Cadet328
Aquarium Advice Regular
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2013
- Messages
- 50
I'm an avid betta lover and just got a new betta a few days ago. Unlike my other betta who scavenges between the rocks to get every single pellet, this new fish will let pellets sink to the bottom and sit there. Thus grew my desire to get him a little cleaner helper: ghost shrimp. My dilemma is that I've researched all over the web and have found very little and very inconsistent care guides about them. Could any ghost shrimp fans/breeders help me out?
Please let me know if any of the information I believe to be correct is actually incorrect.
1. I have learned they will eat pretty much any food that comes their way: pellets, flakes, zucchini... Some sites say they do eat algae and others say they don't... What's the truth? If they do eat algae should I drop them algae wafers every once and a while? How often should they be fed?
2. I have a 2.5g and a 10g tank, each house one betta. What is the smallest size tank ghost shrimp should live in and what is the recommended number of shrimp that should live together?
3. What kind of substrate? Gravel or sand? Any other suggestions?
4. I've read they like plants. Should it be heavily planted? What kind of plants would be compatible for both betta and ghost shrimp? Could I use silk plants instead of real ones? (I've always kept silk plants because I've never wanted to worry about keeping real plants alive... I don't have much of a green thumb.)
5. I don't have a great desire to breed them. I've read that they multiply frequently but the fry rarely survive because of lack of appropriate food, filter kills them, fish eat them, etc. I found in some article if I wanted to keep them alive and prevent them from being sucked into the filter I could put a pantyhose over the filter part that draws in the water??? I'm skeptical about that? Are y'all laughing about that theory from the other side of your computer screens??
6. I've learned they like hiding places. Does plastic fish hide-y toys count as hiding places? Or do they prefer drift wood? Other suggestions?
7. I guess I should ask if they are in fact good buddies for bettas huh?
Other things I've learned. please correct me if I'm wrong.
Tank should be cycled (ammonia/nitrite=0) for at least two weeks.
Metals from fish medicine (Especially copper) equals dead ghosties..... (What's the best way to remove copper from water?)
Filters are necessary.
Please let me know if there is any important information that I haven't thought to ask about. Thank you!!
Please let me know if any of the information I believe to be correct is actually incorrect.
1. I have learned they will eat pretty much any food that comes their way: pellets, flakes, zucchini... Some sites say they do eat algae and others say they don't... What's the truth? If they do eat algae should I drop them algae wafers every once and a while? How often should they be fed?
2. I have a 2.5g and a 10g tank, each house one betta. What is the smallest size tank ghost shrimp should live in and what is the recommended number of shrimp that should live together?
3. What kind of substrate? Gravel or sand? Any other suggestions?
4. I've read they like plants. Should it be heavily planted? What kind of plants would be compatible for both betta and ghost shrimp? Could I use silk plants instead of real ones? (I've always kept silk plants because I've never wanted to worry about keeping real plants alive... I don't have much of a green thumb.)
5. I don't have a great desire to breed them. I've read that they multiply frequently but the fry rarely survive because of lack of appropriate food, filter kills them, fish eat them, etc. I found in some article if I wanted to keep them alive and prevent them from being sucked into the filter I could put a pantyhose over the filter part that draws in the water??? I'm skeptical about that? Are y'all laughing about that theory from the other side of your computer screens??
6. I've learned they like hiding places. Does plastic fish hide-y toys count as hiding places? Or do they prefer drift wood? Other suggestions?
7. I guess I should ask if they are in fact good buddies for bettas huh?
Other things I've learned. please correct me if I'm wrong.
Tank should be cycled (ammonia/nitrite=0) for at least two weeks.
Metals from fish medicine (Especially copper) equals dead ghosties..... (What's the best way to remove copper from water?)
Filters are necessary.
Please let me know if there is any important information that I haven't thought to ask about. Thank you!!