Best cleanup crew for 5.5 gal Betta tank?

Greetings!
I'm looking for a cleanup crew to help with algae that won't overstock my 5.5 gallon. The tank has a betta, and I was thinking about a nerite snail and some amano shrimp. Does this sound okay? I was also wondering if 1 zebra/tiger nerite or 2 horned nerites would be better, unless that would be too much. Thanks!
Oh no I wrote "cleanup cree" and can't edit it. LOL.

 

Greetings!
I'm looking for a cleanup crew to help with algae that won't overstock my 5.5 gallon. The tank has a betta, and I was thinking about a nerite snail and some amano shrimp. Does this sound okay? I was also wondering if 1 zebra/tiger nerite or 2 horned nerites would be better, unless that would be too much. Thanks!
Oh no I wrote "cleanup cree" and can't edit it. LOL.

A 10 gallon aquarium is the minimum sized aquarium to have tank mates with a betta. If you are having algae problems, only have your bettas light on for 8 hours a day and keep the tank away from direct sunlight. A timer for your light will make things allot easier if you are not home when it needs turned off.

 

You could possibly have a snail, like a nerite. Definitely no fish with the betta under 10g though.

 

You can definitely do snails or shrimp. But shrimp are a 50/50 chance on whether or not your bettas will eat them. Snails should be fine but there’s always some that chance as well

 

IMO, I think a snail is the safest route to go. Shrimp may or may not work like Aggressive said, especially in a 5.5g.

 

I algae problem can be solved so much simpler though, so why put the extra bio load on?

 

Greetings!
I'm looking for a cleanup crew to help with algae that won't overstock my 5.5 gallon. The tank has a betta, and I was thinking about a nerite snail and some amano shrimp. Does this sound okay? I was also wondering if 1 zebra/tiger nerite or 2 horned nerites would be better, unless that would be too much. Thanks!
Oh no I wrote "cleanup cree" and can't edit it. LOL.

I love my rabbit snail!!! If you do but one look for the biggest one, bettas can eat snails and sometimes use their tails to break the shells. Not all bettas will, but some do. I have gone through two bettas with my snail (same snail). The bettas will nip at least once or twice, but usually leave Turbo (snail) alone when they realize he doesn’t fit in their mouths, and he isn’t a threat. I have attached a few photos of the bumblebee betta that passed away, and the new betta living with Turbo since Monday. I recently upgraded from a 3.5 gallon to 5 gal. Betta died after transferring, so i bought a new betta. Snail lived through transfer. Rabbit snails are little known species but the absolute most entertaining!!!!!!!!

 

I think one nerite in a 5.5 with a betta is okay. That’s what I have with my male betta in the same size tank. They have a tiny bio load and they’re super well protected with their shell. The mystery snail however, had antennas looked like a snack and they did not get along because of it....

 

One Nerite snail in a 5g with a Betta is perfectly fine.

 

Alright thanks guys!

I algae problem can be solved so much simpler though, so why put the extra bio load on?

Ok... Do you have any alternatives? I can get rid of most of it with a deep clean, I'm mostly just trying to prevent it from coming back. Thanks though

 

How often are you changing the water and how much? I also have a 5 gallon with just a betta, light-medium planted and I've never had issues with algae.

 

I can get rid of most of it with a deep clean, I'm mostly just trying to prevent it from coming back.

Get a bigger tank. Seriously, the smaller the tank the harder it gets to keep it balanced. And having some algae in your tank is neither bad nor undesirable. See them as an indicator of the state of your tank.
Adding extra bioload is not going to help and if there is only a miniscule amount of aufwuchs and algae a nerite snail may actually starve in a tank that size.

Otherwise try to find the reason the algae are there in the first place and work on that instead of adding something that won't do exactly what you want anyway.

 

I agree with above, but if you do get a nerite or other snail, I would suggest also getting snail food.

 

Get a bigger tank. Seriously, the smaller the tank the harder it gets to keep it balanced. And having some algae in your tank is neither bad nor undesirable. See them as an indicator of the state of your tank.
Adding extra bioload is not going to help and if there is only a miniscule amount of aufwuchs and algae a nerite snail may actually starve in a tank that size.

