Angelfish and bottom feeders

Question
We recently got our daughter a 20 gallon tank and are in the process of cycling with two Australian Rainbows.  The cycling didn't start out well, but things are going better now.  We're carefully guiding her through the steps of setting up a healthy tank and have suggested a bottom feeder be the next addition, in a few weeks time.  She doesn't like any of the bottom feeders we've seen; kooli loaches look too much like eels and the whiskers on corys and cats are spooky.  Do you have any suggestions of other types of bottom feeders?  Also, she is really taken with angelfish (which I'd have thought fell into the "scary" category with their long fins) and I'm uncertain about angels in a 20 gallon community tank?  Can she keep a betta with angels?

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Amy;

I can't think of any bottom feeders that don't have "whiskers". They need them to feel around for food in the rocks. Angels get too big for a 20 gallon tank and really can't live with bettas. The angels will sometimes pick on the betta or sometimes the betta will pick on the angels. Many experts recommend angels as okay with bettas, but your tank is really too small anyway. They need 30 gallons or more.

Swordtails, platies, tetras, hatchetfish, rasboras, glassfish, are all compatible with angels. They are also compatible with bettas. These fish are all schoolers so keep them in groups of 3 or more.  

Here are some sites with info and suggestions for betta tankmates;

http://www.countee.us/lauren/bettas/faq_housing.htm#tankmates
http://www.healthybetta.com/Care/page%2011-tankmates.htm
http://www.bestfish.com/tips/052799.html

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins