Apple Snails? African Dwarf Frogs? And Bettas?

[ReptileLuver729]

I was wondering if it would be ok in my 10 gallon tank if i had one female betta, one apple snail, and two african dwarf frogs?

[Stampingchick]

What kind of apple snail?  Are we talking brigs or canas?  Brigs might be okay, but a cana (which i think may now be illegal in the states) would get WAAAAY too big.  Some might feel that the tank would be overstocked, since the snail will produce a lot of waste, but if you use a bigger filter, I think you should be okay.  But wait and see what others say. 

[ReptileLuver729]

Do apple snails need an air pump?

[Stampingchick]

No.  They breathe from the surface, like bettas and ADFs.  You will need a heater and like I said, a strong filter.  You may want to take a knee high panty hose and cut it in half, then secure it around the output of the filter to keep the current from being too strong for the frogs and the betta.

[ReptileLuver729]

Do snails need to have a cycled tank?

[Hoots]

Everything needs to be in a cycled (established) tank.  I think you need to do more reading on what exactly cycling is.

[Debra]

Brigs will live a shorter life if they are forced to live in an aquarium that is not fully cycled.

Pomacea Bridgessi Profile

aka - Brig./Apple Snail

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile92.html
 

ADFs will simply die if they are put in an aquarium that is not fully cycled.

African Dwarf Frog profile - ADF

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile99.html 
 

HTH

[ReptileLuver729]

If you had a betta in a tank for a couple of months would it be safe to put a snail in like you wouldnt have to do anything to the water you just plop it in?

[Wheels on the Bus]

Lol- once the tank is cycled, you can slowly add additonal life forms, a small number at a time. The bacterial colony you are establishing has to grow to accomodate the new ammonia load from the new creature. If you add things one at a time, a few weeks apart, it should be fine. If you added things all at once, you would get an ammonia spike followed by nitrite. Good question.

(Pictures of "plopping" snails are floating through my head. I'm finding the visual amusing.)

[maura]

And to your original stocking question: the betta, brig and two ADFs would be too much for a 10.  A betta and a brig or two would be perfect, OR the betta and 2 ADFs.   I wouldn't try to put all three species in a 10.

[ReptileLuver729]

Would a betta like poop enough to keep the ammonia and nitrite and nitrate levels good?

[maura]

A betta will produce enough waste to supply a biofilter sufficient for the betta.

If you add a lot of critters all at once, you will overwhelm the biofilter and have an ammonia spike and mini cycle.

If the tank is cycled already, add the betta, wait 2-3 weeks, then add the snails or frogs.

If the tank is not already cycled, wait until it is completely cycled (4-6 weeks) before adding the snails or frogs.

[Michael B]

"Would a betta like poop enough to keep the ammonia and nitrite and nitrate levels good?"

There is no good level for ammonia or nitrite.

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