Favourite Bottom Feeder

[jake37]

flash pleco; gold zebra loach; kuhli loach; sterbai cory; ....

The text on them say they can be problem makers and aggressive. Is yours a bit aggressive? 4 inches in 3 years - pretty slow growing or maybe a runt ?
--
Actually this article:
Syncrossus berdmorei — Loaches Online

indicate there is a similar fish S. beauforti that only grows to 4 inches.

I've had him for three years & he is only 4" inches long. Very slow growing. They allegedly grow to 9" - 10" inches.

 

[A201]

I originally bought 6 or 7 Berdmoreis. The pictured Berdmorei badgered his sibblings to the point of starvation.
He isn't particularly aggressive towards tankmates, which include a group of Red Tail Loaches & African Cichlids. He is dominate over the bigger Red Tails & can hold his own with the Cichlids.
I dont believe the Berdmorei is stunted. He's lives in a very spacious tank, great appetite.

 

[Chad8282]

i love my gold zebra loaches the pair clean my entire 40g well and they are super amusing

the beginning and towards end they look good

 

[jake37]

Just be aware when they get older they will jump - so you need to make sure your tank is covered or expect to find a few on the floor. They are pretty good at finding the cracks in the back fiber glass screening (very flexible) is very cheap - $10 should get plenty and can be easily cut and won't rust.

i love my gold zebra loaches the pair clean my entire 40g well and they are super amusing

the beginning and towards end they look good

 

[Chad8282]

Just be aware when they get older they will jump - so you need to make sure your tank is covered or expect to find a few on the floor. They are pretty good at finding the cracks in the back fiber glass screening (very flexible) is very cheap - $10 should get plenty and can be easily cut and won't rust.

yes i also got some Olympic jumpers my Buenos ares tetras jump clean out the water for flakes thats why i tend to keep my water level a tad lower with a glass top but they never are on top portion of tank

 

[fish47]

my favorites are BN plecos for sure!

 

[Gamer]

yo-yo loaches for sure

 

[Chad8282]

yo-yo loaches for sure

about to pick up 6 soon i love them looks just like gold zebras but silver

 

[Cody]

I know this sounds funny. But I have a hard time with some of the loaches like Kulhis because they remind me of snakes

 

[Chad8282]

I know this sounds funny. But I have a hard time with some of the loaches like Kulhis because they remind me of snakes

I agree with the kulhis I hate snakes but the shape is probably my favorite looking fish on the yo yos and gold zebras

 

[Cody]

I agree with the kulhis I hate snakes but the shape is probably my favorite looking fish on the yo yos and gold zebras

I’ll agree they are very cool looking. But do I want my hand in the tank with them...Nope!

lol

 

[qldmick]

clown loaches

 

[GuppyGal7]

I love bottom dwelling fish like these guys. So cute and derpy. I was wondering what everyone's favourites were. For me, it's a tie between Corys and Kuhlis. I love 'em both!

 

[LHAquatics]

Cories are my favorite because they can go with all fish except fish that will eat them. They are very peaceful, hardy, cute, and stay small. I have them with a betta and they are peacefull. Khuli loaches are the runner-up because they are an oddball fish, are hardy, but tend to hide.

 

[GuppyGal7]

Cories are my favorite because they can go with all fish except fish that will eat them. They are very peaceful, hardy, cute, and stay small. I have them with a betta and they are peacefull. Khuli loaches are the runner-up because they are an oddball fish, are hardy, but tend to hide.

Woah, definitely had no clue based on your username. Gotta love Corys though. My favourite are pygmies but unfortunately I only have 3 because there sold out everywhere. The place I usually get them from only had 3 and they're still trying to order more in. What's your favourite type? I'm going to take a wild guess based on your pfp and say albino?

 

[wintryfish]

Siamese algae eaters are the best cleanup crew out there, hands down! They have such amazing personalities and are the funniest little fish to watch. It's so sad though, they get abused so much because some people don't do any research on them.
But just look at how they decimated this algae in under 2 weeks!!

