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How do u entertain ur fishy??

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1.8K views 17 replies 13 participants last post by  Julio1983  
#1 ·
Hi all!
Just after some ideas on how to keep little Julio entertained?
I sometimes think he's bored in his tank all day.
Xoxo
 
#6 ·
Yea I don't think it was the sport curling hahaha. Hair curlers probably, but I personally have never tried those. The ones my mom used to use I think they had little spikes on the, though. But that was 20 years ago, they've probably changed since then lol.
 
#8 ·
I have a little mirror I got for a dollar at Walmart, I let Captain Barbossa flare at it for a minute or two a couple times a day. I don't let him see his reflection for very long though, to keep him from getting stressed out.
 
#9 ·
Yesterday I purchased some ping pong balls and floated one in his tank last night... lets just say it was an interesting experiment!
he eyeballed it, got angry at it... then he would swim up to it, then swim back and look at me...he kept doing this for about 10 mins!
whats the best way to get them used to new toys?
I took it out after about 15 mins and thought I would try him with it again tonight.
xo
 
#11 ·
I spend time watching them. Sounds lame, but Odysseus has always loving watching me watch him. He'll dance for me, stare at me, pose for me, etc. Galahad is also getting in on the act. I'm trying to make sure I stare at them for equal amounts so they feel equally loved. It's mesmerizing. I can watch them for ages and not get bored.
 
#14 ·
My mom use to dance with mine. Mine are never 'bored' per-say. They always live in an active room where they get attention. I've brought my leopard gecko out and let her crawl around the shelf I keep my bettas. They all had different reactions to her. I always tended to keep my betta's in pairs. They'd live next to one another in separate bowls/tanks. It was always interesting trying to pair each of them up with other fish they seemed to enjoy the company of.

I always also change up what they get to look at. Switch around the knickknacks I keep by them so they always have something different to look at.
 
#15 ·
I keep my betta in the kitchen, and we can sleep for ten hours without an issue, but when we leave the apt. for more than a couple hours he bites the hell out of his tail. I happened to see a package of six brightly colored ping pong balls at Target yesterday. Someone suggested I leave one in his tank whenever we go out for the day. Last night I put a yellow one in his tank and then tried to bait him into discovering that he can move it by holding a treat in front of the ball. That didn't work too well. He just jumped up and took the food, and when I floated the ball gently he swam away. Anyone have any suggestions on how to teach him to use it to amuse himself???
 
#16 ·
I also watch Julio a lot... especially in the mornings when I have my breakfast (this generally makes me late for work - hes such a distraction!!)
He loves being watched too, and he gets really excited and dances around... he also loves it when I click my fingers at him... he goes crazy!
Not sure what that's about but he really responds to it.
This morning he was flaring and showing off a little bit :)
I switch his decorations in his tank up once every 6 weeks or so just to keep him on his toes...

As for the ping pong ball - he flared at it when I first put it in etc, but he then ignored it... ill pop it back in tonight and try and get him to play with it...

I keep my tank in the kitchen as its more of a high traffic area. I think he likes all the action that goes on...hes a bit of a sticky beak too... the other day I caught him laying on his hammock just watching me and my husband making dinner!
 
#17 ·
I keep mine on the kitchen island since he likes to watch and be watched. I make sure to give him plenty of time to show off. He also enjoys seeing me cut stuff on that island.

I move stuff around and put random things by his tank to look at, I've put random floating things in his tank like a piece of styrofoam, a ball, a bottle cap, float the fluval moss ball, etc.

I have ghost shrimp in another tank and I have them go in after a cleaning to wipe out all the crud on his gravel and to keep him on his toes, then move them back to the other tank. During water changes I also throw him into that tank for a visit. Same water parameters and temps so they're fine being visitors.
 
#18 ·
good idea putting random floating things in there...
I guess my main concerned was that he was bored...
so mixing things up is the key!

mine also likes to watch me cook and bake in the kitchen...! they are so adorable