[Critter Master]

Hi everyone! Ive been following this forum for quite some time and finally decided to join. I currently have a 10 gallon cycled planted tank that houses my blue/red VT Poseidon, 7 neon tetras and three ghost shrimp of which two are carrying eggs! Heated, filtered, the whole bit. I'm interested in getting some type of algae eater(s) as I have some nice patches of green algae growing at the moment. I know that it's not enough to sustain the algae eaters out right but I figured I might as well put the algae to use. My question is about the bio-load. Can my tank support more fish and if so I would love some recommendations. Thanks!

 

[Mo]

A f=ten gallon standard would be an ideal habitat for a Betta and a small school of beautiful fish. Ideally you would want to go for the small species of fish in a tank around that size, here are a few possibilities. but before purchasing them, research there care

6-8 boraras maculatus and a Betta

6-8 boraras brigittae and a Betta

6-8 boraras merah and a Betta

6-8 boraras Naevus and a Betta,

6-7 Corydoras pygmaeus and a Betta

6-7 Corydoras Hastatus and a Betta

6-7 Corydoras Habrosus and a Betta

3 otos and a Betta

You could also add some invertibrates such as Mexican dwarf orange crayfish, amano shrimp, cherry shrimp, ghost shrimp and crystal red shrimp into the mix

 

[Critter Master]

Thanks for the suggestions Mo! Right now my 10 gallon houses my betta, 7 neon tetras and 3 ghost shrimp. Im wondering if adding some type of algae eater would be too much...I would love to have some corys or otos but I know they need to be 6 or so strong to do well and I don't know if my 10 gallon can sustain that many

 

[Micho]

To be honest you're at your limit already right now!

Adding Otos would be a poor choice, they're very sensitive plus they do better in larger tanks. If you want something to eat your algae I suggest a snail, although snails eat only a certain types of algae and not all, same with Otos.

Cories don't eat algae they like more meaty food better.

 

[Mo]

Yes. Sorry I had not realized they you already had fish. I wouldn't recommend any type of algae eater exept a nerite

 

[Critter Master]

Thanks for the input! I was pretty sure that I was about at my limit on this tank. I have a larger one in the works to help sate my obsession

 

[PandaBetta]

I would swap the ghost shrimp for cherry shrimp. Because cherrys are also algea eaters

 

[Micho]

I would swap the ghost shrimp for cherry shrimp. Because cherrys are also algea eaters

RCS' are nice additions to tanks, but they're quite expensive where I come from. Ghost shrimps are much cheaper. Plus I would try ghost shrimps first or whichever one is cheaper, because if your Betta decides to kill them, it won't burn a hole in your pocket.

 

[Zero186]

Yes. Sorry I had not realized they you already had fish. I wouldn't recommend any type of algae eater exept a nerite

+1 on the nerite!

 

[Bombalurina]

How about amano shrimp? They are excellent algae eaters, and not as likely to be eaten as cherries due to their dull colouring.

 

[jasonh]

RCS' are nice additions to tanks, but they're quite expensive where I come from. Ghost shrimps are much cheaper. Plus I would try ghost shrimps first or whichever one is cheaper, because if your Betta decides to kill them, it won't burn a hole in your pocket.

i cant get cherry shrimp where i'm at, but places stock ghost shrimp as feeders. they're interesting to watch.

my betta has been getting bored in his 10gal and he has killed some, though. i dont know how he kills them cause his mouth is so small. i saw him take a nip at one and it was just dead after that. maybe heart attack.

ghost shrimp do eat algae, but they prefer the flakes and bloodworms you give your fish. they dont eat enough algae to make a dent in it.

 

[Micho]

i cant get cherry shrimp where i'm at, but places stock ghost shrimp as feeders. they're interesting to watch.

my betta has been getting bored in his 10gal and he has killed some, though. i dont know how he kills them cause his mouth is so small. i saw him take a nip at one and it was just dead after that. maybe heart attack.

ghost shrimp do eat algae, but they prefer the flakes and bloodworms you give your fish. they dont eat enough algae to make a dent in it.

Yeah, Ghost Shrimps are usually used to feed other aquatic animals, but they're cute little critters. I have a huge one in my 10g right now, he's the only one left though.

Yeah ghost shrimps do eat algae but not a lot that they'll "clean" the tank of algae like otos or a snail would. Plus, they're not good at eating the algae that builds up on tank walls.