Sounds good. I’m not really worried about it eating the shrimp, since I only use them to cycle the tank
Okay, I will think about it
Thank you so much for all the information. If I have some more plants, should/could I add some galaxy rasboras to the tank to keep the betta active? I heard that they can get lonely/inactive if there aren’t any other fish in the tank. ThanksFloating plants for betta to rest on at the surface as suggested & some kind of hardscaped hide. I like guppy grass as a hardy floater with trailing roots for betta & either a natural rock cave or commercial hide, as a hide. Betta prefer dim lights & benefit from the addition of leaf litter - like catappa/almond leaves - for their tannins that will turn the water lightly tea coloured. Floaters - with room for betta surface access - will also help filter light.
Slow water, so a baffled filter if your filter flow is strong, is also necessary. Heavy finned betta have trouble swimming in strong current. If you want or already have them, betta may also enjoy hunting & eating pest snails. They generally leave nerite snails, that don't reproduce in freshwater, alone. Yes, many betta enjoy hunting shrimp as well. However, with plenty of rock pile caves too small for betta to get into, I've found that shrimp can survive & thrive with betta too.
Heated tank - around 80F & 6-8 small betta pellets daily for an adult betta. Fast one day a week & to round it out, feed frozen daphnia or brine shrimp once or twice a week instead of pellets if you can.
Your planted tank looks to be a great environment for a lone betta. In a tank like this, you'll likely be amazed at what curious explorers & character-full companions betta can be.
Good luck with the new guy if you get him. Hope it helps as you plan.
Betta tend to be loners. As interesting & puppy-like they can be with us, they're aggressive with other fish. I'm afraid he'd have the galaxies for lunch. He'd hunt most any other fish in the tank.
Thanks for all this information. Would I need a lid if I have some floaters? ThanksBetta tend to be loners. As interesting & puppy-like they can be with us, they're aggressive with other fish. I'm afraid he'd have the galaxies for lunch. He'd hunt most any other fish in the tank.
You're right about the boredom tho, but you've already solved the 1st steps to prevent it: a ten gallon planted tank! He'll explore every inch of it, making obstacle courses of the plants & squeezing himself between stems & roots. He will hunt your shrimp & any pest snails as well - although with a sand substrate, plants & a hide for shrimps, enough will likely survive to reproduce & keep the game going. The sand substrate will keep him active too. He'll dig for detritus worms & just to change the landscape. They'll often dig little caves under driftwood & resting places in the sand too. Then there's the hours that must be spent laying on the surface floaters, lazily sipping air.
I think you've got the boredom thing down already: 10 g, planted, sand substrate. Just add floaters. The shrimp & snails are a bonus for hunting. If you'd like to go further, the interesting frozen food to be chased from surface, to thru the tank & ultimately the bottom seems entertaining to them too. I really think you've got the boredom thing pretty much licked already if you choose a betta.
Betta will jump, sometimes out of the smallest crevices. A lid is a good idea.
Two shrimp wouldn't do much, but I have around 20 adult cherry shrimp in there
oh. looks like I wasn't focusing well while writing that. My bad
Can't believe I didn't see this & reply. My apologies.
No worries, thank you very much.