 

[LHAquatics]

Woah, definitely had no clue based on your username. Gotta love Corys though. My favourite are pygmies but unfortunately I only have 3 because there sold out everywhere. The place I usually get them from only had 3 and they're still trying to order more in. What's your favourite type? I'm going to take a wild guess based on your pfp and say albino?

when I created my username it was just random. And yes, albinos are my favoprite cause they are the only ones I had

 

[Corylover123]

I don’t consider my fish as cleanup crew lol but I love cories because that’s my namesake

Palateus are the best, they can overwinter in a pond, and go up to 80-90 degrees because Argentina gets super hot and super cold 60-80 is best range for health and they can go into stagnant blackwater or a 40 degree high flow stream and they are super iridescent and they are very social and dance around a lot

 

[GuppyGal7]

when I created my username it was just random. And yes, albinos are my favoprite cause they are the only ones I had

They are pretty great.

Siamese algae eaters are the best cleanup crew out there, hands down! They have such amazing personalities and are the funniest little fish to watch. It's so sad though, they get abused so much because some people don't do any research on them.
But just look at how they decimated this algae in under 2 weeks!!

Darn, that's impressive. It sucks they are often in tanks too small for them. Personally, I prefer fish with tiny bioloads, so I would never get them, but ****, they certainly live up to the name.

 

[BigManAquatics]

I love my snails for cleanup, do great with algae and extra food on the bottom.

 

[GuppyGal7]

I love my snails for cleanup, do great with algae and extra food on the bottom.

I'm hopeless with invertebrates unfortunately. I've tried mystery snails and shrimp, they just don't do well in my water. I have some shrimp but they certainly don't thrive, and any mystery snail I've added has died in a few days. I probably have too much copper or something, I'm not bothered to figure out what it is because I don't want to kill anymore snails. Hence why I stick to kuhlis and corys, fish seem to thrive in my water compared to invertebrates. Snails are extremely adorable to watch though. Zooooom.

 

[Nianichole]

I really love bottom dwellers, but my current favorite are my striped Kuhli Loaches. They are so different looking and fun to watch. Like little eels. They're actually pretty funny. They drape themselves in plants, hang out together, and bury themselves in the substrate sometimes. I really enjoy watching them.

 

[GuppyGal7]

I really love bottom dwellers, but my current favorite are my striped Kuhli Loaches. They are so different looking and fun to watch. Like little eels. They're actually pretty funny. They drape themselves in plants, hang out together, and bury themselves in the substrate sometimes. I really enjoy watching them.

I have 6 in quarantine right now and fell in love with them! I plan on getting 6 more in a month when my qt tank is empty.

 

[LHAquatics]

I have 6 in quarantine right now and fell in love with them! I plan on getting 6 more in a month when my qt tank is empty.

where do you buy them though?

 

[GuppyGal7]

where do you buy them though?

A local place. I'm in Australia, so I doubt it'll be helpful for you. If no place near you sells them, you could probably order them online? They ship better than corys and are cheaper, so if you're interested ordering online will be fine.

 

[LHAquatics]

A local place. I'm in Australia, so I doubt it'll be helpful for you. If no place near you sells them, you could probably order them online? They ship better than corys and are cheaper, so if you're interested ordering online will be fine.

I if I do decide to buy Khuli Loaches I will order them online because the ones near me are black khuli loaches which aren't appealing to me.

 

[GuppyGal7]

I if I do decide to buy Khuli Loaches I will order them online because the ones near me are black khuli loaches which aren't appealing to me.

Understandable. I have banded loaches (I believe that's what they're called, the ones with the dark brown spots/pattenrs), they're the best imo. Let me know if you ever get them!

 

[Nianichole]

I if I do decide to buy Khuli Loaches I will order them online because the ones near me are black khuli loaches which aren't appealing to me.

I found mine at my local fish store, but I had to ask because I didn't see them anywhere (they were all hiding in a castle). I also found them at a local chain home and garden store that is only in my state I think...

