bottom feeders and food suggestions

Jenny
Bubble Nester

Posts: 575

bottom feeders and food suggestions Mar 10, 2004 11:35:45 GMT -5

Post by Jenny on Mar 10, 2004 11:35:45 GMT -5

Does anyone have suggestions for good bottom feeding fish? They would be for my ten gallon with 4 tetras and two female bettas (but want to get a couple more). The only suggestion I have had so far is cories, but they are a schooling fish, and I would rather only get one or two fish so I will have more room for bettas.

I need the bottom feeders because my tetras are really bad at getting all their food. No matter how little I put in, most of it drops to the bottom of the tank and sits there. Whenever I stir up the bottom tons of decaying flakes come out of the rocks, and it's pretty hard to get out with a siphon hose. I'm hoping that a bottom feeder would clean up alot of that.

Is it possible that the tetras just don't like the type of food they are getting? I am currently feeding them nutrafin goldfish flakes because they didn't like the wardley tropical flakes that I was feeding them before. Does anyone have suggestions for a type of food they might like more?

My fish (in order of getting them)
Mr. P.J. Humperdinkle (RIP)
Spazzy (RIP)
Aquilo (RIP)
The Goldfish, Zlatko (RIP) and Zlatta
"Pretty Fishy Girl" (RIP)
"Purple Fishy" (RIP)
Meanie and Creampuff
Four tetras, Nosey (RIP), Looky-Lou, Sensei, and Zorro
A one-eyed albnio cory

spiff
Junior Bubble Nester

Posts: 228

bottom feeders and food suggestions Mar 10, 2004 12:54:18 GMT -5

Post by spiff on Mar 10, 2004 12:54:18 GMT -5

If you get small cories, like pandas, you could probably get 3 in your tank. I have 3 in my 10 gal fry tank and I love them. They do a great job at cleaning up the bottom of the tank. They get the left over baby food, sinking bottom feeder tablets, and tubifex worms.

The only other bottom feeders I have are kuhli loaches (and I don't think they would really do a good job at cleaning), Chinese algae eaters, common pleco, and zig zag eel, all of which will be too big for your tank. I think 3 small cories would be your best bet.

Last Edit: Mar 10, 2004 12:54:56 GMT -5 by spiff

my bettas: Chandler, Monica, Apolo, Aragorn, Majestic, Phoebe, Emma, Janice, Rachel, Ross, Trump, Neal, Patches, Kelly, Sky, Aqua, & PK

RIP: Marlin, Clay, Joey, & Jovi

ACKislander
Guest

bottom feeders and food suggestions Mar 11, 2004 12:43:46 GMT -5

Post by ACKislander on Mar 11, 2004 12:43:46 GMT -5

You're pretty much already fully stocked for a 10 gal. You didn't specify what kind of tetras you have, but even if they're small like neon tetras, you're getting up there in the bio-load.

You could get ghost shrimp. They'll eat anything and are pretty much a freebe on the bioload. They count for almost nothing. You could easlily put 6 or 8 in there. Try to get some larger ones over 3/4" because some bettas who are very aggressive may try and eat them.

They're great and fun to watch.