Pleco Alternative

[SwordTaleLair]

Not sure where to put this, but I have a 10 gallon tank with only a betta in it. Aside from being lonely, i was looking to put something to keep the tank a little cleaner and munch on the food, etc the betta doesnt quite get.

I know Pleco's are not suited for small tanks, so I was looking at what you would consider viable alternatives.

I have thought about loaches and some catfish but what I have seen have either been more fragile than I want, or seem to grow too large for my tank over time. There is a khuli loach in the tank now. I could get more since he is a schooling fish, but was thinking about something a little more "visible".

Thanks for your input.

STL.

[smaug]

julii corys, a group of 6 would be great.any small cory would add movement and do a good job cleaning.

[rich311k]

I am with Smaug, Pandas or dwarf corys would work nicely. You really should only be feeding a flake or two. No need for extra food.

[ippielb]

What about oto catfish to clean the algae too?

[Cliff]

What about a snail ?

[SwordTaleLair]

I have two "hitchhiker" snails that were accidentally included with my last purchase. not sure what they are, but their shell is pointed and conical. I had a snail with a shell more flat and coiled that i think was an apple snail, but I found its shell empty a while back. I think phoenix [the betta] found it and had a snack.

I dont feed phoenix much, a few [literally less than 10] pellets morning and night, and usually I dont see but a couple if any are left at all.

I am thinking this still may be too much for him. At any rate, i would like a little more activity in the tank nonetheless. :)

Thanks for the input folks - will look those up and see what I like.

STL.

[Sarkazmo]

Cut his feeding in half. I feed less than that once a day to all my Betta and they're doing great.

Otocinculus cats (these are actually tiny Pleco) are wonderful but somewhat delicate. I have to agree that the small Corydoras would probably be best although a couple snails or some shrimp might be nice but they might also end up as lunch depending on the Betta.

Sark

[dbosman]

Not sure where to put this, but I have a 10 gallon
STL.

Otos or a small school of any of the following. I particularly live the bottom two.

C. osteocarus 1.8in
C. tukano 1.8in
C. melini 1.8in
C. breei 1.8in
C. boesemani 1.8in
C. bicolor 1.8in
C. sanchesi 1.6in
C. paragua 1.6in
C. ortegai 1.6in
C. multimaculatus 1.6in
C. gracilis 1.6in
C. lamberti 1.5in
C. paucerna 1.4in
C. habrosus 1.4in
C. cochui 1.4in
C. pygmaeus 1.3in
C. hastatus 1.3in

[Pleco380]

I'd personally also go with a school of Julii Cories.

[SwordTaleLair]

Seems cories are the best alternative. Will look into them... Thanks folks. :)

STL