Crayfish are fairly active and will unintentionally put on a show by being busy and quirky on a daily basis. We know aquarists who have very elaborate tanks who still consider crayfish one of their favorite critters! This is an awesome fish that we recommend to pretty much anyone. In fact, they were one of the very first fish we wrote a care guide for when we started this site! This gives you a lot of flexibility for the kind of environment and setup you can use them with.
This genus consists of a handful of our all-out favorite bottom feeders. Botia that are kept by themselves will often exhibit withdrawn or aggressive behavior. They might even stop eating and choose to waste away.
Their behavior can be all over the place. This variance makes them a very fun type of fish to keep. Bottom feeder fish will usually have mouths that are noticeably different than a lot of other fish. This serves the purpose of helping them easily scavenge and eat while gliding along the substrate. Suckermouths are a common feature that many bottom-dwelling fish have.
This is used in a couple of different ways. This could be a rock, log, or the glass in your tank. Their mouths are also usually positioned more on the underside of the fish. This allows them to easily nibble on whatever they find in the substrate while watching their environment for any potential threats. This is another feature that makes complete sense when you think about it. Since bottom feeder fish are constantly skimming the substrate or resting on flat surfaces, having a flattened underside is extremely convenient.
When other fish want to eat something that has fallen to the bottom they need to swim downward and pivot their entire body just to access it. Then they need to swim a little above the substrate to prevent themselves from dragging their stomachs.
These serve as a way to help them effectively navigate and get information about their environment. You now have plenty of options for great bottom feeder fish you can add to your tank. No matter what kind of tank setup you have, you should be able to make at least one of these work! Bottom-dwelling fish provide a fun and unique element to any aquarium. While other fish spend more time swimming around the upper half of the tank interacting with each other, bottom feeders are locked into their own little world of scavenging.
We love how focused they are! If you have any questions about a fish on this list you can always get in touch with us via our contact page. Millie is a passionate aquarist who caught the fishkeeping bug in high school and has been addicted ever since. As for tank conditions, these algae eaters will require a minimum tank size of 30 gallons Provide these fish with plenty of hiding spaces throughout the tank by using natural plants and rocks. The peppered cory catfish Corydoras paleatus , pictured at the top grows to around 2.
This species of bottom feeders has black and green spots all over its body and a white underside. Again, this is a peaceful and easy fish to care for and is completely suitable for new aquarium keepers. These fish do their best and are especially fun to watch when kept in groups of 6 or more per tank. Peppered cory catfish require an omnivorous diet, and therefore will need both plant- and animal-based food. You can feed them freeze-dried bloodworms, sinking fish, or shrimp pellets, as well as live food.
They require a minimum tank of 10 gallons 38 L , which should be well-planted with plenty of hiding spaces, like coconut caves , so they can get away from the light. There are so many different species of loach suitable for home aquariums and they come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Some loaches, like the large clown loach , require moderate care and are more suited for experienced aquarium keepers. One of the gentler species of loach is Botia striata , also known as the zebra loach.
These bottom-feeders grow to a similar size as most other community fish around 3. As you would expect, given their name, they have a black and white striped color, with translucent fins and tail. You should feed your zebra loach sinking catfish pellets as well as a variety of frozen food, such as brine shrimp and daphnia.
They should be kept in a minimum tank size of 20 gallons 78 L , with a soft substrate so as not to irritate their barbels. Their tank should also include plenty of hiding spaces using driftwood , rocks, and caves.
The kuhli loach is one of my favorite fish, and definitely at the top of my bottom feeder list for personality. They only grow to about 5 inches 13 cm but can live up to 14 years if tank conditions are ideal. Because of this, it is recommended to keep at least 5 together in a big enough aquarium of at least Kuhli loaches are mostly carnivores, so they can be fed fish flakes or pellets but should also regularly be offered a variety of frozen and live foods, like brine shrimp and bloodworms.
Keep in mind that these fish are not compatible with snails or shrimp before adding either to your tank. You can learn more about keeping kuhli loaches in your own tank with this full care sheet. The yoyo loach reaches a maximum size of inches cm and is typically docile within a community tank community. However, they are highly active and almost constantly searching the substrate and the bottom of the tank for food, so other small and less active fish may tend to shy away from them.
They need to be kept stimulated, so it is recommended to keep them in groups of at least 5. This will mean that you will need a tank of at least 40 gallons L. These fish also have small barbels and use them to locate food.
They are mostly carnivores, but will also eat any fish flakes or pellets provided. Because of this, use caution when introducing any small invertebrates.
They originate from the rivers and lakes of Africa and are the perfect addition for many cichlid tanks. They can be shy, but are still really active. There are over identified species of Synodontis and many of them are available in the aquarium trade. I have a multipunctata in one of my tanks now; his name is Norman. They can definitely squabble amongst themselves, but they are very peaceful when it comes to other fish.
Some species can get over 9 inches long 23 centimeters. But, there are also dwarf varieties, like Synodontis petricola, that only get to 4 inches 10 centimeters. They look like a little eel. These little guys are really good at hiding, like really good. He thought they had died and been eaten by other fish. Then he did a major overhaul of the tank and realized they had buried themselves in the substrate under a sponge filter at the back of the tank. Kuhli loaches are mostly nocturnal, but some will pop out of their hiding places at meal times.
Freshwater shrimp will constantly graze on algae, biofilm and food that gets past your fish. There are many species to choose from, like Amano shrimp Caridina multidentata , cherry shrimp Neocaridina davidi or black crystal shrimp Caridina cf.
One thing to keep in mind, each species has its own preferred water conditions. Also, there are lots of fish out there that think shrimp are very tasty…because they are. Shrimp should really only be kept with small, peaceful community fish. Pro Tip: Every species of shrimp has particular needs when it comes to water hardness.
I really like nerites Neritina sp. Nerites are like algae hoovers. There are other species, like mystery snails Pomacea bridgesii , that can reproduce in freshwater, but only if you have a male and a female. If you only have one, no baby snails. Snails will eat algae on most surfaces in your tank and will gobble up uneaten food off the substrate. Just be aware, since they eat constantly, they poop constantly. So they can have a major impact on your water quality.
Many bottom feeders get their nutrients from algae and other plant material. Others are carnivores and eat other bottom feeders. In the ocean, deep-sea bottom feeders eat jellyfish and squid, and in doing so, they absorb carbon dioxide —keeping it from going back into the atmosphere. In the British Isles alone, these fish help clean up a million metric tons of carbon dioxide every year! When they can get it, they opt for a diet of algae and lake plants.
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