I Need An Ultimatum

[Crossfire]

I am rescaping my 5 gallon Fluval Chi, and I want to put a fish in it. As some might know, my beloved Alpha the Betta passed away, and he was a great betta who never bothered the three cherry shrimp in there even the baby shrimp.

I visited a chain store and my LFS. I saw a great variety of beautiful bettas, females, males, and babies. They were begging with their eyes to be taken home, but I simply couldn't. I couldn't risk getting a betta that would eat my shrimp.

I also saw some Endler's Livebearers. They were pretty, and I know they're shrimp safe, but they'd be all males and IME when you only put male livebearers together, they beat each other up. They also seem too active for a 5 gallon.

I would really like a betta, since after my failure with Alpha I feel obliged to honor him and save a betta. But I don't want my shrimp to be munched on...I can't decide what to do....

Would Pygmy Cories work? I have sand, but I still feel like they'd need bigger too...
Would female bettas be less likely to go after shrimp?
Is there any way to test a betta's aggressivness in store? I found out today that some bettas were afraid of my finger when I put it up to the glass, others flared up...


Advice and opinions are greatly appreciated, I need a tiebreaker in my descision...

 

[crazyforcordoras]

I know male and female bettas are the same with shrimp.

Cfc

 

[snazy]

I bought 3 cherry shrimp 2 days ago and I just took them out from the betta tank after reading that early or later they'll become red betta poo. I have no idea if some bettas actually do accept them as tank mates but I couldn't find anyone being successful though. Well I hope my platies and corys won't eat them either but it just seemed the better option. Mine will go in my fry tank once it is safely cycled.That's of course if they don't become fish food by then.
I know your betta died recently after you tried the impossible to save him, but on another hand he may not have felt himself to eat the cherry shrimp and a new healthy betta could find them quite tasty pretty quick
I would be very curious if anyone had surviving cherry shrimp with a betta for at least over 6 months.
If I were you(and if I thought of it earlier myself), I would convert this to a breeding colony of happy cherry shrimp

 

[Crossfire]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking snazy...I just, I don't know, I owe Alpha that much...were I failed to save him, I should save another betta....but if it can't be done, I won't incite clashes....but I will have a betta....eventually, in the future....

So, since the tank will be mainly shrimp...I still kinda want a fish in there...I have some suggestions, so please say yay or nay to my ideas and explain why They must be shrimp friendly!

1) Celestial Pearl Danios
2) Endler's Livebearers
3) Mosquito Rasboras (if I can find some)
4) Pygmy cories (would be interesting)
5) Dwarf African Frog (probably not)
6) Anything else you can think of!

I very much like CPDs, beautiful, and my LFS stocks them. I also love the Mosquito Rasboras, and would be willing to buy online if they work.

I forgot to mention, the tank is overfiltered. It has a media-stuffed filter that can go up to 10 gallons. So it has twice the filtration and turnover rate!

 

[snazy]

If you want all baby shrimp to survive, then any fish is a potential threat to them. There was an article I read that the only fish that will never bother shrimp or baby shrimp is otocinclus, but then again the tank is maybe on the small size for them.
I was going to put my pygmys with the betta in a 7g, that was the initial plan, but most info I've read is that a tank that size is actually not suitable and they'll hide most of the time. I haven't tried to see it for myself, but to be honest I am not willing to either. They are quite pieceful and definately no way they'd eat an adult cherry, hard to think they'll attack a baby one too but considering that the cory favourite food is shrimp wafers, who knows
I would think Danios and Endlers will eat baby shrimp, and the frog will eat even the adults.

 

[Ruskull]

Get another Betta, you know you want to. LOL

Get a baby, they're available cheap at Petco......juss saying

A baby is less likely to eat shrimp, especially if it grows up with them

You can get a female baby Betta if you know what you're looking for, they are less aggressive toward tankmates

 

[Crossfire]

If you want all baby shrimp to survive, then any fish is a potential threat to them. There was an article I read that the only fish that will never bother shrimp or baby shrimp is otocinclus, but then again the tank is maybe on the small size for them.
I was going to put my pygmys with the betta in a 7g, that was the initial plan, but most info I've read is that a tank that size is actually not suitable and they'll hide most of the time. I haven't tried to see it for myself, but to be honest I am not willing to either. They are quite pieceful and definately no way they'd eat an adult cherry, hard to think they'll attack a baby one too but considering that the cory favourite food is shrimp wafers, who knows
I would think Danios and Endlers will eat baby shrimp, and the frog will eat even the adults.

