20g Stocking Question

[soritan]

So, sometime next month I'm getting a 20g to replace my 10gal. I won't be keeping my 10gal filled (I'm hoping to turn it into a hermit crab home), I'll be moving everyone and (almost) everything over. My 10g currently holds:

1 Female Betta (VT pastel)
3 ADFs (African Dwarf Frogs), juvies
1 Otocinclus (otto), he's not dead yet.
and 7-4 Ghost shrimp (hard to count)

I also have 3 Albino (bronze) Cories. They are currently in a different tank, but they will definately be moved over to my 20g once it's setup.

My 20g will have sand, laterite, mid-low light plants, driftwood, heater, cycled filter, and hood. I can't think of what else people will ask me for, hopefully I've covered it. edit: Oh, and the temp usually sits at about 80F.

Now, I've been researching betta and adf tankmates since well before I got them. I'm pretty sure that there's very little else I can add to the tank that would live harmoniously with everyone else, but I thought I'd ask.

First up, I'd probably like to add a couple more cories. Schwartzi or Pepper, not sure which. After that, I'd like to add as little as possible.

Like I said, I'm pretty sure I have no other stocking options, other than enough cories to make the cories happy, or more ADFs, or more female bettas (that thought makes me nervous, frankly...I like having just one), but I figured I'd ask: What else may I add to a 20g, cycled, sandy, planted tank with my existing stock list and my 'wishing' stock list?

 

[sylvia]

There are a few options. I'd suggest a trio of platies. they won't bother your betta and the betta shouldn't bother them and they are perfectly fine with the rest. Actualy, because your betta is female, you don't need to worry quite so much about nipping so most peaceful community fish that are not gouramies and don't resemble bettas would work.

 

[soritan]

Actually, I'm more worried about the ADFs than my Betta. If in a pinch, I can rehome her with ease, but if the frogs are picked on or being robbed of food overmuch, they probably won't have anywhere else to move. That's also part of why I want to keep my fish population to a minium -- for one, I like having a small biolad. For two, most fish that can match up peacefully with a betta, eat the same things a betta eats, as well as the shrimps. My ADFs are pretty much like three blind mice -- I have to hand feed them (and defend my hand! ) as it is.

 

[sylvia]

Well most small, peaceful, non-nippy fish should also be fine with the ADFs or with shrimp. I'd ask in the inverts/amphibians forum if you want to know with certainty though.

 

[soritan]

"Small, peaceful, non-nippy fish"... Augh, I knew I should have diversified my fishy studies a bit more. I know a fair bit about what I already got, but I never bothered to learn much beyond them.

ADFs generally do better in a species tank, most people who really love them advise you not to mix them with fish OR handfeed each frog at each feeding.

I think the only fish they sell locally, that are often mentioned in conjunction with bettas and adfs, are a few tetras (name escapes me), and some platies. The local platies have not convinced me that they're my kinda fish. Sort of dull and lippy looking. Guppies and tetras are kings of my local pet stores. That's fine, but.. you know, less than inspiring for me.

 

[krash]

Something that hasn't been mentioned yet - a small school (4 or 5) Harlequin Rasboras. They stay small, are not at all agressive, shoal tightly together most of the time and look awesome in a planted tank. Plus they like the same kind of water conditions that your betta enjoys. I just added 6 to my 29g that also houses 6 female bettas and 4 mellini cories, and they add a bit of action to the mid-upper level that was missing before.

Also, I have 2 ADFs in a 10g with some Endlers, and 1 ADF in a 6.6g with 1 female betta. I see nothing wrong with hand-feeding them. With a betta in the same tank you will likely have to hand-feed some anyway, as bettas (esp. females) are little piggies and will steal worms from the frogs otherwise.

Stacey

 

[soritan]

Actually, I'm more worried about the ADFs than my Betta. If in a pinch, I can rehome her with ease, but if the frogs are picked on or being robbed of food overmuch, they probably won't have anywhere else to move. That's also part of why I want to keep my fish population to a minium -- for one, I like having a small biolad. For two, most fish that can match up peacefully with a betta, eat the same things a betta eats, as well as the shrimps. My ADFs are pretty much like three blind mice -- I have to hand feed them (and defend my hand! ) as it is.

Even if my tank were totally empty, I'd probably have to hand feed my frogs at least a couple worms before dumping the rest out. It's pretty amusing when a worm lands on their head, and they don't realize that it's food, but at the same time, kinda makes you wonder how on earth they survive in the wild, huh? Or even thrive to the point of becoming a pest in some parts.

I think I looked into harlis a couple months back and vaguely remember liking how they look. I'll give them a second go over now that my situation is going to change. Thanks you.