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5 Best Betta Fish Toys in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Sarah Psaradelis

By Sarah Psaradelis

BHUCUTU 5 Pieces Betta Fish Leaf Betta Bed

If you have ever seen your betta fish sitting along the bottom of the aquarium and seeming uninterested in its environment, it may be boring. You would first have to rule illness or water quality out before you can determine if your betta is bored. Since the majority of bettas are kept in tanks under 5 gallons, which makes boredom possible.

Keeping your betta fish enriched is an important aspect of their health and well-being. This makes choosing the right type of toy for your betta fish essential. Bettas do not necessarily play, but they do enjoy exploring their environment to keep their body and mind active.

In this article, we will be reviewing some of the best toys for betta fish on the market, while ensuring that each product is safe and suitable for betta fish to aid in mental stimulation.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Cousduobe Betta Fish Leaf Pad Cousduobe Betta Fish Leaf Pad
  • Stimulates natural behaviors
  • Smooth and durable design
  • Affordable
  • Second place
    Zoo Med Floating Betta Log Zoo Med Floating Betta Log
  • Suitable for small aquariums
  • Hole for feeding
  • Naturally floats to the surface
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Zoo Med Floating Betta Exercise Mirror – Premium Choice Zoo Med Floating Betta Exercise Mirror – Premium Choice
  • Provides a source of exercise
  • Reduces boredom
  • Floats
  • Marina Betta Circus Ring Ornament Marina Betta Circus Ring Ornament
  • Provides exercise and mental stimulation
  • Easy to place and move
  • Safe and non-toxic material
  • Marina Betta Buddy Marina Betta Buddy
  • Stimulates exercise
  • Provides mental stimulation
  • The 5 Best Betta Fish Toys

    1. Cousduobe Betta Fish Leaf Pad – Best Overall

    Cousduobe Betta Fish Leaf Pad

    Tank placement Surface
    Type Leaf hammock
    Durability Long-lasting
    Product dimensions Large leaf is 2.36 × 1.77 & small leaf is 1.97 × 1.50 inches

    Betta hammocks are becoming an increasingly popular tank accessory for betta fish. In the wild, bettas will lay on flat leaves near the surface to rest and refill their labyrinth organ, and our choice for the best betta fish toy, the betta fish leaf pad, replicates this without the hassle of growing and maintain an actual live plant. This product has a strong suction cup which you can move around and place in the aquarium. It has been constructed from high-quality materials that are featherlight ad safe. The leaves add to the natural aspect by swaying in the water with the current, which entices the betta to notice it and use it. It helps to stimulate the betta fish’s natural behaviors. This practical design has two different size options combined into one product, which allows any sized betta to use it. A bonus is that the leaves are smooth and will not tear your bettas fin like other fake plants.

    Pros
    • Stimulates natural behaviors
    • Smooth and durable design
    • Affordable
    Cons
    • The suction cup could trap debris

    2. Zoo Med Floating Betta Log

    Zoo Med Floating Betta Log

    Tank placement Surface
    Type Floating log
    Durability Must be replaced every year
    Product dimensions 6 × 4 × 7 inches

    The Zoo Med Floating Betta Log allows your betta to sit in a comfortable place in the aquarium and have some privacy. It helps to relieve boredom and effectively floats on the surface which is where betta fish prefer to rest in an aquarium. This product is small enough to fit in a 2-gallon aquarium, but it is suitable for every size of aquarium. The betta log comes with a small opening at the top which makes feeding your betta easy if they decide to stay in the log for long periods. The hole at the top allows your betta to also construct a small bubble nest which enhances the enrichment that the floating betta log provides.

    It should be noted that this product should be replaced every 6 to 12 months because the paint coating can come off in the water which may cause issues to the water quality.

    Pros
    • Suitable for small aquariums
    • Hole for feeding
    • Naturally floats to the surface
    Cons
    • Paint chips off over time

    3. Zoo Med Floating Betta Exercise Mirror – Premium Choice

    Zoo Med Floating Betta Exercise Mirror

    Tank placement Middle
    Type Suspended mirror
    Durability Long-lasting
    Product dimensions 5 × 1.5 × 7 inches

    Mirrors are great for providing betta fish with enrichment and mental stimulation. This product comes with a small mirror suspended with a floating ball. Male bettas will flare when they see another betta and attempt to attack them. The mirror provides a safe alternative where the betta can exercise itself by flaring and extending their fins without the danger of another male betta fighting with them. Flaring can exercise a bettas muscles and fins while providing them with a sense of euphoria after the mirror has been removed because they will feel as if they have successfully defended their territory from another betta.