Yeah I knew the frog and the pygmies were a far reach. TBH, the only reason I want a fish in there is to cull the herd. Y'know, survival of the fittest. I don't want to end up with +600 cherry shrimp and no where to put them Besides, the tank, when rescaped, will be heavily planted with java moss, java ferns, crypts, anubias, fissidens, and there's a pile of rocks in a corner creating a fish-inpregnable cave system that only shrimp can navigate and live in. And driftwood.
Pygmyies would have been nice though, but I'm not going to force a fish into a small tank knowing they like bigger.
You said only the endlers and danios would go after the babies...but what about the microrasboras?

Get another Betta, you know you want to. LOL

Get a baby, they're available cheap at Petco......juss saying

A baby is less likely to eat shrimp, especially if it grows up with them

You can get a female baby Betta if you know what you're looking for, they are less aggressive toward tankmates

That's what I was thinking, since the baby would think of them as "shrimp are friends, not food"
But then what if it grows up? Takes a little nibble and decides that cherries taste great? Then I'm stuck, and the shrimp are doomed!

Plus, the babies at Petco really didn't look all to healthy

 

[Ruskull]

Maybe try a young looking female instead? The babies at my local Petco were very healthy looking.....

 

[Crossfire]

Maybe try a young looking female instead? The babies at my local Petco were very healthy looking.....

I could save a baby and nurse it back to health...Alpha would've liked that...


Errgh! All this conflicting opinions about bettas!!!!!!! You people are going to break my brain....

 

[Ruskull]

We're on our way to that Petco now, to pick out a Betta for my son's friend. He'll also need some accessories of course. I would try a baby or a female in your setup.

Maybe try a young looking female instead? The babies at my local Petco were very healthy looking.....

I could save a baby and nurse it back to health...Alpha would've liked that...


Errgh! All this conflicting opinions about bettas!!!!!!! You people are going to break my brain....

Plus there's the added surprise of whether the tiny baby Betta is a male or a female.

 

[magpie]

One of our local fish stores houses all of their bettas in tanks - no bowls. So when I set up our 15 gallon tank at work, we chose out of the few that were already housed with smaller fish so we knew that the likelihood of aggression on the smaller fish was reduced. I've had no problems with that betta. I think that's probably the only way to "test" them in the store, but I don't really know. I'm not a Betta expert by any means, but did read a ton before choosing my tankmates. No shrimp, though I was tempted.

You COULD get another 5 gallon setup, try the chosen Betta, and if he/she doesn't work and starts going for the cherries, put that Betta in the other 5 gallon and have it be a dedicated Betta tank. If he does work, then you can have another tank for something like Sparkling Gouramis (which would definitely munch on your shrimp!) Oh- or you could have a single dwarf puffer.

For your options above I myself would most definitely go with the CPDs - I think they're gorgeous! The problem is that Seriously Fish's profile says:

Despite its small size we wouldn’t keep a group of these in anything with base dimensions measuring less than 18 ∗ 12" due to the sometimes combative behaviour of dominant males (see ‘compatibility for further information).

They also say that ideally there will be less aggression when in a shoal of 20 or more. I trust Seriously Fish myself.

I also just looked up White Clouds but it recommends the same dimensions but ideally only 8-10 are needed. However, at my wonderful LFS they have a gorgeous Fluval Chi with some White Clouds and RCS but here at home I can't be sure if it's a 5 gallon.... I think it is.... and I'm not sure how many White Clouds are in there. It is so beautifully scaped that it makes bringing one home tempting. But 5 gallons really does limit you.

Good luck in your decision!

 

[Crossfire]

One of our local fish stores houses all of their bettas in tanks - no bowls. So when I set up our 15 gallon tank at work, we chose out of the few that were already housed with smaller fish so we knew that the likelihood of aggression on the smaller fish was reduced. I've had no problems with that betta. I think that's probably the only way to "test" them in the store, but I don't really know. I'm not a Betta expert by any means, but did read a ton before choosing my tankmates. No shrimp, though I was tempted.

You COULD get another 5 gallon setup, try the chosen Betta, and if he/she doesn't work and starts going for the cherries, put that Betta in the other 5 gallon and have it be a dedicated Betta tank. If he does work, then you can have another tank for something like Sparkling Gouramis (which would definitely munch on your shrimp!) Oh- or you could have a single dwarf puffer.

For your options above I myself would most definitely go with the CPDs - I think they're gorgeous! The problem is that Seriously Fish's profile says:

Despite its small size we wouldn’t keep a group of these in anything with base dimensions measuring less than 18 ∗ 12" due to the sometimes combative behaviour of dominant males (see ‘compatibility for further information).

They also say that ideally there will be less aggression when in a shoal of 20 or more. I trust Seriously Fish myself.

I also just looked up White Clouds but it recommends the same dimensions but ideally only 8-10 are needed. However, at my wonderful LFS they have a gorgeous Fluval Chi with some White Clouds and RCS but here at home I can't be sure if it's a 5 gallon.... I think it is.... and I'm not sure how many White Clouds are in there. It is so beautifully scaped that it makes bringing one home tempting. But 5 gallons really does limit you.

