Mirrors for FH?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Once again, this is a grooming technique, and as previously suggested if abused it can cause great stress, and potentially even physical damage to the fish. If you don't know what you are doing, I would suggest leaving your mirrors in the bathroom drawer.
 
toddhgr;4305365; said:
not only stressed but also possibly swollen or injured lips from constantly slamming into the glass
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Not sure about this one... I have a Flowerhorn alone in a 55gal. The back pane of glass IS actually a mirror. He doesn't bump into it ever. He likes to stop and look at himself, it's hilarious!
 
RD.;4305845; said:
Once again, this is a grooming technique, and as previously suggested if abused it can cause great stress, and potentially even physical damage to the fish. If you don't know what you are doing, I would suggest leaving your mirrors in the bathroom drawer.
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I'm assuming you know this because you've tried it? Cause it's been working great for me. Now i wouldn't put a puffer in a tank like that...
 
It depends on the individual fish, and yes, I sometimes use it as a grooming tool, but on a limited basis. Some fish will most definitely pound their face/head into the glass. You can hang smaller mirrors directly in the tank, but even that if overused can result in a stressed fish.
 
RD.;4305906; said:
It depends on the individual fish, and yes, I sometimes use it as a grooming tool, but on a limited basis. Some fish will most definitely pound their face/head into the glass. You can hang smaller mirrors directly in the tank, but even that if overused can result in a stressed fish.
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Makes sense. I will keep an eye on my FH, but I honestly think he likes grooming/looking at himself. The second he starts ( if he does ) smashing into the glass, he will be moved. Good advice.
 
It's not just potential physical damage to the fish, but if overused or abused it could also lead to stress-associated immunosuppression. Think of the use of mirrors as someone agitating a fish by constantly tapping on the glass. This can trigger a flight or flight response in a fish, and while it can assist in "pumping a fish up" causing increased coloration, etc, over time it can also potentially wear a fish down, weakening it's immune system. Long term release of substances such as cortisol etc can cause just as much harm to a fish, as they can to a human being.

The Role of Stress in Fish Disease

By R.W. Rottmann, R. Francis-Floyd1, and R. Durborow. Published by the Southern Regional Agricultural Center and the Texas Aquaculture Extension Service. Physiological stress and physical injury are the primary contributing factors of fish disease and mortality in aquaculture. Stress is defined as physical or chemical factors that cause bodily reactions that may contribute to disease and death.

Fish are able to adapt to stress for a period of time; they may look and act normal. However, energy reserves are eventually depleted and hormone imbalance occurs, suppressing their immune system and increasing their susceptibility to infectious diseases.
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RD.;4306158; said:
It's not just potential physical damage to the fish, but if overused or abused it could also lead to stress-associated immunosuppression. Think of the use of mirrors as someone agitating a fish by constantly tapping on the glass. This can trigger a flight or flight response in a fish, and while it can assist in "pumping a fish up" causing increased coloration, etc, over time it can also potentially wear a fish down, weakening it's immune system. Long term release of substances such as cortisol etc can cause just as much harm to a fish, as they can to a human being.

The Role of Stress in Fish Disease

By R.W. Rottmann, R. Francis-Floyd1, and R. Durborow. Published by the Southern Regional Agricultural Center and the Texas Aquaculture Extension Service. Physiological stress and physical injury are the primary contributing factors of fish disease and mortality in aquaculture. Stress is defined as physical or chemical factors that cause bodily reactions that may contribute to disease and death.
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So what I'm gathering from this is don't stress your fish out. My FH doesn't show a single bit of stress at all. Happy as can be ( I've sat there for a few hours straight watching his behavior ) with the mirror as the back wall of his tank. Basically, it depends on the fish. My Fahaka and Ceylon puffers would not like it at all, that I'm sure.
 
Yes, like most everything else in this hobby, sometimes the end results depend on the individual fish.

Some FH get stressed out during breeding, lose their kok etc.
Some become hyper aggressive, going so far as to kill their mates, while other pairs get along just fine. Some FH get along fine with various tankmates, some kill everything in sight. Some bite when cleaning their tanks, others avoid human contact &/or at least learn to leave the hand that feeds them alone when in their space. etc-etc-etc

You simply can't paint all FH with the same brush, anymore than you can any other type of fish.

But that's what makes this hobby so much fun. :)
 
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