Otherwise try to find the reason the algae are there in the first place and work on that instead of adding something that won't do exactly what you want anyway.

I initially wanted to get a 10 gallon, but unfortunately getting a bigger tank just isn't possible for me right now. Also, I would feed my snail if I had it lol

How often are you changing the water and how much? I also have a 5 gallon with just a betta, light-medium planted and I've never had issues with algae.

I do a small water change weekly

 

Also, I would feed my snail if I had it lol

And that's the thing. With that the amount of introduced nutrients (and with that the bioload) will rise and make your algae "problem" only get worse.

 

Alright thanks guys!

Ok... Do you have any alternatives? I can get rid of most of it with a deep clean, I'm mostly just trying to prevent it from coming back. Thanks though

Try to get rid of as much of it as possible, then only keep the lights on for 8 hours a day and keep the tank out if direct sunlight. Problem solved! (I have 0 algae in all of my tanks)

Get a bigger tank. Seriously, the smaller the tank the harder it gets to keep it balanced. And having some algae in your tank is neither bad nor undesirable. See them as an indicator of the state of your tank.
Adding extra bioload is not going to help and if there is only a miniscule amount of aufwuchs and algae a nerite snail may actually starve in a tank that size.

Otherwise try to find the reason the algae are there in the first place and work on that instead of adding something that won't do exactly what you want anyway.

Algae can be in any sized tank. Keeping the lights on to long and having a heavy boi load will cause algae. Algae LOVES light. I agree with not adding any tank mates. It will make the problem worse rather then better. Algae does not harm the fish. There are 3 common reasons why algae is dis liked or "harmfull".

#1. It looks ugly.

#2. You can't see the fish well (or at all), if you can't see the fish, you can't see if the fish is sick. The algae its self is not harmful, but the algae being there can make it hard to spot an illness until until it to late.

#3. Some kinds algae can take over your tank. If you have a small tank, hair algae for example can literally fill up the entire tank in a matter of weeks.

 

Try to get rid of as much of it as possible, then only keep the lights on for 8 hours a day and keep the tank out if direct sunlight. Problem solved! (I have 0 algae in all of my tanks)

Algae can be in any sized tank. Keeping the lights on to long and having a heavy boi load will cause algae. Algae LOVES light. I agree with not adding any tank mates. It will make the problem worse rather then better. Algae does not harm the fish. There are 3 common reasons why algae is dis liked or "harmfull".

#1. It looks ugly.

#2. You can't see the fish well (or at all), if you can't see the fish, you can't see if the fish is sick. The algae its self is not harmful, but the algae being there can make it hard to spot an illness until until it to late.

#3. Some kinds algae can take over your tank. If you have a small tank, hair algae for example can literally fill up the entire tank in a matter of weeks.

I do have a timer on my tank, the lights are on from 8am-12pm and come on again from 4pm-8pm so I don't really know what's causing my problem thanks though!!

 

I do have a timer on my tank, the lights are on from 8am-12pm and come on again from 4pm-8pm so I don't really know what's causing my problem thanks though!!

What kind of algae is it?

 

I don't know if it has a name, but it's just that type of algae that covers the floor of the tank and everything else. I don't have too much of a problem with it, but it gets kicked up when I siphon and makes the water cloudy as well as it seems to be covering the leaves of the plants and causing them to die

 

I don't know if it has a name, but it's just that type of algae that covers the floor of the tank and everything else. I don't have too much of a problem with it, but it gets kicked up when I siphon and makes the water cloudy as well as it seems to be covering the leaves of the plants and causing them to die

Diatom (the more brownish fuzzy) or hair (green and stringy) algae? If the don't have any inverts (snails, shrimp crab etc..) in the tank try algae killer.

I don't know if it has a name, but it's just that type of algae that covers the floor of the tank and everything else. I don't have too much of a problem with it, but it gets kicked up when I siphon and makes the water cloudy as well as it seems to be covering the leaves of the plants and causing them to die

Do you have a picture?