    The mirror should be removed after 10 minutes and only used every third day to prevent unnecessary stress. It is our premium choice as a toy that provides your betta with exercise while reducing boredom.

    Pros
    • Provides a source of exercise
    • Reduces boredom
    • Floats
    Cons
    • Should not be used often
    • Only usable by mature male bettas

    4. Marina Betta Circus Ring Ornament

    Marina Betta Ornament, Circus Rings

    Tank placement Bottom
    Type Circus rings
    Durability Must be replaced every year
    Product dimensions 4.3 × 1.6 × 5.4 inches

    The Marina Betta Circus Rings are colorful and look attractive in betta fish aquariums. This product allows you to teach your betta simple tricks by using food as motivation. It also enables your betta to swim through different hoops on their own after they have been taught how to use it. This provides the owner and betta fish with enrichment, as it is fascinating to watch them swim through the hoops in hopes for a reward of food.

    The material is safe and non-toxic; however, it does have the potential to chip or flake off into the water over time. The base and weight of the product make it easy to place in the aquarium and the base can be covered in gravel to weigh it down if the current moves it.

    Pros
    • Provides exercise and mental stimulation
    • Easy to place and move
    • Safe and non-toxic material
    Cons
    • Colors chip off
    • The top hole is too small

    5. Marina Betta Buddy

    Marina Betta Buddy

    Tank placement Middle
    Type Fake betta fish
    Durability Long-lasting
    Product dimensions 0.7 × 4 × 5.6 inches

    This is a mock product of a live male betta fish, and it works similar to how the mirror functions. When your betta sees this fake betta that floats in the aquarium, they will flare and try to fight it by nudging the toy and swimming around it. This provides an excellent source of exercise. It should not be kept in the aquarium for more than 10 minutes because the betta can become tired and stressed because they think that the potential threat does not want to leave their territory alone.

    It comes in two different colors, namely blue and red, and it is affordable and simple to use. If you do not prefer the mirror option, then the floating betta buddy may work better for you.

    Pros
    • Stimulates exercise
    • Provides mental stimulation
    Cons
    • Delicate and breaks easily
    • Should not be used often

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    Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Betta Fish Toys

    Age & Size

    The first thing to consider is the age and size of your betta fish. Mature males are going to flare and extend their fins when they see their reflection or another male betta. This makes the Marina betta buddy and the Zoo Med mirror a better option for mature males. Whereas the floating log and betta hammock leaf pad is safe for bettas of all ages and sizes.

    You may have to go through some trial and error before you find a toy that your betta likes and uses. It is also important to find a toy that will provide the right reaction you want to see from your betta. Some toys are for relaxation, while others are for training or exercise.

    The durability of the toy you want to purchase is essential for the health of your betta. Some products flake off pieces off the coating into the water column which can cause problems to your betta and aquarium. Some products should be replaced after a decent amount of use to prevent this problem from happening. Always check that the external coating is intact before placing it in the aquarium and avoid reusing it in other tanks or exposing it to sunlight for long periods.

    Fashionclubs 4pcs Betta Bead Leaf Hammock

    What Makes a Good Betta Fish Toy?

    A great product in this category is the Zoo Med Betta Fish Mirror because it allows your betta to exercise to maintain good blood flow and muscle gain which helps enhance their swimming abilities and metabolism.

    Tips

    • Look for a toy that will be beneficial to how your betta acts. If you feel that they do not swim so much and spend more time resting, it would be a good idea to get both a resting toy and an exercise toy to create a balance.
    • Check that the material is safe and non-toxic in case it does chip or peel off in the aquarium.
    • Compare the prices of various toys to find the right one to fit your budget. If the toy needs replacing after a while, then it can be expensive to keep replacing it and a durable toy will be better.

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    Conclusion

    With so many interesting toys to choose from, it may be difficult to find one that is worth buying for your betta. Out of all the betta toys that have been reviewed in this article, the two best options would be the Cousduobe Betta Fish Leaf Pad and the Zoo Med Betta Fish Mirror. The leaf pad is effective for resting and natural betta fish behaviors, while the mirror provides your betta fish with a good source of body and mind exercise and stimulation.

    It is also beneficial to sometimes keep various toys in your betta’s aquarium to constantly keep them busy which overall improves their general well-being.

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