Bottom feeder fish are scavengers and help to maintain a clean and healthy tank by eating excess algae, food, and waste at the bottom of the tank. Some bottom feeders also eat dead fish. Here are the best types of bottom feeder fish for your aquarium:
Plecos
Plecos are suckermouth catfish that are always eating. Because they eat so much, they put out a lot of waste. Thus, it is best to keep them in larger tanks.
Plecos are timid and nocturnal cave-dwelling fish. During the day, they hide in a cave or under logs and come out to feed on plants and algae at night. So, your tank needs lots of deco or plants to provide adequate hiding spots for your pleco during the day.
Bristlenose Pleco
Cory Catfish
Another type of catfish that’s also a bottom feeder is the Cory catfish or Corydoras. Cory catfish are small scavengers that hang around the substrate of the fish tank. They are schooling fish and thrive in groups of 5 or more.
Corydoras like to search the substrate for food and tend to scratch and injure themselves on sharp substrates. For example, when they are blasting sand. So, it is best to use a smoother substrate like this natural aquarium sand.
Snails
There are many types of snails. But freshwater aquarium snails are what you need for your fish tank. The most popular types are nerites (Neritina sp.), Inca snails, and Ivory snails. Snails are quite peaceful and spend most of their time eating algae. They also eat up uneaten food in the substrate. The only drawback is that they poop a lot.
Kuhli Loach
Kuhli loaches look like little eels. They are good at hiding, and you might not see them once they find a decent hiding spot. They usually come out at night but are also known to come out during the day when other fish are eating. Keep them happy and healthy by adding lots of shade and hiding spots to the aquarium.
Zebra Loach an Clown Loach
The loaches are another freshwater fish that are more active during the daytime. But, they still need lots of hiding places/shade. Do not keep kong-finned fish with these bottom-dwellers as they will pick at the fins and tails of these fish. Loaches also compete with other scavengers for territory. So, it’s best to only keep one type of bottom-feeder fish in the tank.
Otocinclus Catfish
Otocinclus catfish are algae eaters that graze on plants, decor, and tank glass. In the wild, they school in groups of up to 1000. So, I recommend at least 10 in a tank to keep them happy.
Crayfish
Crayfish are tiny invertebrates that look like lobsters. You can find them on almost any online fish store or in local pet shops. Crayfish are omnivores and will need lots of food to keep them satisfied. If not, they can and will attack and eat other fish in the aquarium. They can also crawl out of tanks, so be sure that your tank has a secure lid.
Shrimp
Aquarium shrimp are usually docile creatures that keep to themselves. They eat algae and will also eat most fish feed as well. The only thing to consider is that different shrimp need different water conditions. So, it is vital to ask about this before you buy freshwater shrimp for your aquarium.
References
- Which fish are bottom feeders? – Bottom feeder – Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottom_feeder
- Do bottom feeders eat fish? – Some bottom-feeder fish are scavengers that commonly eat dead fish and invertebrates. Others are herbivores that eat algae and other plant materials.
- Zebra Loach (Candy Stripe Loach) – The Spruce Pets – https://www.thesprucepets.com/zebra-loach-1381072
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