Additions to a 5gal

[FrostSinth]

So I just moved Kevin Fisher into a huge tank, which my dad says is 5gal.

ANYWAY I was thinking to add some fish, as it just looks kinda empty just with him. I think the rule is one fish per gallon? So I can add about what, 4 fish?

I was thinking 2 zebra snails, 1 ADF, maybe a ghost shrimp? THOUGH I want to add a Bristlenose Plecko, which I know eat snails, so should I buy a more quickly reproducing ones?

And ADFs require different food requirements, so maybe not....

I'm really at a loss as to what and how many of each I can fit in my tank. Do snails count as fish? How about a ghost shrimp? Can I find all these at my local petsmart? What kind of nutritional needs should I consider? I'd rather not change my feeding routine or anything, the only thing I want to consider is algae and my filter and my heater, and of course the health and safety of Kevin.

OH! and price is really important too haha

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

[lvandert]

I've heard zebra snails put a lot on the bioload. I would go with one or two small ramshorn snails. Ghost shrimp have basically no bioload so you'd be ok with a few of those but that about maxes our your 5 gallon. The one fish per gallon is not a good way to go. Some fish have higher bioload than others. For instance 1 goldfish needs about 55 gallons to be healthy.

[FrostSinth]

Ok, so Ramshorn snails. I heard those breed like crazy, so could I get a plecko a little while later to keep them in check? and could I get like, one shrimp and a few little fishies? I want something that swims around too, not just chilling on the floor like the snails and shrimp.

Do snails need real plants to be happy?

[xjenuhfur]

My ghost shrimp were always swimming around, but your tank is really too small for tank mates other than snails and shrimp.

[lvandert]

ramshorn do breed a bit but you can just clean their eggs off the tank and kill them. Certain fish need to be in schools so going small isn't the answer. Snails dont need live plants but they do need algae wafers. Ghost shrimp you do need more than one. preferably 3. With a 5 gallon and a betta there isn't a lot you should put in there without putting all of your fish in high risk for disease. Pleco's grow to be big and require I think a 10-20 gallon, possibly bigger. I'm surprised I'm the only one responding usually someone else comes in too.

[lvandert]

lol thanks xjenuhfur

[xjenuhfur]

Might wanna check this thread out.

[lvandert]

+1

[Micho]

If you want snails I would go with a Nerite snail, they're smaller and have smaller bioloads than Apple/Mystery snails. Plus Ramshorn snails eat plants, no thanks. Nerite snails also can't breed in freshwater so you'll always just have one. :)

They feed off of algae mostly, so they'll do a better job of cleaning algae if you have any. Also pick up some algae wafers to feed your snail, be sure not to overfeed on algae wafer, supplement with blanching some spinach or zucchini, for that extra calcium to keep his shell extra tough!

If you want shrimps, that's a hit and miss. Most likely your Betta will kill them, so try to get cover for them, like some type of moss, or some hiding places. Ghost shrimps are scavengers they'll eat anything, leftover fish food, algae, etc. They're really cheap compared to other shrimps so I suggest them. Also with shrimps is that they molt, and during that them they're extreme vulnerable, a little poke from your fish could easily kill them. Supplement their diet with blanched vegetables too, spinach, zucchini, high in calcium stuff.

Also, no to the bristlenose pleco. They grow huge and you'll need a 20g minimum to house them.

Hope that helps.

[Crowntailed]

Or if you wanted something a little more colorfull you could get some cherry shrimp.