I’ve been wanting to write this for a while but thought it was a bit silly. Regardless, this topic is really for the hobbyist who has a solitary fish, normally a betta, or a puffer, or a paradise fish, or a ADF/ACF or for myself a goldfish.
Anyway, number one, I found that using a mirror for a short amount of time (especially on territorial fish) really gives them something to do. Both the bettta’s and paradise fish would swim up and down, side to side and flare at his reflections. Obviously if you leave the mirror there for to long with territorial fish, you’ll exhaust him/her.
Secondly, add some bait feeder fish. I always used to go round to my lfs and they would give me a handful of pest snails to drop into my dwarf puffer tank; leaving them with hours of hunting fun, and a good diet. The same could be done with clams or shrimp! I read in this forum, someone is going to drop shrimp into their betta tank occasionally, just to give them something to do. However, just remember if your fish actually eats the bait feeder, remember to take it into consideration next feeding session.
Another thing I noticed that worked really well with the dwarf puffer and especially my goldfish was a floating ping pong ball (well washed before hand of course). It would float on the surface, and the fish would swim up and knock it, then as it moved they would seek shelter at the bottom of the tank. They would then become more bolder, and it came to the point when my goldfish would attempt to carry it on his head from time to time!
And finally, something that has to be my personal favourite in the summer by the barrel pond. I would go hunting around the garden for them queen/flying ants, or even better, earth works (washing the worms under the hose). Then I would simply either pinch the flying ants wings and dangle it along the surface, or dangle half the worm in the water. And my goldfish would come up to the surface, inspect and them eat it right out of my hands.
This hand feeding can be done with ADFs/ACFs, loaches, puffers and im I am sure there are many more.
But of course, there is no substitute for you yourself being at the tank. I noticed especially the paradise fish, puffer and betta were best at recognising me when I got to their tanks! They bask in your attention. That is why I always look for a place where I will always be, as to where to place my tanks. For example the kitchen.
Anyway, that’s just some unusual ideas as to how to keep your solitary fish amused. I hate seeing fish swim back and worth for hours, and adding a new ornament only triggers their attention for a matter of minutes I have found lol.
Thanks
And let me know if you have anything to add!
Anyway, number one, I found that using a mirror for a short amount of time (especially on territorial fish) really gives them something to do. Both the bettta’s and paradise fish would swim up and down, side to side and flare at his reflections. Obviously if you leave the mirror there for to long with territorial fish, you’ll exhaust him/her.
Secondly, add some bait feeder fish. I always used to go round to my lfs and they would give me a handful of pest snails to drop into my dwarf puffer tank; leaving them with hours of hunting fun, and a good diet. The same could be done with clams or shrimp! I read in this forum, someone is going to drop shrimp into their betta tank occasionally, just to give them something to do. However, just remember if your fish actually eats the bait feeder, remember to take it into consideration next feeding session.
Another thing I noticed that worked really well with the dwarf puffer and especially my goldfish was a floating ping pong ball (well washed before hand of course). It would float on the surface, and the fish would swim up and knock it, then as it moved they would seek shelter at the bottom of the tank. They would then become more bolder, and it came to the point when my goldfish would attempt to carry it on his head from time to time!
And finally, something that has to be my personal favourite in the summer by the barrel pond. I would go hunting around the garden for them queen/flying ants, or even better, earth works (washing the worms under the hose). Then I would simply either pinch the flying ants wings and dangle it along the surface, or dangle half the worm in the water. And my goldfish would come up to the surface, inspect and them eat it right out of my hands.
This hand feeding can be done with ADFs/ACFs, loaches, puffers and im I am sure there are many more.
But of course, there is no substitute for you yourself being at the tank. I noticed especially the paradise fish, puffer and betta were best at recognising me when I got to their tanks! They bask in your attention. That is why I always look for a place where I will always be, as to where to place my tanks. For example the kitchen.
Anyway, that’s just some unusual ideas as to how to keep your solitary fish amused. I hate seeing fish swim back and worth for hours, and adding a new ornament only triggers their attention for a matter of minutes I have found lol.
Thanks
And let me know if you have anything to add!
