Betta Algae Eating Tank Mates?
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EllieJellyEllie
Fish Addict
Snails are good. Also oto carfish are good if you can find some that eat and you have algae in your tank. But otos have to have shoals of 3 or more and in a 10 gallon tank or bigger
EllieJellyEllie
Fish Addict
Also, otos are fast and smaller than bettas so they need small hiding spaces that they can go in if the betta decides to chase them. They very rarely eat wafers, and its hard to find some that eat anything. Most die of stress from shipment etc. And as well as they need a 10 gallon tank, but its worth it for the betta and them.
A huge factor is that you have to have a steady amount of algae in your tank. Since they are shoaling fosh they have to have more food. If yo domt have algae but want otos, take some rocks/decor and put them in a container filled with water and set them on the windowsill or outside. Make sure you always have more with algae in case they eat all of it off the other rocks!
Snails are easier but some nettas wont tolerate them, and will comstantly peck at their shell trying to kill them. Thw snail will eventually die.
IMO I love otos because snails are the norm and some snails such as pond snails are super invasive and all snails can mate with themselves so even if you start with just one you might have a lot in the future! Also, some snails are semi aquatic and sold as aquatoc so if you end up with one ofthese you need to slope the substrate at one end of the tank so they have some land. They dont need much, maybe 2-3 inches across the side.
A huge factor is that you have to have a steady amount of algae in your tank. Since they are shoaling fosh they have to have more food. If yo domt have algae but want otos, take some rocks/decor and put them in a container filled with water and set them on the windowsill or outside. Make sure you always have more with algae in case they eat all of it off the other rocks!
Snails are easier but some nettas wont tolerate them, and will comstantly peck at their shell trying to kill them. Thw snail will eventually die.
IMO I love otos because snails are the norm and some snails such as pond snails are super invasive and all snails can mate with themselves so even if you start with just one you might have a lot in the future! Also, some snails are semi aquatic and sold as aquatoc so if you end up with one ofthese you need to slope the substrate at one end of the tank so they have some land. They dont need much, maybe 2-3 inches across the side.
As has been said snails are great algae eaters. There are some that can get out of control, as Ellie said.
You could go with nerites though, which their eggs wont hatch in FW. They come in a variety of shell types/colors.
There are also mystery snails which come in different colors, and get up to the size of a golfball. Would only get one unless you're sure of their gender.
Sulawesi rabbit snails are really cool, and they only produce one baby at a time.
You could go with nerites though, which their eggs wont hatch in FW. They come in a variety of shell types/colors.
There are also mystery snails which come in different colors, and get up to the size of a golfball. Would only get one unless you're sure of their gender.
Sulawesi rabbit snails are really cool, and they only produce one baby at a time.
This is not completely correct. Not all snails can mate with themselves. Mystery/apple snails for example have a particular sex per individual. In order to have more, you have to have at least 2 snails -- one male and one female. Also i don't know of any snails that are sold as aquatic that are semi aquatic. I know snails such as mystery/apple snails will breathe from the surface so the water needs to be left down about an inch or so from the lid for them to get some surface air but they don't need "land".
Creature -- I personally love snails and have at least 5 different types in most of my tanks. For algae control, I prefer nerites and ramshorns.
i would say otos. bettas dont generally bother them sice they are usually low to the ground and somewhat blend in. they are great algae eaters. i have had bad experiences with snails. one time we bought a live plant and on it was one tiny snail. with in a week, there was more than 10 little snails in my tank. then there was 50 and so on. even after full water changes in wich i take the tank outside and spray it with a hose, the little guys survive(a few of them) and make more all over. once i tried to have a bigger snail. it died in the seccond day.
thats why i think otos are better
thats why i think otos are better
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