I finally added those harlequins with my betta

[dm800]

I just added 3 harlequins to my 10 gallon betta tank last night. I had to go to 4 different stores to find them. Two stores were out, one didn't sell them, and the Petco I finally went to only had 3 left. Are these popular or what? Its ok though, I was going to just get 3 now and then get 2 or 3 more in a week or so. Anyways, when I first put the bag in there, the betta was checking them out pretty well and flaring but then after a few minutes he pretty much ignored them. When I finally released them, he didn't really do much either. They were swimming around crazy in there but then eventually schooled up and swam around more graceful. They have even got really close to and bumped into the betta and he doesn't chase after them or anything. So hopefully they will all get along.

Anyways, as far as feeding, I fed the betta his pellets, and then after the rasboras were in there a couple hours I put in some flakes. The betta would grab them up, then spit them out in little pieces that would start to slowly sink, but the little fish were darting all over grabbing them up. I guess that works, but that seems like it is going to make a big mess on the bottom with all that stuff sinking. So my question is, will the betta eventually realize that is not for him and that he doesn't like it and stop eating it? Do I need to crumble up the flakes real small for them to eat on the top? How much exactly do you feed them at a time? I know it says to feed what they can eat in a few minutes, but since a lot of it is sinking, I don't really know how much they will eat in a few minutes. And finally, would putting a ghost shrimp in there big a good idea to eat up all the food that falls? I will try to take some pictures of them later and post them.

[trashion]

i believe i read somewhere that crumbling up flakes really small makes them sink much faster and therefore creates more of a mess. so i don't think that would do you too much good...

[dm800]

That makes sense. So since these flakes are almost as big as or at least half the size of these fish right now, are they too big for fish, or will they just nibble on them as they float around the surface?

[fishbguy]

My fish just nibble on them as they float around on the surface.

[dm800]

Ok that seemed to work fine. They nip at it and grab some and some pieces falls and the betta still is grabbing them and spitting them out, so what do you guys think about the ghost shrimp (or some other kind of shrimp or something else) to pick up all the fallen food?

[dolifisis]

I have a Betta and Harlequins in my tank too and at one time a few ghost and cherry shrimp. In my experience I wasted less food when I crumpled it up. When I left whole pieces and they took a tiny nip the rest would fall to the bottom anyway. They only float as long as they aren't bothered.

[JustOneMore20]

You could try some Ghost shrimp, but the Betta may see them as a snack (or just harass them). Ghosties are cheap though, so give it a try.

[dm800]

Yeah I noticed they are only like 40 cents or so. After reading about them, it sounds like they reproduce quite easily. Would it be best just to get one do that doesn't happen? And is it necessary to feed them, or will they get all the food they need from stuff on the bottom?

[JustOneMore20]

They are really small, so having 6 or so in your tank is fine, even if those eventually reproduce. I would get more than 1. They aren't like snails that breed like rabbits.

I would still feed them maybe part of an algae wafer at night....or every other night, but let them get the flakes too.

If you decide against the ghost shrimp, another option would be getting a turkey baster and sucking up the leftover food after you feed. They work really nicely, especially in small tanks.

[neilfishguy]

they dont reproduce easly, you wont have any surviving babys with those fish either. they need barckish to breed, exept for one species, and its zoes would make tasty snacks.

[dm800]

Ok so its been about 10 days now since I added the harlequins, and when feeding, I try to keep the betta in a corner and give him 3 or 4 of the pellets, and in the meantime sprinkle the flakes over the other side for the other fish. They eat them just fine, but as soon as the betta is done he goes over and plows through all the flakes and gobbles them up. I know he spits some out, (maybe even most of them), but if he keeps doing that, am I going to have to worry about him over eating? I see that a lot in the forums not to over feed your fish, so is this going to be a problem, or what? He may even be spitting it all out, but I can't tell how much he eats.

[darkfalz]

This is why I try to group fish of similar diet and speed in tanks, so that fish getting their share (and not too much) is possible at feeding time.

[JustOneMore20]

I think he'll be fine. Just make sure that the Harlies are getting some flakes before he starts eating them. If you want to just feed them all flakes and lay off the pellets, thats fine too. That way, he'll eat what they do.

[Corydora_FREAK]

they dont reproduce easly, they need barckish to breed, exept for one species,

They do reproduce very easily with the right condtions, and the American glass shrimp, which is in Petco and Petsmart, will readily breed in fresh water.

you wont have any surviving babys with those fish either.

Exactly, i bet the betta would even munch on the adults too. I know the harlequins would if the shrimp was free swimming, which they commonly do

[neilfishguy]

Originally Posted by Corydora_FREAK

They do reproduce very easily with the right condtions, and the American glass shrimp, which is in Petco and Petsmart, will readily breed in fresh water.

In the avrage tank they wont reproduce eaisly. I know about them i breed them myself in a 20 gallon long. If you have a powerfilter, then the chance of haveing survivors is greatly reduced, from exess water flow killing babys+getting sucked up. The zoes will be eaten by allmost any fish.

About the american glass shrimp being at petco and petsmart, just know that it varys grealy by place.

The reason I say they dont reproduce easly is because you really have devote some special attention to them, unlike some things that will breed no matter what.