Plants and feeding cory cats?

[VulcanNinja]

Ok-

10 Gallon tank w/1 betta and 2 cory albino catfish so far. Going to get some african dwarf frogs tomorrow and some ghost shrimp later this week. Should I get a real plant to put in, and what kind? Can you get them at aquatic stores or should you get them somewhere else?

Also:

I am concerned that my albino fish won't get enough food and my betta will get too much if I just use flakes. I have the betta pellets but is there a way I can try to feed them seperately without taking them out? Or am I just paranoid?

Thanks.

 

[QHowes]

I love live plants...you can get them at your local fish store. A Java Fern is very easy to grow and reqires little light. Try something like that. Plants are not vital to your tank but I try and make my fish tank's as close to a natural habitat as i can. and it gives your fish hiding places and some algae too. Your fish should all get enough food...Betta's arent hogs when it comes to food just a bit territorial so be carefull with your fish selection. Good luck

 

[VulcanNinja]

Ok thanks. The problem with the food is the the catfish dont seem to sense that it is there, and don't come directly for it. I can't tell if they've eaten or not. The beta needs some coaxing to find it, but he's much more accurate. Is there something I can put at the botom of the tank so the catfish can have their own food?

 

[yhbae]

Live plants will also consume nitrates and other chemicals as well, which is a bonus. I tend to have lots of java fern in all of my tanks as not only they look better than plastic plants, they are functional.

As for your cories, they will find the food, don't worry about that... They don't consume that much food so if you don't see them eat, you shouldn't be concerned about it...

 

[clutterydrawer]

You can get sinking pellets to feed cory cats and other bottom feeders, you can get them from any pet store. the betta won't be interested in it so the cories will have plenty

 

[Bol]

Sinking pellets/wafers is a good idea.

Also, you could try feeding them (the bottom-dwellers) after the lights are out.

 

[clutterydrawer]

also are you planning to get any more corydoras? ideally they'd likea few more friends cos they're shoal fish

 

[yhbae]

One more note - even the flakes do sink. When they float near where the water flows out of the power filter, the water current will carry some of them down. I see cories pick those up all the time. You will notice how they become active when you add some food into the tank, even during the day when they normally stay in the shade.

 

[VulcanNinja]

How many Corys should I have? I just have two right now. It's a 10 gallon tank, and I want to get more fish so I don't want to overload. Is 1-2 more ok? Or do they like to be in bigger groups? Thanks for the suggestion

 

[clutterydrawer]

Heya

I had just a pair in my 15g for many years and they seemed fine. However I noticed when I had four, they seemed more playful and active. most people recommend a minimum of four, although six is good...it depends what else you're putting in there really. although apparently corys produce less waste than other fish so you can go slightly over the recommended stocking with them (be careful with that though!)

 

[Plecopottimus]

I have a male betta with a cory cat (used to be 2 cats) in a 10 gallon. I feed the betta first with pellets and a few of the mosquito freeze dried larvea worm things and then every few days I take a pinch of flakes and with my fingers just under the surface I release them and make them sink. Bettas hardly ever look at the bottom of the tank. beyond that for plants consider getting something like an amazon sword plant. They tend to be readily availible and my betta loves resting on the broad leaves near the surface for naps.

Craig