Slash's new friends!

[captmicha]

I finally got some friends for my betta's five gallon. Two baby Black Kuhli loaches, two pygmy cories (so cute!) and six feeder clear shrimp. Ghost shrimp? It was 6 for $1.

The loaches are mainly for eating snails but the fish are too small yet to eat anything other than the newly hatched ones.

They're going to be moved to a ten gallon and then to a 20 gallon.

Is there special care I should know about? I'll try to take pics but I don't think they'll come out very well.

Slash is tolerating them pretty well. He's gone for a couple of shrimp but can't catch any and he's calming down. I don't think he'll see the cories b/c they blend in so well with the substrate and he can't catch the loaches.

The loaches are jetting back and forth... Is that normal?

I don't have a hood, are they jumpers?

 

[jpappy789]

Both the corys and kuhlis would do better in larger groups but other than that they dont require any special care.

Although bettas generally dont mind corys, pygmy corys tend to school in the midwater areas more than on the bottom so just keep an eye on slash's reaction to them.

 

[jm1212]

many bettas will eat ghost shrimp.

 

[Dwarf Puffers]

You should get a few more kuhlis and pygmies when you upgrade. Depending on the time difference between the 10g and the 20g, you could get them for the 10g if you think they won't be availible for long. I wouldn't get any more than 5 of each if they were in the 10g, even if they wouldn't stay there for very long. Ideally, you could have 7-8 kuhlis and pygmies in the 20g.

 

[fishorama]

I agree, Dwarf Puffers, well said.

 

[captmicha]

K, I'll get more when I transfer them. Do you think I could get different loaches, rather than more black kuhlis? I think I want to get a bunch of pygmy cories but do you think the loaches will eat them? I have a ten gallon I can keep the cories in when the loaches grow up.

How can bettas eat the shrimp? The shrimp are like an inch big, maybe larger. Can they pick them apart?

Does anyone know anything about breeding pygmy cories? I'd like to get a bunch, even if they do grow slow. I could only find one site on breeding and there wasn't much about pygmies. I've never had much luck breeding fish before but I've never really tried. I guess some assorted fish over the years could have laid eggs and been eaten since it was a community tank.

And does aquarium salt really induce breeding? And doing water changes with 10 degrees cooler water? I don't think I can help that b/c I change the water from a hose connected to the shower hose in my shower. The temp isn't very precise but I've never lost a fish because of that before.

 

[Lupin]

The loaches are mainly for eating snails but the fish are too small yet to eat anything other than the newly hatched ones.

I'm sorry but I have my doubts on their effectiveness to eat snails. I don't think they eat snails other than snail eggs.

Is there special care I should know about? I'll try to take pics but I don't think they'll come out very well.

Always remember all loaches must be kept in an absolute minimum of three. Lesser than five however makes them less bolder and they should not be deprived of their company.

The loaches are jetting back and forth... Is that normal?

I don't have a hood, are they jumpers?

All fish are jumpers. Consider an enclosed lid preferably cover glass.

 

[Lupin]

K, I'll get more when I transfer them. Do you think I could get different loaches, rather than more black kuhlis? I think I want to get a bunch of pygmy cories but do you think the loaches will eat them? I have a ten gallon I can keep the cories in when the loaches grow up.

What species for instance are you talking about? If botiidae, then this is not recommended. They are far too boisterous for the kuhlis and cories. Consider adding other species of Pangios however.

How can bettas eat the shrimp? The shrimp are like an inch big, maybe larger. Can they pick them apart?

Shrimps are at their most vulnerable stage when they molt.

And does aquarium salt really induce breeding? And doing water changes with 10 degrees cooler water? I don't think I can help that b/c I change the water from a hose connected to the shower hose in my shower. The temp isn't very precise but I've never lost a fish because of that before.

Salt is not of importance here nor does it help induce breeding. Remember cories originated from waters where there is no salt.

 

[Rbishop]

I'd skip the 10 and go straight to a 20 long with more numbers for all.