What else to add to tank?

[Tlongo71]

Hey all I have a 5.5 gallon tank currently occupied by just one betta. It has a filter good enough for up to 20 gallons as well as a heater. I’m wondering what else you think I could add? The tank seems kind of bare with just the betta. (Water is very brown from the driftwood currently) I’ve kept fish all my life so I’m not a beginner. 

[FLFishChik]

Are you asking about tank mates or plants/hardscape?

if tank mates- your extremely limited due to the tank size. You could add a Nerite snail and/or some ghost shrimp or an Amano shrimp. Neocaridina shrimp are likely too small to add as they might end up an expensive snack. 
 

plants/hardscape - maybe a Betta Rock cave. Plants choices are numerous but always appreciated by betta, especially broad leaf plants like Anubias because it gives them places to rest. I see you have an artificial silk plant already so I’m sure he spends his rest there 😊

Edited September 24, 2023 by FLFishChik
Typo

[Tlongo71]

Hi thanks for the reply! I was thinking more about tank mates. I read somewhere that rasboras may work but I could see that being a no go since the tank is small definitely gonna look into a snail and some shrimp though. And yes, he loves resting in his plant hammock lol. 

[AllFishNoBrakes]

Both a 5.5 gallon and already having a betta really limits what you should do. What you SHOULD do and what you COULD do are often two different things, though. 
 

Maybe some dwarf rasboras could work. My advice would be that if it starts to not work out, have another plan for either the betta or the rasboras. 

[Lennie]

I would say no to any fish addition as your betta's tank size is limited, and more importantly, betta has established this tank as its territory. I almost never had success whenever I tried adding a fish to a bettas tank after adding the betta first, even tho the addition of other fish prior to adding betta usually works with exact tanksize and fish stocking for me.

I would add more shrimp tubes and hiding places and try neocaridina shrimp, but it is a risk that you should be willing to take. And tiny snails if you like them