⚠️ Never leave a mirror in or near the tank permanently. Continuous flaring causes genuine chronic stress. Use the stick only for brief, removable, supervised sessions.
💡 Flaring has real physiological cost. It is not a harmless trick — limit to 1–2 sessions per week, 10–30 seconds each, for a healthy settled adult male.
🐟 How to Use Safely
Mirror at tank glass, eye level: Triggers natural territorial flaring; remove stick immediately after observing/photographing.
Health check use: Full flare reveals fin tears, gill symmetry, colour saturation not visible at rest.
Wait 1–2 weeks for new arrivals: Allow full acclimatisation before any flare stick use.
Photography tip: Set up camera and lighting before introducing the stick. Use brief 5–10 second flare-and-remove cycles with rest between, rather than one long session, for multiple photo opportunities with minimal stress.
