Shrimp or cory???

D

denali1234

AC Members
Mar 22, 2005
122
0
0
Moose Jaw , Sask, Canada
This hobby is addictive........

Just would like to solicit opinions. I just bought a 5 gallon aquarium with Aquaclear 20 filter, silk plants, and heater for a beautiful red betta. What a great fish! From day one he ate, swam around, flared at his reflection, and just downright amused us! He had a bit of black stuff on his tail (got him at wal-mart - mercy buy!), but it is already clearing up. The tank is cycled since I added gravel from an established tank, and swapped the new bio bag with an established one from my ten gallon.
I can see, however, that he is a bit of a slow eater, and stuff is getting to the bottom. I was thinking of adding two salt and pepper cories (dwarf) or ghost shrimp. If I add ghost shrimp, how many for this size aquarium?? Are ghost shrimp fairly hardy?? Never kept them before. I know that cories should be kept in groups of at least three, but they would have a hiding place (a small bell). I have two albino cories in a 10 gallon that seem very happy. I have three salt and pepper cories in another 10 gallon that are also very happy. I never kept shrimp before, and thought I would give it a try. Anyone had success with a betta and ghost shrimp???
Any suggestions appreciated.....................
 
in a tank that small i'd go with ghost shrimp. my lfs has a betta in with the ghost shrimp. the betta has lived in that tank for awhile. the owner says that she's never had any problems with the shrimp and the betta. the betta doesnt bother the shrimp any. i have heard of bettas making a lunch out of ghost shrimp, but i would assume it's the juvenile shrimp or baby shrimp.
 
Ramirezi said:
i have heard of bettas making a lunch out of ghost shrimp, but i would assume it's the juvenile shrimp or baby shrimp.
Click to expand...

That's a matter of temperament - some bettas will systematically shred even 1.5-inch ghost shrimp.
 
i would go with pygmy corys or panda corys they stay small, my bettas tear shrimp to pieces...
 
Personally I would would not feel right housing corydoras in something as small as a 5g tank as they are fairly active fish. I would not be too concerend about food going to the bottom of the betta tank. As long as you are not overfeeding and are following a resonable maintenance schedule your betta should be OK by itself. You also need to be prepared in case your betta is one of those that does not tolerate tankmates, any shrimp you add may or may not survive the first few days. As always, the preceeding is qualified as my opinion and not immutable fact.
 
tuvok said:
Personally I would would not feel right housing corydoras in something as small as a 5g tank as they are fairly active fish.QUOTE]

I second that. Mine are all over the place
Click to expand...
 
Agreed, even small (dwarf or pygmy) corys probably wouldn't be too happy in a 5g. They like to be in groups, and are pretty 'busy' fish. If your betta seems fairly laid back and you have a hiding spot in the tank he can't get into, I'd try a few ghost shrimp and see how they do. I've got a few and they crack me up; they've got great little personalities.
 
I had 4 amano shrimp (similar size) in my planted 5 gallon with a betta. He flared at them originally but they took off and things went back to being peaceful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom