20 Gallon Tank Stocking for 20?

[flopperfrog]

ive had a 20 gallon high up and running for about 4 months and 2 weeks, and i was wondering if i could stock it with these
(i have cherry shrimp)
1 female betta
10 pygmy corydoras
that would be all, is that overstocked? would there be a problem with the cherry shrimp and betta, or the betta and pygmies?

 

[Ghelfaire]

That would work. I would add the betta last.

 

[Cooperman411]

Some bettas ignore the shrimp, some don't. Make sure there's plenty of hiding places, moss etc. As they breed, the tiny ones may or may not stand a chance - but definitely improved if there's plenty of cover. My betta will attack any shrimp that are red, orange, or yellow, but completely ignores blue/clear/brown.

 

[flopperfrog]

Some bettas ignore the shrimp, some don't. Make sure there's plenty of hiding places, moss etc. As they breed, the tiny ones may or may not stand a chance - but definitely improved if there's plenty of cover. My betta will attack any shrimp that are red, orange, or yellow, but completely ignores blue/clear/brown.

Is there any way to tell if a betta is going to be chill or not?

 

[Ghelfaire]

Is there any way to tell if a betta is going to be chill or not?

Unfortunately no. My female was great with the red cherry shrimp in her tank for months before she killed 2 out of nowhere.
She even managed to kill a few ghost shrimp (I thought they would be safer)

 

[flopperfrog]

Unfortunately no. My female was great with the red cherry shrimp in her tank for months before she killed 2 out of nowhere.
She even managed to kill a few ghost shrimp (I thought they would be safer)

hm, do you think perhaps bc its a bigger tank they wont run into each other as much and therefore the cherry shrimp wont really get killed? maybe i can get a betta that somebody didnt want so they know their personality?

 

[Ghelfaire]

No the ghost shrimp she killed were in a 55g that I moved her into.
Adopting a betta can be good but they usually come with a lot of health problems because they were kept in tiny vases or tanks with poor water. Just be prepared to deal with fin rot/melt, them being overweight and other issues that might lead to a shorter lifespan.

 

[Cooperman411]

On Reddit Aquaswap there are often healthy happy big-tank betta fish that people are giving away because of moves or - and this is how I got mine - he kept eating the guy's prize yellow shrimp! That said, a betta can be completely chill for months on end and then one day, the great shrimp massacre of 2020 happens. I say start with a few of the sub-$1 ghost shrimp and if they survive, add in some neos - like 2 or 3. And if they make it a while, you might be safe to add more. But I say get shrimp that blend in with the substrate and decor. I have black gravel so the brown and blue shrimp are harder to see.

 

[flopperfrog]

On Reddit Aquaswap there are often healthy happy big-tank betta fish that people are giving away because of moves or - and this is how I got mine - he kept eating the guy's prize yellow shrimp! That said, a betta can be completely chill for months on end and then one day, the great shrimp massacre of 2020 happens. I say start with a few of the sub-$1 ghost shrimp and if they survive, add in some neos - like 2 or 3. And if they make it a while, you might be safe to add more. But I say get shrimp that blend in with the substrate and decor. I have black gravel so the brown and blue shrimp are harder to see.

i already have cherry shrimp 00-00 is that bad?