new critter advice

[terrapin24h]

All--
My 30 gal bio wheel setup is coming along nicely, I had a full cycle with 5 rosy barbs(the ones that grow to 2", not the bigguns) and then i have added 4 all female sunburst platies. Everyone is healthy and happy, with the barbs and platies even sometimes schooling together. I've had the plats for over a week(man, can they poop!), and ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0, and nitrates are very low(5 ish). I'm due for a maint water change and was going to do about 5 gal or so. So, I'm looking for the next critters to add, and i was thinking either an algae eater of some sort, or some inverts, maybe both. I'm open to shrimp, snails, and anything else that's out there, that will blend with my tank. I really wanted to get a lobster, but after watching the fish i have i don't think that'd be a good idea, as they like to hang out in the bottom of the tank, and in the castle i have(which is where the lobster would too). I read some bad things about snails taking over a tank and am a little worried about that. I was also reading up on African dwarf frogs(my wife really wants a couple of those) so i'd be willing to go that route too. I would like to add some color as well, cause the rosy barbs have changed color to match my gravel(a tanish-brown). They camo really well but don't do much for visual appeal. Let me know what you all think, water ph is 6.8-7.0 and temp is 78-79. Thanks!

--chris

[Commodore 64]

Nerite snails cannot reproduce in fresh water, and they are good algae eaters.

Apple snails/Mystery Snails lay big clutches of eggs above the water line, so they are easy to intercept.

Shrimp tend to be small, and might make good meals for platies and barbs. That said, i've had about 15 assorted bumblebee, amano, emerald and cherry shrimp with 2 clown loaches, 4 mollies and a couple of Cory cats. So far so good, but I just added 35 more Cherry shrimp (Thanks Algenco!), so we'll see how they fare and if any of their offspring can survive in those conditions.

Flower/Bamboo/Singapore Wood shrimp are cool, and large. Nobody bothers the 3 in my tank.

[NanoTankGuy]

Get algae-eating shrimp (or Amano shrimp). They will keep your tank clean and won't interfere with the rest of tankmates. Plus, they produce very little bio-load (quoting someone from this forum, I was told). They are awesome to watch (if you can find them) - I have 5 and can only find up to 4 most of the time. But be careful if you decide to get them - they're like roaches out of water, man. Don't open the bag when you get them to your tank, just cut one of the corners (after letting it float) and let them crawl out.

I dunno where I read it, but I read that they're awesome for cleaning tanks from algae and you can get up to 1 shrimp/ 1 gallon without destroying the equillibrium.

P.S. I have'em, I love'em! Get'em!!!

[NanoTankGuy]

Nerite snails cannot reproduce in fresh water, and they are good algae eaters.

Apple snails/Mystery Snails lay big clutches of eggs above the water line, so they are easy to intercept.

Shrimp tend to be small, and might make good meals for platies and barbs. That said, i've had about 15 assorted bumblebee, amano, emerald and cherry shrimp with 2 clown loaches, 4 mollies and a couple of Cory cats. So far so good, but I just added 35 more Cherry shrimp (Thanks Algenco!), so we'll see how they fare and if any of their offspring can survive in those conditions.

Flower/Bamboo/Singapore Wood shrimp are cool, and large. Nobody bothers the 3 in my tank.
Out of curiosity - do cherry shrimps eat algae? or just leftovers/fish poop?

[terrapin24h]

according to what i just read on liveaquaria they eat everything

[Ryuu]

Ummm not to contridict anyone but, mysterysnails yah no dont get them I got two and now I have around 200 of them, so yeah I would advise you to not get them

[Angila]

Ummm not to contridict anyone but, mysterysnails yah no dont get them I got two and now I have around 200 of them, so yeah I would advise you to not get them
if u didn't want alot u shoulda pulled out the clutch but since u didn't there are plenty of people on the ac that would pay shipping to get them :)

[Angila]

Out of curiosity - do cherry shrimps eat algae? or just leftovers/fish poop?
I just got my cherry shrimp today (thanks algenco) and the minute i put them in there they were all over the algea wafer

[NanoTankGuy]

I just got my cherry shrimp today (thanks algenco) and the minute i put them in there they were all over the algea wafer
Good to know - i like the look of them. Do you know if they get along with algae-eating shrimp as well?

[Angila]

Good to know - i like the look of them. Do you know if they get along with algae-eating shrimp as well?
i was told they should be kept by themselves and to be honest the only kind of shrimp i can get around here are ghost shrimp... waist of money if u ask me for those things

[hamsterman]

cherry shrimp get along with other algae eating shrimp and do a fantastic job with algae...as well as reproducing

[terrapin24h]

All--
How would all these things do with the rosy barbs? I've read that the barbs tend to be picky fish(and in true form they nip at lots of the decoration in my tank) They don't seem to do it out of aggression(and they are very nice with their platy tankmates, no chasing, nipping, or anything) I knew from the outset that the barbs could be a problem, but they are a cool fish and tough as nails(my cycle was NOT gentle) For review, I have five rosy barbs, and 4 sunburst platies. Thanks!

--chris

[NanoTankGuy]

cherry shrimp get along with other algae eating shrimp and do a fantastic job with algae...as well as reproducing
Ok - then it's a no-no. I have a 6G, if they reproduce there, it'll be very sad... I guess, I'll have to buy a larger tank if they reproduce...hmm-mm-m :)
lol