Questions About My Bettas And Their "friends"

I have one betta and a nerite snail in a 5 gallon tank, and 1 betta, a nerite snail, and a cory cat (I had 2 but one died) in a 10 gallon tank. When I was at Petco the employee said she had 3 glass catfish in a 10 gallon tank with her betta without problems. She also said ghost shrimp were a possible good addition but they didn't have any in stock. I like the idea of having more than a betta in a tank, but I'm new at trying to add appropriate tank mates for them.

So, first question: should I stick with just the one betta and one snail in the 5 gallon? The betta seems to like watching the snail but doesn't bother him. Would a few ghost shrimp be ok to add if they have some next time I'm in there? Or will this be too much for a 5 gallon or the shrimp just likely end up as betta snacks?

And for the 10 gallon, I want to get at least another cory, maybe 2 since the Petco gal said I should have at least 3 together. Is that the max for this tank, or would I dare add a couple glass catfish? Both my tanks are cycled and I don't want to overstock. Has anyone here had glass catfish with your betta and did that work or not? I went with the cories because I thought it was a safer choice. The betta and cories were added to the tank at the same time last weekend and I saw the betta swim up and investigate but didn't chase the cories.

And one more question about the cories and snails. I've been making sure a few pellets get to the bottom of the tank for them, but I read that they also enjoy algae wafers and/or shrimp pellets? What and how much should I be giving them? I don't want to have a bunch of uneaten food lying around on the bottom. I've always just given my bettas pellets and occasionally some freeze dried bloodworm or daphnia which they always eat right away. I only have silk plants because my tanks aren't close enough to a window to get sufficient light, and have very little algae in the tanks.

 

Cories and glass catfish both need to be in groups of 6+ and need 20 gallons minimum.

Cories are carnivores so don't bother feeding them algae wafers. Sinking pellets, shrimp pellets and frozen bloodworms are all good foods for cories.

What type of cory do you have?

 

I had 1 glass catfish with my betta and they didn't have any problem as long as your betta isn't white. Also glass catfish are prone to disease super easy. Hence why I HAD.

 

From my understanding, cory catfish and glass catfish need at least a 15 gallon tank..
For the 5 gallon I would do this:
1x Betta
1-3x Nerite/horned nerite snail
1-10x Ghost shrimp

For the 10 gallon I would do:
1x Betta
1-5x Nerite/horned nerite snail
1-20x Ghost shrimp
3-6x otocinclus (?)

 

Otos also need 20 gallons and groups of 6+

 

Oh, sorry about that then.
I wasn't much help then was I

 

FallenOwl cories need at least a 20 gallon. pygmy cories need at least a 15 gallon. Also otos need at least 15 gallons-20

 

From my understanding, cory catfish and glass catfish need at least a 15 gallon tank..
For the 5 gallon I would do this:
1x Betta
1-3x Nerite/horned nerite snail
1-10x Ghost shrimp

For the 10 gallon I would do:
1x Betta
1-5x Nerite/horned nerite snail
1-20x Ghost shrimp
3-6x otocinclus (?)

Oh, sorry about that then.
I wasn't much help then was I

Sorry, I hope I didn't appear rude, the rest was great
Also amano shrimp would be another option

 

I second the amano shrimp. I have one in a 5 gallon with my betta and he is super active, the shrimp I mean, always looking for stuff to clean up around the tank and not easily scared of the predator. The shrimp actually stares him down if the betta happens to swim by. And he is biggish so doesn't look like a snack.

 

So even the 10 gallon is too small to add any more fish? Not exactly what I was hoping to hear, but I appreciate the replies. The cories are cute so I was hoping to at least have 2-3 of them.
They were out of amano shrimp as well, but Petco gal did mention they are a bit larger than ghost shrimp and may stand a better chance of not being eaten.

Would the snails appreciate algae/veggie wafers? Unfortunately I just placed an order for some today so if nobody eats them...ops:

 

you can add more fish, but fish you need to remove the cories since they are suppose to be in a bigger size tank. You could add male endlers or even a few female guppies.(male guppies have fancy tails which will make the betta seem "threatened".

