Snail for small tank with betta?

laurabb

laurabb

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Jan 7, 2007
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My 10 year old desperately wants a snail. I think our tank's too small, but thought I'd ask anyway.

We have a 2.5 gallon tank, filtered, heated, and with a cave and a silk plant. It has one male betta. Is our tank too small to add a snail? If not, what kind of snail is appropriate? Will the betta bother the snail?

Another tank, or a larger tank, is out of the question right now. Thanks!
 
2.5 gallons is fine for a single Betta and a snail. I would remove the cave possibly to give more room, but the bioload of a snail and Bettas is completely manageable. Weekly water changes should be more than sufficient for those two critters. I've tested load levels on smaller tanks for Bettas. Bigger is always better for swimming room, but the 2.5 gallon should be fine.
 
laurabb said:
My 10 year old desperately wants a snail. I think our tank's too small, but thought I'd ask anyway.

We have a 2.5 gallon tank, filtered, heated, and with a cave and a silk plant. It has one male betta. Is our tank too small to add a snail? If not, what kind of snail is appropriate? Will the betta bother the snail?

Another tank, or a larger tank, is out of the question right now. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Well, I would suggest you watch your betta closely if you get a snail.. some bettas will act liek they can't even see the snail and others will kill it, or harrass it and bite it's feelers and foot.

I suggest getting either a few of a small species (Small ramhorns(Reds are a good choice, but you may need to take some out every month or so to make sure your tank won't get overstocked) are a good thing for a tank that size...or something like a Spixi apple snail.

A regular apple snail wouldn't do good in a 2.5..

Also, what is you PH?

Snails like a higher PH and harder water (7.0+) and bettas like a lower PH, softer water..
 
Keep in mind, one pond snail will reproduce like wildfire.

I would think a Mystery Snail should be fine. You can always get it a African Dwarf Frog.
 
African Dwarf Frogs and Bettas are not a good idea. bettagurl is right about Bettas temperaments. They can become aggressive with just about anything so keep an eye out if you do put a new tank mate in with him.
 
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