Starting fresh, any ideas?

I have this little 2-3 gallon cube in the barracks on base. I was trying to keep a little herd of 6 neon tetras in it, but everythI g changed when the tiny twisty snails appeared. Needless to say, the tetras got donated back to my lfs and the tank has been drying out for the past two days. Right now I am working on scrubbing off some old hard water deposits off the side of the tank, but I am curious on what inverts I could possibly stock in here? I was thinking three neeite snails and a coupke cherry shrimp? Is this enoigh room for a crayfish? Also, the cube doesn't come with a hood or any sort of top...should I invent a lid out of window screening? ( I use it on my 20 gal saltwater to keep my fish from jumping out, that's why I ask).

Ive never kept anything other than snails before. Any suggestions would be great! I also thank everyone in advance for your assistance, and keeping me company while I scrub off this gunk!

 

Crayfish are pretty big so maybe just a cherry shrimp and a couple small snails. I`m not an expert but that's what I would do.

 

3 nerites and some RCS would be great in there, but I'd suggest more than a couple RCS, maybe 5 or 6 to start? Could even add a single mystery snail in there if you like them (probably only do 1 though since it's only 2-3 gallons, suggested is about 2.5 gallons per snail).

As to the lid with that stocking, I'd say maybe. My RCS and nerites have made no attempts to escape the tank, and it is lidless right now due to summer heat to keep the temp down. Junne's nerites like to go exploring.

I haven't kept crays personally, but I would be concerned with them eating the shrimp. Someone with more experience can hop in on that.

 

I've never had a problem with my snails exploring, either, but I figure I would see if others have had an experience wherr they wake up one morning to a shrivvled snail on their floor or something. :/ I suppose I can see how mine do in such a small area, and make adjustments as nessicary. I am cheap, afterall.

Never have I ever kept shrimps (shrimp, shrimpi?) in freshwater before. I recently got a cleaner shrimp for my saltwater, and I know I had to change my parameters around some there. Does anybody have some gokd reading on cherry shrimp? Or possibly some suggestions for equally attracrive freshwater shrimp? From my cost research, most common types of shrimp are within my budget. Are there any specific food guidelines I need to know, or as long as there is an algae source they will thrive?

I'll keep on googling for now (finally scrubbed the yuck off the edge of the tank!). I just like to know other people's first hand experiences before I make a decision. And my lfs doesn't deal with freshwater shrimp at all...so I am likely going to have to buy online. :/ Any suggestions to a reputable dealer would be mich appreciated.

 

Personally I would go with RCS because they look the best to me. They eat algae so as long as you have a plethora of that its okay however they also like fish food flakes, sinking algae wafers and carrots, which also bring out their color. Not sure if they like other things but those I know they like for sure. Not sure about online buying but I've heard of people on here using Trins Fish or something like that, I have no idea about snails but I read that rcs shrimp can max at about 4 shrimp per gallon although in your tank I would go with 4-6 because I like to give them plenty of room.

 

I love my four Amano shrimps antics but they will be too big for your tank.
My favorite small shrimp that I've seen at my LFS are crystal reds followed by super cherry. Both are easily seen and active. My friend kept a pair of super cherry for 3 years (long time for shrimp) and absolutely adored one of them that had funny habit of riding the current around the tank on purpose. Which reminds me shrimp have to have a water current to thrive and sponge filters for safety.

 

Judging by what you say, the RCS need a little more living space...so perhaps fewer snails than shrimps. I eould definitely start out with six, personally. If they seem to be taking care of any algae on their own, then I probably won't introduce a snail...I just know I have a bad habit of sometimes never scrubbing off my tank walls... oops, lol. If the walls themselves get too gunky, then I would invest in a nerite or two.

Shrimps don't really crawl out of tanks, do they?

The cube definitely has current...often too much for one of my old bettas I kept in there almost a year ago. Had to turn down the flow for the fella! The neon tetras liked a current, though, so I turned it back up for them. Do shrimps like a faster current, or one a little more mild? Google says they're usually found in rivers and streams, and if that's the case, then I would assume faster is better.

 

The cube definitely has current...often too much for one of my old bettas I kept in there almost a year ago. Had to turn down the flow for the fella! The neon tetras liked a current, though, so I turned it back up for them. Do shrimps like a faster current, or one a little more mild? Google says they're usually found in rivers and streams, and if that's the case, then I would assume faster is better.

My shrimp hasn't every crawled out of my tank, so I wouldn't worry about a lid if paying for more water isn't an issue, and I don't know about the current, however mine has very little current at the very top of my 20 gal, so they usually don't feel it and they are just fine. I would say they probably prefer less current, but maybe someone else that knows kore can help with that.

 

My shrimp have not tried to get out of my tank. They also seem to enjoy playing in the current. I have an aqueon quietflow 10 on their 10 gallon and will watch them actually intentionally play in the flow sometimes... swim into get pushed out, do a small circle to go back into the flow, get pushed back out, etc. Not necessarily right by the flow, but a bit away from it, and will every possibility to not go into it, so it had to be intentional.

ZucchinI is also a favorite for my RCS.