK]

Get a bigger tank and a filter. there's your tredmill!

Yeah, the best way to exercise a betta is to put them in a tank big enough for them to swim around in :idea: