Help...! Stocking a 14 Gallon Betta Tank...

Question
QUESTION: Hi, my girlfriend and I just recently purchased two (2) fourteen (14) gallon aquariums kits (the "Aqueon Basic Kit: Aquarium 14" to be specific) to house our bettas...  After doing a ton of research, we have decided to keep our bettas out of the tanks until we get their tankmates settled in, in the hopes that they will be less aggressive, since the other fish will not be invading established betta territory...  Here is what we were thinking...

I would like to have; (1) male Betta, Splinter (aka Yoshi); (?) Neon Tetra*; (?) [???] Snail; (?) Ghost Shrimp
*I would rather have the neon tetra, but because of our situation (see below), I believe the hardy Black Neon Tetra would be the wiser choice...  What do you think...?
- As for the [???] Snail, that refers to the fact that I like the idea, but don't know whether the Apple, Mystery, Ramshorn, Zebra, etc. snail would be the best choice...!

She would like to have;  (1) male Betta, Shredder (aka Saki); (1) Clown Pleco; (?) Black Neon Tetra.
- Here, we are unsure whether the pleco (one of the smallest we have available... she doesn't like the albino bristlenose...) would be a good choice, due to waste output and potential tank size issues...  Also, she is debating getting (?) [???] Snail and/or (?) Ghost Shrimp...

Our final predicament is that we are college students, which means that we must spend some time away from our fish during breaks, which range from less than one to slightly over three weeks in length (at Christmas)...!  Then, come Summer vacation we have to worry about moving the fish come (upwards of a seven hour trip on her part)... Any advice on how to handle this less than perfect scenario...?

Thank you in advance,
Steven B.

ANSWER: Steven,

 When it comes to male Betta's it is a hit and miss. What works for some people won't work for others. What I have learned is that male Betta's are very happy and prefer to be on their own. It is a good idea to place the Betta after the others have set in. Remember, your tanks need to cycled for 3 weeks before you put any fish in it. You might not be able to house the Neons with the Betta but again sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Neon's need to be in perfect water at all times. You will have to test the water weekly and do weekly 25% water changes even if you have a filter. Most Betta's do not like the currents that come with filters so all my tanks have sponge filters.  As for the snails, Betta's love to eat them. I have tried all kinds of snails with my Betta's and not one has survived yet. The pleco, you will not want to add him until the tank has been set up and running for quite awhile. Remember they eat algae and a newly set up tank won't have any yet. If you still want to add him with the rest of the fish, feed him algae wafers and he should do ok.

As for your final predicament, there is no way your fish will survive anything more than 2 weeks without a water change or feeding. The weekend feeders are no go because they contaminate the water. I know that its hard for the college student, but if you will be gone for 3 weeks, either find someone to take care of the fish or you will have to take them with you. Without the weekly water changes your fish will be swimming in ammonia and that will kill them very quickly.

I have never had to move any fish besides the Betta and when the time comes, or you just want me to let you know how to do it just let me know.  I hope I have answered your questions. If not, feel free to ask me again. Good luck with the tanks.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks...  We were really wondering what sort of numbers we could keep in each tank...  And I would be able to check on the fish at least once, if not twice during the longer break...  we would be using the Tetra 14 day feeders...  
Also, we are currently using Nutrafin Cycle to help establish each of our tanks...

Thanks.

Answer
Steven,

 I am sure you have either heard or read the one inch of fish per gallon. What people forget to mention is that the measurement is for adult fish not little ones. In a 14 gallon tank you will be safe to have no more than 10 small fish such as the neon tetras. As for the adding things to help cycle, nothing works. I know everything on the bottle says it helps, but it does not shorten the time needed to cycle. It is safer for the fish to have the tank cycle with nothing added to the water except the conditioner. Be very careful using the feeders. The contaminate the water very quickly and the water changes need to be more often when using them. I personally never recommend using them.