Stocking 10gal and keeping a QT tank cycled..

kimmisc

kimmisc

is in your closet.
Mar 12, 2007
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Florence, SC
2 different questions..

1 - I am going to put a betta in the 10 gallon. What would be good to put in there with it? (snails? shrimp? something small, as I want the betta to stand out)

2 - Can you keep a small QT/fry tank cycled by keeping a few snails/shrimp/something else in it? What would you recommend putting in there that wouldn't eat fry and wouldn't be bothered by remaining in the tank while another QT'd fish is being treated there?

I don't plan on having many fry, but with 1 male in my 29gal, it is a possibility at some point.
 
4 different answers...

1 - A betta will probably kill shrimp, but snails would be OK. What about three female bettas instead of one male?

2 - Yes, that would keep it cycled, but don't worry about that. See below.

3 - You have one male with 4 females he can definitely breed with (swords and platies cross easily) and 2 females he can probably breed with (swords and mollies cross, if he's persistent). You are going to have lots of fry.

4 - The answer to the question you didn't ask: Fishy cycling with angels is an excellent way to kill them, especially in a 5-gallon tank. If they live, it will be in spite of the rough treatment. If they die, I suggest not replacing them. You can keep 2 angels in a 29g, but with all those livebearers I wouldn't even keep one.
 
I totally agree about the angels. Those were recommended by the LFS owner, and unfortunately I fall into the category of people who bought fish first before researching. I pulled that one angel out and put it into the hex last night because I noticed it was harrassing the other angel badly. Then I read online that angels should NOT be kept in groups of 2-3. Either keep a single, or a group of 4+, else the dominant one will make the other one miserable. :rolleyes: I am probably going to take the angels back.

And btw, I am doing 50% water changes twice a day (sometimes more in the 29gal), keeping ammonia at 0.25ppm in the tanks with fish.

And the bettas... I have my heart set on a male betta I already found online! :dance2: I am putting white gravel in there and going to make the decor very neutral so he stands out. I will probably go with the snails, and hope they don't take over the tank.
betta.jpg
 
kimmisc said:
I will probably go with the snails, and hope they don't take over the tank.
Click to expand...

It's all about how much you feed them. BTW, I raised two angels together from quarter size to adulthood. They snipe at each other occasionally, but most of the time they're side by side. I think they're both males. Maybe neither felt particularly dominant? IDK — it's funny how fish are so individual.
 
I've had these for 2 weeks, and for most of that time, they were the same way. They always stuck together until the other day. The one getting picked on got picked on SO much that now he tilts and ducks down everytime one of the other fish happen to innocently brush by near him. His fins aren't torn anywhere that I can see, but he's being very skiddish.
 
I am leaning towards a frog an snails. Do the equipment holes in the back of the hood need to be covered to keep them in?
 
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