BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Fish tank backgrounds

I was wondering, can fish really see tank backgrounds or not? Part of me thinks they can because they can see me through the tank, but I also know that the glass sides of the tank are reflective.

I've been told by several people that backgrounds are more for the people looking at the tank than for the fish, mainly to hide the filter, air pump, light, heater or whatever cords may be running behind the tank. -Do get me wrong I love not seeing the cords anymore. But it's disappointing to think they can't see the background since that is the main reason I got one for my tank.

Fantails and Betas

I don't see why they wouldn't be able to see it. It would be like anything else they were looking at outside their tank, like when I hold a mirror up to the side and they see their reflection and start flaring. I think the only time the tank is really reflective is when there is a light on inside the tank and it is dark outside the tank.

My betta used to flare at himself when this happened, so that's how I know the glass (or acrylic) was reflecting.

I would think they could. They may not think, "oh thats much prettier than those ugly old cords." but they respond to other stimuli outside the tank, so i would think so...