BettaGammaDelta

A friend of mine has recently gotten into the hobby, and once her (20gal) tank's cycled, I'm considering giving her my three albino/bronze cories as a gift of sorts, since I've noticed her eyeing them, they'd be much happier in a larger tank where they can have more playmates - she's sworn to get another three to even the numbers - and it'll free up room in my ten gal.

I was considering getting some ghost shrimp as a new cleaner crew, since the LFS is selling some at the moment - they put them in the betta cells to scrape off the blackish algae that infests the gravel in there, and surprisingly don't seem to give the bettas much hassle - but I realise I don't know how much bioload they have, or how much inch-to-gallon room they take up, or indeed what exactly they eat, and if they'll be compatable with my blue neon DG, Saix.

Also, what else is compatable with a male dwarf gourami? My mother has her heart set on guppies, but I fear they'd be targeted. Cherry barbs, maybe? Or some neon tetras? I like the idea of something more colorful than the cories to add a bit of spice..

Tony G.

Shrimps are not that big on bioload. The rule is 6-8 shrimp per gallon. As far as the tank mates for the DG you could get some GLOfish, or zebra danios, neons. keep in mind you wont be able to house many since you have a 10g...

BettaGammaDelta

I'm afraid I've never been too keen on danios... I know they're wonderful fish, but they're just not my cup of tea. How about any livebearers? Or even some Killifish? Are the latter too agressive?

sirdarksol

The cherry barbs would need a school to feel comfortable, and providing that school would overstock the tank.
Don't know about killifish. Small livebearers might do okay, but the gourami may also decide that they look like punching bags.
Also, be aware that, while they are molting, the shrimp will look like food to the gourami. If they are provided with plenty of hiding places, they will just disappear while they molt, and come back out once they have a solid shell again.

BettaGammaDelta

I already have about half a dozen of those little terracotta pots that aquatic plants come in on the bottom, because the cories like to swim throught the slightly larger ones. Would they do as cover?

sirdarksol

They should do very well.