need a bottom feeder

[r0b3y]

hey there.. i have a 50 liter/14 gallon tank stocked with 6 Harlequin Rasbora's and 3 platies.. i was thinkin of adding 1 or 2 bottom feeders.. would anyone have some ideas on a bottom feeder that will ideal for my tank??
thanks

 

[Dwarfs]

Cories or small loaches (like kuhli loaches) would be good

 

[r0b3y]

what type of corys in particular?? i was also thinking about a couple of ottos?

 

[Dorkhedeos]

a whole bunch of ghostshrimp, they keep the tank spotless

 

[Griz]

I would go with corys, one of the smaller varieties though. Dwarf or Pygmy corydoras Microcorydoras hastatus would be perfect for you if you can find them, they only get about 1 inch so you could keep a small group. My otos don't spent much time on the bottom at all, I would consider them more of a middle depth fish. Great fish but not bottom feeders and they prefer soft acid water. Like corys, they also like to be kept in groups.

 

[sylvia]

Pygmy cories aren't bottom-dwelling - they preffer the middle layers. Otos are good but rather sensitive and they need live algae to thrive. I think shrimp is an excellent suggestion. 4 bronze cories would also be ok and a few khuli loaches might also work.

 

[Morrgan]

4 bronze cories would also be ok

My biggest bronze cories are almost 3 in long and swim around a lot, so I don't think they're a good choice for this small a tank. If you want a cory species, it would be better to choose one that stays below 2 inches and is less active.

A couple of kuhli loaches is my suggestion.

 

[sylvia]

Actualy I think 15 gallons is resonable for cories but they are active. Bronze are by far the hardiest and most cories grow to 3 inches but are counted as half their size because they don't produce a lot of waste. Still, going for the loaches is a good idea.

 

[purple_drazi]

I'm going to put a word in for Panda cory cats.

Cute as buttons with their whiskers and the big black patches over their eyes, bottom dwellers, sociable (so get in groups of 3 or more), and they're small, they only grow to be 2-2.5" so they go well in a smaller tank (keep up the water changes!)
I've only got a 12g and they're a favourite in my tank!

here's a link:
http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Di....cfm?pCatId=934

let's hear it for Panda Cats!
hip-hip....

 

[cluster]

julii corys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Morrgan]

Actualy I think 15 gallons is resonable for cories but they are active. Bronze are by far the hardiest and most cories grow to 3 inches but are counted as half their size because they don't produce a lot of waste.

Well, I disagree. It's not about how much waste they produce or how hardy they are, it's about how much space they should have for their active swimming. For an active 3-inch cory I think it should be 20-25 gal at least. There are plenty of cory species that grow only to about 2 in, so why not go for them instead when a small tank in concerned.

 

[sylvia]

I wasn't saying it's because of waste - that was just a mention of what some people think. I'm just saying that a 15 gallon tank is OK for 4 bronze cories. Plus they are the hardiest - most of the smaller cories wont do as well in a small tank because water parameters aren't as stable. Many people keep them in 10 gallon tanks and they thrive - I don't agree with that but 15 gallons should suit them fine. But again, khulies would be a good choice.

 

[balloon molly]

yes i agree you could put 4-5 cories