10G Betta Tank, Maybe A Few Catfish?

[awilson360]

Hi guys,

I was just wondering if its ok to get some small catfish. I have thought about shrimp but I think they'd make too much of an easy meal for my Betta and I am also not really interested in snails.

My question is what would be the best catfish to put in there? I don't want to overstock the tank but I would like some bottom feeders.
Maybe some Corydoras or Otocinclus. Which would be better and do they require a certain number to feel secure.

My tank is 18" x 12" x 12" so that's 10g right?

Thanks,
AW

 

[roadmaster]

Hi guys,

I was just wondering if its ok to get some small catfish. I have thought about shrimp but I think they'd make too much of an easy meal for my Betta and I am also not really interested in snails.

My question is what would be the best catfish to put in there? I don't want to overstock the tank but I would like some bottom feeders.
Maybe some Corydoras or Otocinclus. Which would be better and do they require a certain number to feel secure.

My tank is 18" x 12" x 12" so that's 10g right?

Thanks,
AW

Betta's enjoy temps around 80 to 82 degrees F which is much warmer than most cory's appreciate with exception of Sterbai corydora's.
Otocinclus could possibly work but need steady source of algae in most cases to survive long term and seem to do poorly in tanks less than six months old by many accounts.
Some otocinclus will accept algae wafers or veggie supplements and some won't and slowly die if little or no algae is present. They do appreciate being in groups same as corys.
Kuhlii loaches might be an alternative.

 

[awilson360]

Hi guys,

I was just wondering if its ok to get some small catfish. I have thought about shrimp but I think they'd make too much of an easy meal for my Betta and I am also not really interested in snails.

My question is what would be the best catfish to put in there? I don't want to overstock the tank but I would like some bottom feeders.
Maybe some Corydoras or Otocinclus. Which would be better and do they require a certain number to feel secure.

My tank is 18" x 12" x 12" so that's 10g right?

Thanks,
AW

Betta's enjoy temps around 80 to 82 degrees F which is much warmer than most cory's appreciate with exception of Sterbai corydora's.
Otocinclus could possibly work but need steady source of algae in most cases to survive long term and seem to do poorly in tanks less than six months old by many accounts.
Some otocinclus will accept algae wafers or veggie supplements and some won't and slowly die if little or no algae is present. They do appreciate being in groups same as corys.
Kuhlii loaches might be an alternative.

Thanks for the info! I'll do some research on Sterbai Corydoras.
Surely Otocinclus found in pet stores are fed on algae wafers anyway? My pet stores aquariums are spotless.

The Kuhlii loaches wouldn't work in my tank, I live in a very hard water area. (Lowestoft, UK) with a stable pH of 8.0.

Thanks,
AW

 

[Curiosity101]

Surely Otocinclus found in pet stores are fed on algae wafers anyway? My pet stores aquariums are spotless.

It's not un common for ottos to starve in fish shops. They definitely prefer algae. But at the end of the day, good quality fresh veg are suitable as a substitute. Things like boiled spinach and courgette are good for them, and most people don't have a problem with feeding them algae wafers too.

 

[awilson360]

Surely Otocinclus found in pet stores are fed on algae wafers anyway? My pet stores aquariums are spotless.

It's not un common for ottos to starve in fish shops. They definitely prefer algae. But at the end of the day, good quality fresh veg are suitable as a substitute. Things like boiled spinach and courgette are good for them, and most people don't have a problem with feeding them algae wafers too.

Hmmm well I don't want to end up starving some fish! How many would you recommend! I think I will ask in the Pet Shop if I see any if they could try feeding them some Algae Wafers and if they respond to them I'll get them ones!
I think my tank should get some Algae growing pretty soon as my Goldfish tank was covered in the stuff until I bought my new magnet algae scraper

Thanks,
AW

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

My oto will eat tetramin crisp, algae wafers, algae when available and does well. He hates the company of other oto's (a total freak who will attack other oto's but will happily sit with cories....) and lives in hard water (cambridge area). They're usually good in a betta tank although some bettas will attack them if bored.
P.

 

[awilson360]

My oto will eat tetramin crisp, algae wafers, algae when available and does well. He hates the company of other oto's (a total freak who will attack other oto's but will happily sit with cories....) and lives in hard water (cambridge area). They're usually good in a betta tank although some bettas will attack them if bored.
P.

Thanks for the info Miss Dib Dabs. Just wondering did you buy your Oto on his own or did he come with a few more, or did you already have Corys? I wouldn't mind getting one and seeing how the Betta gets on with it but I thought they like to be kept in groups!