Good luck in your decision!

My LFS unfortunaley stocks all their males in tubs, but the females are in tanks.
I read Seriously Fish's profile, and while I love CPDs, they truly need bigger tanks and more fish.
Unfortunatley, I didn't pick the 5gallon tank. I rescued it and it's inhabitants out of charity. Dang my kindness!
I like white clouds, but again, they really do deserve bigger.

I have Sparkling Gouramis in my 20gallon, and they've never eaten my shrimp. They've tried once or twice, taken a little peck here and there, but they soon realize that it's not possible and carry on.

And no money for another tank. Parental units have made it very clear that another tank is not acceptable. And aren't dwarf puffers brackish?

I am very tempted into getting either Mosquito Rasboras or Ember Tetras.

 

[magpie]

My LFS unfortunaley stocks all their males in tubs, but the females are in tanks.
I read Seriously Fish's profile, and while I love CPDs, they truly need bigger tanks and more fish.
Unfortunatley, I didn't pick the 5gallon tank. I rescued it and it's inhabitants out of charity. Dang my kindness!
I like white clouds, but again, they really do deserve bigger.

I have Sparkling Gouramis in my 20gallon, and they've never eaten my shrimp. They've tried once or twice, taken a little peck here and there, but they soon realize that it's not possible and carry on.

And no money for another tank. Parental units have made it very clear that another tank is not acceptable. And aren't dwarf puffers brackish?

I am very tempted into getting either Mosquito Rasboras or Ember Tetras.

Maybe you could do a female then, and look for one in a tank with smaller inhabitants?

Yeah, the 5 gallon really limits your possibilities. I have read about Sparkling Gouramis munching on even larger shrimp than RCS! Must be your tank is well-planted with hidey holes and maybe the larger size helps?

Dwarf puffers are a freshwater species. I'm interested in them possibly in the future so have read a bunch about them. Here's backup from my favorite fish resource. http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/carinotetraodon-travancoricus/

 

[Crossfire]

My LFS unfortunaley stocks all their males in tubs, but the females are in tanks.
I read Seriously Fish's profile, and while I love CPDs, they truly need bigger tanks and more fish.
Unfortunatley, I didn't pick the 5gallon tank. I rescued it and it's inhabitants out of charity. Dang my kindness!
I like white clouds, but again, they really do deserve bigger.

I have Sparkling Gouramis in my 20gallon, and they've never eaten my shrimp. They've tried once or twice, taken a little peck here and there, but they soon realize that it's not possible and carry on.

And no money for another tank. Parental units have made it very clear that another tank is not acceptable. And aren't dwarf puffers brackish?

I am very tempted into getting either Mosquito Rasboras or Ember Tetras.

Maybe you could do a female then, and look for one in a tank with smaller inhabitants?

Yeah, the 5 gallon really limits your possibilities. I have read about Sparkling Gouramis munching on even larger shrimp than RCS! Must be your tank is well-planted with hidey holes and maybe the larger size helps?

Dwarf puffers are a freshwater species. I'm interested in them possibly in the future so have read a bunch about them. Here's backup from my favorite fish resource. http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/carinotetraodon-travancoricus/

Truly? My LFS has dwarf puffers...on seriously fish, it says they're shrimp-safe....is it too good to be true?

Ah, there's the catch...They rarely feed on pellets, only live or frozen food. Well, i have plenty of pest snails to feed...but the no pellet thing may be troublesome....

Anyone else have any input on this?

 

[magpie]

I have no personal experience with them (only online research experience), so will be curious to hear what other say. Another good thing about the dwarves is that you usually don't need to do any beak trimming like you might with other puffers.

I found this site/forum, it might have some good info for you.


Weird, it keeps editing the copy/paste link.

it's dwarfpuffers*com

Replace the asterisk with the .

Here's what they say about shrimp

Shrimp - It's basically a gamble with shrimp. Some dwarves don't even notice them, while others will rip them to shreds within minutes! I have had a great deal of success keeping Amano Shrimp with my Dwarf Puffers so far, but I know that as soon as the puffers find out the shrimp are tasty, that will be the end of their peaceful coexistence! I would suggest buying some ghost shrimp from the local fish store and giving it a shot. Ghost shrimp are a very inexpensive feeder food, so if your puffers eat them, you're not out much money and the dwarves have gotten a great meal out of it. If they don't eat them, then the shrimp will make an excellent "cleanup crew" for your puffer tank.... scavenging the bottom and cleaning up any leftover food.

A quick look in the forum shows that at least a couple folks have kept them with RCS.... again, it could be a gamble.