Clean Up Crew!

[shaunakadub]

Ok, so my 10g tank is doing awesome! All the numbers are in check, and my 2 little glowlights look happy as could be!

I know that I am limited to how many fish I can put in the 10g tank, so I am making sure the fish I buy will stay small, ect.

I need some kind of clean up fish/shirmp/something to take care of the bottom of the tank, but I have no idea where to start. I am not going to get a pleco due to the reason that they get big, fast, and I dont want him to die on me.

Anyone have any suggestions on what and how many i should get for a clean up crew?

Thanks!

[budrecki]

There is no subsitute for water chages and gravel vacs every week but....

2-3 otots
1 mystery snail
a few ghost shrimp


BTW otos can be "sensitve", they are very small, 1 inch or so, so best wait untill your cycle is complete

[Lobo.]

i hope ur planing to have more than a couple glowlights in there... that would be a waste of a 10 gal.. what fish do you plan to have, compatiability is a large issue

[shaunakadub]

Lobo: I was planning on purchasing maybe 2 more glowlights, and maybe 3-4 of the blue neons.

would 8 of those fish be to much for a 10g? They are all small so I figured it might work. (I know not to add them all at the same time)


Budrecki: Thanks for your suggestions. What is an otot exactly? I also know that I will definatly be purchasing a Python to keep my tank happy.

[budrecki]

Otto, Otocinclus Catfish ,sorry for the misspell.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=923

5-6 glowlights would be fine with nothing else in the tank. They get to be about 2 "

[carttman]

I would choose between otos, snails, and shrimp also. You are limited with your choices with a tank that size. The oto also goes by the name dwarf sucker.

[montanaxvi]

a couple snails would not be a bad addition to the mix, and above someone said that what you have is a waste of the tank, I have to disagree, just look for Mariah's posts

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64987

and you can see how overstocked someone can have a tank, let's all be thankful that the tank is being "wasted" vs killing off some fish.

[Aqualung]

Otos aren't really bottom feeders, but a trio of small corydoras habrosus would fit the bill. They will eat leftover food at the bottom of the tank, but should also be fed just like any other fish.

Shrimp and snails are also good choices, and would be better than fish if you are just looking for scavengers.

[Lobo.]

no.. with fish that small ur probably fine, and with the right decorations your tank will look really nice with all of those small colorful fish swiming around! just make shure that the water parameters stay ok

[mishi8]

1 zebra snail (neritina natalensis) in a 10 gallon works really well for keeping algae in check. Amano shrimp are good too, as well as some cories. But remember to keep vacuuming gravel as well...you can't count on a "cleanup crew" to keep your tank clean for you.