What Should I Do With My Tank?

[Kendalyn]

I am very very new to fish. A week ago I bought an Eclipse 6 gallon aquarium. I added a betta that was originally in a 2.5 gallon mini-bow that broke on me. Yesterday, after doing some reading I added a ghost shrimp to the tank. I know it hasn't been long at all, but it seems OK so far, however I do have some questions.

I am a little worried about my shrimp. Everything I read said that he would eat leftover food from my Betta. Well, my Betta really doesn't have any leftover food after I feed him. So what is the little guy going to eat? I tried adding a little extra this morning and there are a few pieces of blood worms still floating around at the top, but the shrimp never goes up there. Is he going to starve? Can I get him his own food that will sink so he can find it?

Is it safe to add anything else to my tank? I thought I'd let these 2 chill for a couple weeks, but what about after that? I know it's not a very big tank so I don't want to overwhelm everybody. After doing some reading though, I am interested in seeing if I can add an African Dwarf Frog or a few neon tetras. I really like my shrimp though so maybe I'll just get a Cherry Shrimp and call it good? Would any of these choices be too much for the tank? Is one better than another? I find such conflicting information everywhere. I'm not sure what to do.

Here is what it looks like now:

Can you see the shrimp?

My Betta

 

[SJ2K]

I wouldnt panic, shrimp are well known for being tough things he'll eat algae etc, just make sure to feel some flakes/pellets/wafers here and here to suppliment it.

 

[rdd1952]

I fed my bettas the Hikari Bio Gold pellets and as you stated, there was no left overs. You can add a few flakes or something like that for the shrimp to eat. Just put it under the water to let it go so it will sink quicker. If you are feeding bloodworms, only feed them about once a week. They are very high in protein and can lead to constipation and swim bladder problems as they are very hard to digest.

As far as the betta and shrimp together are concerned, some bettas do fine with other tank mates and others don't. Only time will tell. You do have room for more shrimp, the ADF or a few neons. Shrimp really don't add much to the bio-load. I'm not really certain about the frogs from that stand point.

 

[SJ2K]

A few neons? Thats some bad advice from a mod no less (Oooo am I in trouble for saying that? ), a few neons will have a very high chance of being 'nippy' towards your betta, a few more shrimp may be ok though, if they have food

 

[Kendalyn]

I have the Hikari Bio Gold pellets and used to feed them exclusively until my husband said to give him blood worms. So I went out and got the blood worms and have been giving him those more often than not. I guess my husband meant to get live worms instead of the dry ones. I'll start giving him the pellets more often now though.

I'll see how it goes during the next week and add some flakes for the shrimp if he seems to need it.

 

[rdd1952]

Ive never really considered neons to be nippy. I guess there is always that possibility especially in a small tank.

The frozen, live and freeze dried bloodworms are probably all about the same in protein. Mine wouldn't ever eat the freeze dried ones. When I fed the the frozen ones, I usually only gave them one larger worm or a couple smaller ones. A single bloodworm is plenty for a days feeding.

 

[Lindsey88]

Just soak some flakes and then put them in there and they will sink to the bottom and the shrimp will love it.

 

[dthoffsett]

You can also get any of the bottom feeder foods, such as shrimp pellets and other bottom feeder mixes. I usually throw in a pellet or two (depending on how many shrimp I have) every 4-5 days.

 

[bluetrane2028]

I know the post is a little old, but I have a 5.5 gallon listed in my sig that gets along nicely. Cory cats would be my suggestion for what next. Another bottom feeder, I know, but if you get shrimp pellets they'll sink, and all the bottom dwellers will eat happily. I feed my betta and the tetras bloodworms and tetra flakes, and pellets for the cats.