Looking for a bottom feeder
- Thread starter Bruckm
- Start date
Otos are cute little fish, but kind of fragile. They're an algae eater, and won't really consume much in the way of excess food (IME). You'll have to feed them algae wafers or something of the like.
Cories are also cute lil' buggers, and most species are fairly hardy. They're much more active, and will vaccuum up just about anything edible that hits the bottom (you'll want to feed them sinking food as well though). You have to be careful what kind of substrate you use since their barbels are fairly fragile and can be damaged by rough gravel.
~JW
P.S. Yes, there are fish that consume waste. "Scats" are brackish fish...the name is short for "Scatophagus"...google the definition if you need to...
Cories are also cute lil' buggers, and most species are fairly hardy. They're much more active, and will vaccuum up just about anything edible that hits the bottom (you'll want to feed them sinking food as well though). You have to be careful what kind of substrate you use since their barbels are fairly fragile and can be damaged by rough gravel.
~JW
P.S. Yes, there are fish that consume waste. "Scats" are brackish fish...the name is short for "Scatophagus"...google the definition if you need to...
It doesn't necessarilly have to be an either/or thing. Otos are cool, too. They munch on algae and seem to like perching on top of leaves. They get to about 2 - 2.5 inches in length. It is typically suggested to have at least 3 per tank, or up to 1 per 10 gallons in larger tanks. I have heard stories about them mysteriously dying for no apparent reason, but have not encountered this myself (although one did commit suicide by trying a "Free Willy" up my Python).
Corys, on the other hand, are pretty much content buzzing around the bottom and don't eat algae (at least not to any appreciable extent). There are a lot of different species of cory and they range from less than 2" in length to around 3.5". There is much documentation about breeding many corys, and they generally do well in a community tank.
I currently have 3 otos in my 75, but no corys (at least not yet). I will probably get a school of c. sterbai or something like it for my 58, and perhaps some otos, too (although there is a real chance they could end up as snacks for the Altums).
Corys, on the other hand, are pretty much content buzzing around the bottom and don't eat algae (at least not to any appreciable extent). There are a lot of different species of cory and they range from less than 2" in length to around 3.5". There is much documentation about breeding many corys, and they generally do well in a community tank.
I currently have 3 otos in my 75, but no corys (at least not yet). I will probably get a school of c. sterbai or something like it for my 58, and perhaps some otos, too (although there is a real chance they could end up as snacks for the Altums).
I must agree with ashleigh...
Erpetoichthys calabaricus, the Rope or Reed Fish is indeed a Polypterid and I have personally kept this fish at lengths of over 24 inches. They are NOT, in any way, shape or form, scavengers and will happily devour any fish small enough for them to get in their mouth. Even fish that are MUCH faster than E. calabaricus will fall prey to them at night. I have NEVER seen a Rope (Reed) Fish eat snails. Mr. Garcia....have you REALLY kept Erpetoichthys calabaricus? I must say that, if you have, your experience has been dramatically different than mine....and I've kept MANY of them.
Botia macracantha does indeed reach lengths in excess of 12 inches though it takes them quite a while to grow that large. I had one many years ago that was in the 10+ inch range and was housed with some smaller bretheren in a 55 gallon tank.
Crayfish can, and will, eat plants.
In a study done quite a few years ago to test the tolerance of freshwater fish to salt, member of the Genus Corydoras were the first to die.
Erpetoichthys calabaricus, the Rope or Reed Fish is indeed a Polypterid and I have personally kept this fish at lengths of over 24 inches. They are NOT, in any way, shape or form, scavengers and will happily devour any fish small enough for them to get in their mouth. Even fish that are MUCH faster than E. calabaricus will fall prey to them at night. I have NEVER seen a Rope (Reed) Fish eat snails. Mr. Garcia....have you REALLY kept Erpetoichthys calabaricus? I must say that, if you have, your experience has been dramatically different than mine....and I've kept MANY of them.
Botia macracantha does indeed reach lengths in excess of 12 inches though it takes them quite a while to grow that large. I had one many years ago that was in the 10+ inch range and was housed with some smaller bretheren in a 55 gallon tank.
Crayfish can, and will, eat plants.
In a study done quite a few years ago to test the tolerance of freshwater fish to salt, member of the Genus Corydoras were the first to die.
ashleigh.....
It would be my pleasure to discuss any Polypterus. They are my all-time favorite fish and I've kept a number of species over the years. Right now the only one I've got is a gorgeous albino Polypterus senegalus but one of my local stores has promised to get in some P. delhezi in the near future.
I wrote a profile on Polypterus senegalus over on Aquarium Advice that you might enjoy reading. I included a picture of my new albino. Here's a link: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=21833
It would be my pleasure to discuss any Polypterus. They are my all-time favorite fish and I've kept a number of species over the years. Right now the only one I've got is a gorgeous albino Polypterus senegalus but one of my local stores has promised to get in some P. delhezi in the near future.
I wrote a profile on Polypterus senegalus over on Aquarium Advice that you might enjoy reading. I included a picture of my new albino. Here's a link: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=21833
Fruitbat:
I have thought about that, too. I hunted down Boutique Pets (or is it Pets Boutique?) today. Pretty impressive. The Botia kubotai are staying out of sight for the most part. One of the three (perhaps the youngest one? It has larger light spots) seems a lot more outgoing than the other two.
The Pterophyllum altum are also doing pretty well. I gave them a little bit of frozen bloodworms, mosquito larvae, and tubifex mixed together. They all ate.
I have thought about that, too. I hunted down Boutique Pets (or is it Pets Boutique?) today. Pretty impressive. The Botia kubotai are staying out of sight for the most part. One of the three (perhaps the youngest one? It has larger light spots) seems a lot more outgoing than the other two.
The Pterophyllum altum are also doing pretty well. I gave them a little bit of frozen bloodworms, mosquito larvae, and tubifex mixed together. They all ate.
There's got to be one in every crowd. Ah, water's fine, they're fine.
How do I get food to them? My mollies and tetras eat it all before the Otos even notice it. I put in an algae wafer and the mollies defend it like their mouthbrooders defending their young. Actually none of the Otos even went near it. So the Mollies were just fighting each other.
How do I get food to them? My mollies and tetras eat it all before the Otos even notice it. I put in an algae wafer and the mollies defend it like their mouthbrooders defending their young. Actually none of the Otos even went near it. So the Mollies were just fighting each other.
They didn't seem to notice it. Hmm.
Is it the size of the gravel that's bad for Corys or is it the edges? I bailed on the corys because my gravel is rather large. There aren't any or many sharp edges it's polished and coated with something so that it has a pink sheen. Could Corys handle that?It wasn't what I wanted, but the girl at LFS talked me out of Flourite. Now I can't wait to get rid of it.
Is it the size of the gravel that's bad for Corys or is it the edges? I bailed on the corys because my gravel is rather large. There aren't any or many sharp edges it's polished and coated with something so that it has a pink sheen. Could Corys handle that?It wasn't what I wanted, but the girl at LFS talked me out of Flourite. Now I can't wait to get rid of it.
