Sand eaters lol

[Km84]

SO I just converted my tank to a sand instead of stone and I noticed my green terror likes to take a mouthful of sand and spit it out. Constantly! Lol is this normal?

 

[Cichlid Kid]

Yep. Its normal. Alot of my cichlids sift thru the sand. There's no ill effects that i know of.

 

[Km84]

Ok. Lol he spits it at the others so it's quite funny lol .

 

[1 LARA]

My Mollys and Swordtais do that alot and the Cory Cats take sand in their mouth and exaust it out their gills.

 

[Maxkolbe]

My cichlids do it too and there's actually a species of cichlid called a dirt eater that finds it's food by sifting sand!

 

[k.mascher86]

They are really awesome to watch when they take a mouthful of sand and spit it at one another........I just got a pair that I pick up from my lfs in a week. He's letting me keep them there till my tank is cycled.

 

[5x5]

My cichlids do it too and there's actually a species of cichlid called a dirt eater that finds it's food by sifting sand!

I'm pretty sure there is no Cichlid called a dirt eater. Are you thinking of an Eartheater?

 

[Maxkolbe]

Yea that was it, my bad

 

[christine2012]

Typical behavior. I think its cute until they spit it in my filter intake!