bottom feeders for solitary betta boys?

[xanthianacid]

Hi, what's the recommended minimum size tank and a small bottom feeder to accompany a betta boy? What kind of bottom feeders would you recommend? I was thinking corys but they require being in a group don't they? Its just that the betta boys I have are already housed, but they are naughty buggers and sometimes won't eat all their food, or don't eat for a couple of days (I think it's because i feed nice treats and they have come to expect it!).
Tank is divided and they have a space about 1 1/4 gallons per side.
Any other ideas? There is also a little betta cave, a plant in each side and a filter/outlet in either side. Plants act as a natural divider, but I do separate.

thanks for advice in advance,
cheers xanthia

 

[eudielynn]

Ghost shrimp and ADF's will both eat the food off the bottom of the tank, but as with anything, it depends on the betta if they will live with them or try to eat them. I don't really know of a single fish you could have as a bottom feeder that doesn't need to be in groups and 1 1/4 gal is too small for a group.

 

[OohFeeshy]

If you want fishy bottomfeeders, a 10 is probably minimum. Also you might be able to get away with a small group of pygmy cories in a 5.

 

[cation]

a group of pygmy cories would be fine with a betta in 5g or up, pygmys are so tiny, great little fish.


But given the setup you have now, I'd have to recommend more frequent H2O changes, or at least a little turkey baster-ing....

 

[ladyhawke]

a group of pygmy cories would be fine with a betta in 5g or up, pygmys are so tiny, great little fish.


But given the setup you have now, I'd have to recommend more frequent H2O changes, or at least a little turkey baster-ing....

Pygmy cories are VERY cute! If you have enough space for a bunch of them and can find them at your LFS I think you'll like them!

 

[xanthianacid]

cheers all who replied, I think pygmys sound cute, and would be good, if I can find them.

Unfortunately, I have never seen a turkey baster here in Australia, my guess is its an american thing that just doesn't get down here.

they get two changes a week, but that still doesn't seem enough. that's 75%. I have decided to fast them a couple of days a week see if they'll get over their fussiness. They will eat, just fussy I believe.

Eudielynn: as for adf's they are illegal in Australia, at least they aren't on the lists for what us fish keepers are allowed, but yes, I'd love some. Fully aquatic frogs, frogs in general, are incredibly hard to come by here (they are against the law to sell, but you are allowed to keep some - up to 5 I think, and if they breed the babies have to be returned to the wild.) Guess they are trying to protect our "uniqueness", and although I understand this it makes me sad for the responsible people who do miss out...

and ghost shrimps? I have never seen them around the LPS/LFS ever. I would go for them though If they existed here, I'll definately ask around the lfs/lps.

but thanks for the suggestions, I will look into the pygmys. sometimes i wish for a world where male bettas were friends not foes...