I need Bottomfeeder Recomendations

[jiffy]

I have a 10g tank that has 4 longfin zebra dainos and 5 cardinal tetras. I am planning on totalling 6 of each fish in a couple weeks. My tank will be rather full at that point, so I am looking for something small.

I want something that will eat the flakes that make it past the other fish, in addition to the fishes regular diet. I dont expect it to eat the waste and rotting food, but the stuff that is still new because I just fed my fish. Get it?

I do weekly water changes and gravel vacuming. I have no visible alge and have heard that with frequent water changes I probably will not run into that problem. So I am looking for something that will help me keep the bottom clean and thus the entire tank a little cleaner for the inhabitants.

Just because I have a fish that could help me does not mean I will slack in my responsibility. Aside from functionality, I also want the diversity of a bottom feeder. My tank has a gravel bottom, so I know some fish barbels will get hurt on that.

So please share your recomendations...

 

[The-Wolf]

Hi jiffy
I would recomend that you not have any type of danio in a 10 gal they need lots of room to zipp about. please check out my website and see the zebra page.

As for small bottom feeders ottos stay small and like algea as well, they will require some lge smooth stones to rest on. HTH

 

[jiffy]

As far as the dainos in the 10g, well I have heard otherwise. They seem happy but I will keep an eye on them and keep in mind what you said if they ever start looking stressed or cramped.

I had originally thought ottos, but have been convinced otherwise. I was told a cory (like a panda or pygmy) might fit the bill or mabey a small loach.

I have also been told shrimp are the way to go. I am actually leaning towards shrimp now because of the smal bioload, scavenging abilities, and the diversity of having different fish and shrimp.

 

[flintstone]

I would recommend a ghost shrimp or two. They are compatible with most fish and do a good job scavenging the uneaten food.

 

[Nina7777]

Gotta go with shrimp here. Your tank will already be crowded so i don't recommend getting more fish for it. Shrimp like you said don't produce harldy any waste of their own at all, and will help clean up the bits of food your fish miss.

 

[FishSticks]

I have 6 Ghost Shrimp in my 10 gallon Aquarium and they do a great job at picking up after my messy tetras!

 

[jiffy]

It does look like shrimp will be the next additon. Everyone on here has convinced me of the benefits, plus they suit what I am looking for. Now the question that remains is ghost or amano?

 

[dixaisy930]

I have both, and they are both good choices. If you can, I would get a few of both.

 

[Nina7777]

I agree! Both is a good choice

 

[kindbud]

ghost shrimp will reproduce like roaches in your tank. some fish may eat the young and keep the population in check (depending on fish in your tank). amanos will carry eggs but they will not mature (massive fish-geek babysitting involving saline to even attempt this).

i agree with the shrimp as best bottomfeeders. they're always the first to anything that hits the ground in my tanks. way before corys and ottos. i've seen amanos under an inch long walk off with whole hikari algae wafers.

 

[Jae1525]

Go with 5 Amano shrimp.

They wont breed and they have a much larger hunger for algae than ghosts!
Ghosts are just feeders anyhow.

Edit: Link

Amano Shrimp

 

[fishielover]

Would either of the breed of shrimp you are talking about be ok in a tank with 5-6 tiger barbs. They nip or eat anything insight. would the shrimp be eaten by my aggressive babies?
Shrimp kinda sounds like a good choice for me if the barbs will leave them alone.

 

[daniodude]

I would recomend that you not have any type of danio in a 10 gal they need lots of room to zipp about.

I have six Danios in a ten gallon tank, three zebras and three leopards, mine seem fine, but do I need a bigger tank for them?

Danio2004-When I was finfan, you told me to get like five or six Danios to school together, but you never said anything about a ten gallon bieng too small.


Daniodude( formally known as Finfan)

 

[David]

I might want to get some shrimp later... are they okay with clown loaches or will they eat them? Will bettas harm them in any way?