Clean-up Crew?

[K.J.]

I think it was reccomended somewhere to have a clean up crew in your fry tank. What kind? Shrimp, snails? If so, what kind of shrimp/snails, just average pond snails or what?

 

[knt5005]

I throw in a mystery snail or two. They seem to keep it pretty clean in my fry tank.

 

[Dibari]

Depends on the size of your tank.
A snail needs about 2.5 gallons to themselves, being massive poop machines. I actually wouldn't call them a clean up crew at any point. They leave trails of crap wherever they grow, and the amount if insane.
Shrimps make good little clean uppers, don't add much of anything to your bioload, etc etc. I highly reccomend them.
Oh, but if it's a fry tank, your shrimp may make meals of your little fry (they get to be about 2 inches long sometimes)

 

[K.J.]

It'll be a 10 gallon breeding tank, and anywhere between 30 - 50 gallons on growout.

Worried about the shrimp though... maybe ghost shrimp?

 

[SoCalMom]

Yea, I was going to suggest ghost shrimp

 

[Dibari]

It'll be a 10 gallon breeding tank, and anywhere between 30 - 50 gallons on growout.

Worried about the shrimp though... maybe ghost shrimp?

Ghost shrimp are the only one's that would even be conceivable tank mates, and they too, will scavenge off small fish, so be careful. Atleast, I'm pretty sure they will.. Anyone have any input?

 

[Glod]

If you get shrimp go for something like Amanos / Cherry / Ghost shrimp. These are more likely to stick to leftover food than go for the fry themselves. I still wouldn't reccomend having them in with very young fry. Once they're free swimming they should be relatively safe tho.

The shrimps mentioned are generally considered to be algae eaters / scavengers. You'll find they will take the easy route, leftover fish food is easy. Of course if a fry is particularly slow they won't turn their nose up at a nutritious snack. They lack the claws to hunt the fry down tho.

 

[Danno]

Do not put shrimp in fry tanks! No matter what the size! To be safe only put shrimp with adults.

 

[K.J.]

Soo.... what should I use, ordinary pond snails?

 

[Danno]

Mystery Snails or these guys could be all in the range of possibilities.

 

[joycould]

I agree with Danno go with the Nerita snail. If you can get them. You don't have to worry so much about a population explosion. Pond snail will populate the tank in no time my adult bettas love the little pond snail as a midday snack.

 

[Dibari]

I dunno if Nerites are A sexual, or not, but Apple Snails come in a gorgeous variety of colors and have to breed to have more snails.
http/www.rainbowsnails.com/

 

[K.J.]

I love the Apple snails and what Danno reccomended, though I'll have to see if I can even get them. I was worried about the apple snail just pooping more?

 

[zippa]

im not sure that anything is needed to keep the tank clean. im not speaking from experience as im new to bettas. only remembering a post i read here about a fella from australia who was keeping a spawn log. and i dont think he metioned once the need for a cleaning crew.

 

[h@g]

sometime I have panda with fry bettas if tank is enough for all...
I think panda can clean bottom as well!