What Interesting Bottom Feeders Are There, Other Than Plecos and Cories?

[Lt.]

Like I said, other than cories and plecos, what other interesting bottom feeders are there.

 

[sbruce75]

Bottom Feeders

Like I said, other than cories and plecos, what other interesting bottom feeders are there.

Botia/loaches are nice & colorful bottom feeders. I recently purchased a whiptail catfish...VERY COOL FISH! They can school together or you can just get 1. The same goes for the botia/loaches. With the botia/loaches, sometimes they lay on their side & play dead, like a dog...very fun to watch. I suggest using Google.com to look at the various types of botia/loaches, as there are many to chose from. Hope this helps!

 

[Tetra1990]

I really like my black kuhli loaches. At feeding time they are like a pack! I used to have a striped peacock eel. Not really sure if you'd consider eels bottom feeders but still cool.

 

[Scottyhorse]

I like Rosy Loaches. Very cute, and they stay small.

 

[bigbanker]

Snails, shrimp, dwarf crays, and otos just to name a few

 

[Laser]

The pictus catfish is my personal favorite.

 

[Lt.]

Ok, cool, now, what interesting bottom feeders would look interesting and be compatible with 7 rummy nose Tetra, hatchetfish, von Rio tetra, danios, half a dozen cories, 3 Angelfish, ghost shrimp, and a few mystery snails. In a 45 long with smooth gravel, and medium planted with quality fake plants. (please, save the fake plant argument for another time)

 

[Darylb]

I'd go with the Kuhli loaches they are awesome I just picked up a few more for my tank they defiantly love being in groups tho so I'd get maybe 4 or 5

 

[Scottyhorse]

My vote is for the Rosy Loaches. They are super cute and you could have a big 'herd' of them in your tank. You could probably go with about 8-10, since they only get to a little over an inch. Maybe you could have even more.

 

[Cactuspixie]

With the botia/loaches, sometimes they lay on their side & play dead, like a dog...very fun to watch.

Fun?! My yoyos made me a nervous wreck! Sometimes I had to touch them to check they were alive. Lol

 

[bettaowner]

It wouldnt work here but freshwater rays are cool bottom feeders.

 

[Taiken5968]

You HAVE to get some kuhli loaches , and if you can find them, pictus catfish.

 

[Coursair]

Kuhlis prefer sand, but if they can burrow they are happy.

Rosy Loaches are nice and social.

I love Cories, there are hundreds of species and colors, but other types ?

Banjo Cats
Amano Shrimp
Dwarf Crayfish
Check Loaches Online and Planet Catfish for more ideas and best care guides.

Just remember the rare/exotic species are often not easy to keep alive. Common species are often common because they are hardy.

 

[Coursair]

People please stop recommending Pictus Cats.
Babies are lovely. They get big and EAT the small fish just like many wide mouth Catfish.

His Tetras etc would be a meal overnight. Even small Pictus have BIG mouths.

 

[Taiken5968]

People please stop recommending Pictus Cats.
Babies are lovely. They get big and EAT the small fish just like many wide mouth Catfish.

His Tetras etc would be a meal overnight. Even small Pictus have BIG mouths.

You have a good point there. But I have had no trouble... Yet.

 

[Scottyhorse]

Oh, just wait.

 

[Lt.]

I don't want pictus, I had one, ate some zebra danios of mine. Given that was at the beginning of my hobby days. So, other than those...

 

[Lt.]

I like the look of the rose loaches, but whether or not my LFS has/can get them is the question. And they top out at about one inch? Would they be safe with 3 Angelfish in the tank, I forgot to mention them earlier. Also, are there any, like blueish colored ones?

 

[Scottyhorse]

I know The Wet Spot Tropical Fish has them. In the wild they get to about an inch, but in the aquarium they get a little bit larger.

I am not thinking there are any blueish ones.

 

[Coursair]

I like the look of the rose loaches, but whether or not my LFS has/can get them is the question. And they top out at about one inch? Would they be safe with 3 Angelfish in the tank, I forgot to mention them earlier. Also, are there any, like blueish colored ones?

Very few FW fish are blue. There are some crazy patterned Loaches. Only a few stay small enough and stay peaceful.

Angels might be too much for Rosie's.
look at
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-striata
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/botia-kubotai