 

So even the 10 gallon is too small to add any more fish? Not exactly what I was hoping to hear, but I appreciate the replies. The cories are cute so I was hoping to at least have 2-3 of them.
They were out of amano shrimp as well, but Petco gal did mention they are a bit larger than ghost shrimp and may stand a better chance of not being eaten.

Would the snails appreciate algae/veggie wafers? Unfortunately I just placed an order for some today so if nobody eats them...ops:

Yeah unfortunately.
Cories need groups of 6+ in the wild they live in groups of 100+ so 6 isn't much to ask.
What type of snail

you can add more fish, but fish you need to remove the cories since they are suppose to be in a bigger size tank. You could add male endlers or even a few female guppies.(male guppies have fancy tails which will make the betta seem "threatened".

I disagree with keeping other fish in this tank size with a betta.
Anyway male endlers are just as colourful (sometimes more colourful) as male guppies. My female guppies are just as fancy and colourful as males.

 

I'd be a little afraid to add any guppies both because of the possibility of betta seeing them as a threat and because I've seen them nip at my platys so this might be an issue with betta fins.

So now I feel bad for my one lonely cory cat. Petco said they'd replace the one that died, but if I shouldn't really have any.....

What do you all think of the site aquadvisor? According to them I would not be overstocked with a betta, 3 cories, a snail, and an amano shrimp in a 10 gallon with my filter. So if it weren't for cories just wanting to be in larger groups it wouldn't be a problem. Is the site a good/accurate one or no?

 

Aquadvisor is very innacurate. I don't recommend it as it sometimes overstocks, sometimes understocks and is very misleading. Stocking is actually about aggression, schooling, activity levels, area of tank they swim in bioload and more.

 

Sorry I haven't replied to this thread for awhile. I was trying to decide what to do about my lone cory cat. Plus I learned that female nerite snails will still lay eggs even if they're alone in the tank. THe eggs just won't hatch and will be very hard to remove from everything. AND of course it's very hard to tell if the snail is male or female. So I talked with the Petco manager and he agreed I could return the snails if I want and exchange for amano shrimp or another cory. How many amano shrimp could I have in either the 5 or 10 gallon? Would a cherry shrimp be a better or worse choice?

 

You could have 3-4 amano in a 5 gal and 5-7 in a 10. Amanos are bigger than cherries so there's a less chance they will be eaten. However amanos are more agressive. If your tank has lots of plant cover I'd do cherry. If not as much I'd do amano. For plant cover I'd get what I call a "shrimp grass." My ghost shrimp hide here all the time. Moss balls, water wisteria, and anubias are good live plants. My shrimp grass pic is below. I got it at Petsmart but I bet something similar is at Petco too
sorry its not very good!
Edit: it's upside down lol! Sorry!!!

 

I talked with the Petco manager and he agreed I could return the snails if I want and exchange for amano shrimp or another cory.

The cory still needs 20 gallons+ and a group of 6+

You could have 3-4 amano in a 5 gal and 5-7 in a 10

I agree

 

I just can't get a 20 gallon at this time. When you say cory "needs" 20 gallons and a group of 6+ is that needs for survival or needs for best scenario? What would happen if there were 3 in a 10 gallon with a betta and a few shrimp? Is that bad for the corys because of them wanting to be in groups or because it would be overstocked? I read of many people having 2 or 3 corys but what is the impact on them? Shorter lives? Unhappy lives? I'm not trying to pick an argument with anyone I'm just trying to balance the needs of the fish with what I am able to have at this time, and there's a lot of conflicting and confusing info out there.

Amanos are more aggressive? Aggressive as in they will attack my betta? I thought shrimp were supposed to be peaceful and the main concern was that the other fish might eat them. Our local Petco hasn't been able to get in any ghost shrimp for a long time, but as of yesterday they had several amano and one cherry.