Thanks,
AW

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Normally they do like to be in groups and I originally bought him with 2 others but he wasn't keen and kept chasing them away. He's now on his own and the cories moved in with him about a year and a half ago and they've been fine together. Years ago I kept oto's with my bettas but they always chased them, possibly because my male bettas were frequent breeders and did not appreciate company when not with a lady. My current fella lives in a 15g planted which often has some algae growth despite all my efforts....suspect too much sunlight gets to it.
P.

 

[awilson360]

Normally they do like to be in groups and I originally bought him with 2 others but he wasn't keen and kept chasing them away. He's now on his own and the cories moved in with him about a year and a half ago and they've been fine together. Years ago I kept oto's with my bettas but they always chased them, possibly because my male bettas were frequent breeders and did not appreciate company when not with a lady. My current fella lives in a 15g planted which often has some algae growth despite all my efforts....suspect too much sunlight gets to it.
P.

Ok thanks again for the help. I am really conscious of over-stocking my tank. I would love to get 4 Oto's but would that be overstocking with a Betta? And I don't really want to have to setup another tank if my Betta doesn't get along with them!

AW

 

[Curiosity101]

A 10g with a betta and 4 ottos would definitely not be overstocked Particularly as ottos diet consists of vegetable matter and not meat I would imagine they're lighter on the bioload than an equivalent size/shape meat eating fish.

 

[awilson360]

A 10g with a betta and 4 ottos would definitely not be overstocked Particularly as ottos diet consists of vegetable matter and not meat I would imagine they're lighter on the bioload than an equivalent size/shape meat eating fish.

Ok thanks Curiosity101, I will go take a look at my local LFS and see if they have any! Will get some algae wafers as well.

AW

 

[awilson360]

A 10g with a betta and 4 ottos would definitely not be overstocked Particularly as ottos diet consists of vegetable matter and not meat I would imagine they're lighter on the bioload than an equivalent size/shape meat eating fish.

Ok thanks Curiosity101, I will go take a look at my local LFS and see if they have any! Will get some algae wafers as well.

AW

Ok well the local pet store doesn't sell Otocinclus!

I was looking at Corydoras and they seem to be able to tolerate temperatures of 27C with a good range of pH's. How about 4 Bronze Corydoras or 4 Albino Corydoras or 4 Peppered Corydoras?

My substrate is also gravel

Thanks,
AW

 

[roadmaster]

Of the cory's you list, the Peppered cory I fear would grow too large for ten gallon tank ?(4 inches).The Albino and Bronze will reach close to three inches with proper care.
In my view, along with many others, 27 degrees C or 80.6 degrees F is too warm for these particular cory's. Considering that they can live for ten years, I would expect much shorter life span if kept much above 75 to 76 degrees F for extended period but I am aware that many folks do so.
Perhaps the local fish store would be willing to order some sterbai or otocinclus for you?
Gravel would be fine for the corys so long as it is smooth rather than that with sharp edges.
With four cory's and a Betta in ten gallons? I would perform weekly water changes of 40 to 50 percent to help keep dissolved organics from creating water quality issues.
Honestly,, were it me,(and it ain't) I would try and provide a twenty gallon long tank for the Betta and cory's. All would appreciate the extra room.

 

[awilson360]

Of the cory's you list, the Peppered cory I fear would grow too large for ten gallon tank ?(4 inches).The Albino and Bronze will reach close to three inches with proper care.
In my view, along with many others, 27 degrees C or 80.6 degrees F is too warm for these particular cory's. Considering that they can live for ten years, I would expect much shorter life span if kept much above 75 to 76 degrees F for extended period but I am aware that many folks do so.
Perhaps the local fish store would be willing to order some sterbai or otocinclus for you?
Gravel would be fine for the corys so long as it is smooth rather than that with sharp edges.
With four cory's and a Betta in ten gallons? I would perform weekly water changes of 40 to 50 percent to help keep dissolved organics from creating water quality issues.
Honestly,, were it me,(and it ain't) I would try and provide a twenty gallon long tank for the Betta and cory's. All would appreciate the extra room.

Ah ok, well I put my Betta in a 10g so he would have a good spacious life but it would cancel out putting Corys or Otos in there. I don't particularly want to get some Otos after reading how they are caught and live for a year to two years.

I think I'll just leave my 10g alone with my Betta in it.

Thanks,
AW

 

[Curiosity101]

You can have corys, just stick to smaller ones such as sterbai (as roadmaster mentiond).

A small group of corys and a betta in a 10gal will be fine