[rduttle]

I have a 20 gallon long tank, currently its drift wood, rocks, sand bottom, java fern, tiny bit of java moss attached at different locations, some of those live plantlet producing apontogeton (sp?).

What I really like about most aquariums is the 'little' things. I like to carefully examine the rocks and see the little critters moving about --- things that would easily be missed if you just gave the tank a quick look. For instance I have a multitude of snail species in there , none are over powering - all are fairly small. I have one itty-bitty female betta also in there. I would like to add more 'small things' to the tank but I have no clue what. Other fish wouldn't be bad, but I am looking for something small, and possibly shy so they are only spotted once in a while? I don't want something like, say a goldfish in there because it makes it very unnatural looking to have a cubby fan tail bobbing around. (They are great for my pond or in a goldfish tank, but not what I am looking for here) I only want to add a few fish, dull/dark in color so they don't look to 'loud'. I would also like to add other 'things' (ie small inverts, amphibs, loachs maybe?) but I don't know what.

The tank has been setup for probably well over a year. It orginally had guppies in it and varius plant species - untill I realized they did better when I bothered them less - and then I didn't bother them AT ALL (LOL!) and the tank quickly became a thick cloud of mulm.

Any suggestions on what to add? Thanks!

 

[epicfish]

You could probably add in some mature Red Cherry Shrimp and other types of shrimp like Amanos, tiger shrimp, etc...you might not have too many babies because of the female betta though.

 

[epicfish]

Oh, some dwarf crayfish would do well in the tank too.

 

[rduttle]

The female betta isnt necessarily a perminant resident. I actually bought her to put in a java fern nano I was going to set up at my desk at work.

Dwarf cray fish? I have a crayfish he (or she) is about 4 inches, maybe a bit bigger, and I have no clue what species he is. I have had it for longer then this tank I believe (so more than a year, I originally kept him and two others in a pond). I was afraid to add him to the tank as he eats just about anything. He even chows down of floating plants and he ate my goldfish fry I was raising!!! So i am a bit afraid of crayfish.

I would like to get MTS in there too (I don't have those) but I am afraid of disrupting the snail community in there. I don't want a massive population explosion of anything - could I add MTS with out a problem?

the cherry red shrimp seem like a good idea too me too, but are they hardier then Ghost shrimp? I've bought some awsome ghost shrimp and they seem to die off easily. I would have to buy Cherry reds online.


I was also thinking dwarf clawed frogs might make a good addition.

One more thing: What fresh water species of fish are small, shy, and like to hide?

 

[Mori]

Would a Farlowella be too big? The stick-like catfish? They're pretty stealthy, but might be too big.

 

[LeapingGnome]

One more thing: What fresh water species of fish are small, shy, and like to hide?

What about Otos? During the day they are mostly lurkers, hanging out on plants or side/black glass, at night they can zoom around with fun antics.

 

[rodney]

Maybe some dwarf cories.

 

[dufus]

here ya go, search on here, frank has tons of tiny oddballs.

http://www.franksaquarium.com/