My tanks aren't near a window and I didn't have much luck when I tried a live plant before. But right now I have a small petite anubia (broke off from a larger one I have in a betta tank at work) that I'm giving a try in the 10 gallon and trying to let in as much light as I can during the day. I have several silk plants and some moss balls. I will look to see if there's a silk type version of the "shrimp grass"

Love your upside down tank.

 

Being in a small group can cause them stress, resulting in possible illness due to lowered immunity. It will also shorten their lifespan. With a larger group in a larger tank (preferably 24" long, a 15 gal long tank would work but aren't very popular) you will see much more activity. They need the larger tank for their activity level and to house them in an appropriate group. People keep them in smaller tanks, but it is not ideal.

 

Well, they're just aggressive with the other shrimp. Shrimp are peaceful. They just may topple over each other for food. Someone else may hop in to tell you about shrimp behaviors.

 

I just can't get a 20 gallon at this time. When you say cory "needs" 20 gallons and a group of 6+ is that needs for survival or needs for best scenario? What would happen if there were 3 in a 10 gallon with a betta and a few shrimp? Is that bad for the corys because of them wanting to be in groups or because it would be overstocked? I read of many people having 2 or 3 corys but what is the impact on them? Shorter lives? Unhappy lives? I'm not trying to pick an argument with anyone I'm just trying to balance the needs of the fish with what I am able to have at this time, and there's a lot of conflicting and confusing info out there.

Amanos are more aggressive? Aggressive as in they will attack my betta? I thought shrimp were supposed to be peaceful and the main concern was that the other fish might eat them. Our local Petco hasn't been able to get in any ghost shrimp for a long time, but as of yesterday they had several amano and one cherry.

My tanks aren't near a window and I didn't have much luck when I tried a live plant before. But right now I have a small petite anubia (broke off from a larger one I have in a betta tank at work) that I'm giving a try in the 10 gallon and trying to let in as much light as I can during the day. I have several silk plants and some moss balls. I will look to see if there's a silk type version of the "shrimp grass"

Love your upside down tank.

In a small tank and in a small group they will be unhappy, stressed, be more likely to get ill and live a shorter life. They are very active which is why they need 20 gallons. In the wild they are found in groups of 100+ so really 6+ isn't much to ask.
Amano shrimp are completely peaceful. I've never had any problems
with mine. The only shrimp you need to watch out for is whisker shrimp which will attack and eat fish.

 

My amano shrimp is very peaceful and nice to the cherry shrimp. The only issue I have with her is that she just takes the food I give them all for herself, so I have to throw in another little something for the cherries to share. Oh and my amano jumped out twice! I don't know if it's common for them to jump or if mine happens to be suicidal, but I cover the little opening with plastic mesh now.

 

Okay, I've just heard a story before but I wasn't really sure

 

Thanks for the info. When I got to Petco yesterday they couldn't find any amanos even though somebody told me they had 2 or 3, but they did have a few ghost shrimp so I got a couple. I figure if the betta doesn't go after them, maybe I'll get an amano or two later. I also met a lady there, while checking out the bettas and betta stuff, who breeds them, and had quite an interesting conversation with her. I think she was afraid I was going to buy a betta and put him in one of those tiny "betta bowls" and once she realized that wasn't the case she was friendly and showed me pictures of some of her bettas.

All this has made me wonder if a larger tank would be possible, so I could have more of a community aquarium and even put it somewhere that I could have live plants, but right now it's in the thinking through stage. I'd want to have fish in there that could handle our hard water, since we're basically sitting on a huge chunk of limestone. I don't mind treating the water or something but I don't want to have to buy RO water at the store and lug it home for that large a tank. Will have to do some more research before jumping into that though.

 

Okay so I fed an Omega One veggie round to the shrimp and they were picking at it, and the betta saw them. Now he's picking at the veggie round and it sort of looks like he's guarding it from the shrimp. I gave him a couple of his pellets and he ate them but he still went back down to the veggie round. Do I need to worry about him overeating by chomping on the veggie round? And I want to leave it in long enough for the shrimp to get a chance at it (hopefully the betta will lose interest after a bit) but should I then remove what's left of it? The container just gives the usual give what your fish can eat in two minutes instructions.