Aqua Huna sells them online and their shipping is reasonable.
Kuhli Loach - 10 pack

Aquarium Co-op endorses them, so I trust they must be pretty good. They're a wholesaler so prices are affordable, but you have to buy a group of 10.

 

[GuppyGal7]

I found mine at my local fish store, but I had to ask because I didn't see them anywhere (they were all hiding in a castle). I also found them at a local chain home and garden store that is only in my state I think...

Aqua Huna sells them online and their shipping is reasonable.
Kuhli Loach - 10 pack

Aquarium Co-op endorses them, so I trust they must be pretty good. They're a wholesaler so prices are affordable, but you have to buy a group of 10.

10 is a great starting group size, and... ya know, if you fall in love with them you can always get 10 more . Their bioload is tiny, I've heard people say it's smaller than that of a betta.

 

[NotSoAggressiveAquatics]

I find it kinda funny when people say plecos are a cleanup crew

 

[GuppyGal7]

I find it kinda funny when people say plecos are a cleanup crew

Sorry, I was counting plecos as bottom feeders. They are, right?

 

[NotSoAggressiveAquatics]

Sorry, I was counting plecos as bottom feeders. They are, right?

I think they are considered that. I was saying I think it’s funny because plecos have a huge bioload and leave your tank the same if not messier than it was before from my experience.

 

[GuppyGal7]

I think they are considered that. I was saying I think it’s funny because plecos have a huge bioload and leave your tank the same if not messier than it was before from my experience.

I'm aware. I just listed all the popular bottom dwelling fish. You're definitely correct though.

 

[LoachWhisperer]

Mine are loaches

 

[Neurogirl1515]

I ADORE loaches! I have a baby striped Kuhli, a yo-yo, and a dojo (who actually interacts with humans and will come swim against my fingers to get pet and suckle lol. His name is Paul, and I always tell my boyfriend to stay in line because Paul is trying to replace him lol). I also have a rainbow shark that I’m very fond of! Him and the yo-yo are the OGs of the tank. I’ve had them for about a year now and they survived living with turtles before I transitioned to strictly fish keeping

 

[MyFishAddiction]

Mine are loaches

Why am I not surprised? lol
Though gotta sa ADF, they are the only ones I've actually kept.

 

[A201]

I've kept so many different varieties of bottom feeders, which included Fancy Plecos, Corydoras & uncommon Synodontis, but my favorites, hands down, are Botia Loaches.

 

[LoachWhisperer]

I also agree with you, My very first Loach was a Botia almorhae.

 

[A201]

I currently keep YoYo's, Red Tails & a Berdmorei Tiger Loach. Really enjoy them.

 

[LoachWhisperer]

I currently have khuli's housed in a 20g, My yoyo's are being kept in a 50 gallon tank with a Skunk loach.

 

[SouthAmericanCichlids]

Why do you love botias so much?

 

[LoachWhisperer]

Why do you love botias so much?

They are so Enjoyable in the aquarium hobby! They are also good community fish.

 

[Maryellen]

Everyone is saying loaches, but... what about otos?! Hands down one of the most entertaining fish I have, and they’re just hilarious to watch, with their cute little faces. Easy to keep too, not to mention how clean they make my tank.

 

[SpottedKit329]

Snails, (Mostly Rabbit snails)
I have a Rabbit snail that lives with my Betta in a 5 Gallon.
Yes Pepsi (my Betta fish) Is nice, I have seen no nipping.
My favorite thing about them is their
Squidward nose / Elephant trunk

 

[ShannyB]

I couldn't agree more with loving Otos! I love the way they zoom about and then puff all their fins out to stop mid-swim. Or the way they sort of remind me of penguins when they stick to the glass and smooth all their fins back. And especially how they dance and wiggle at each other (and the other tank inhabitants) almost as if they're saying "let's play!" I don't even care if they never clean another bit of my tank...in fact mine are a bit fat and lazy since I feed them repashy and veggies often! If I had a giant tank I'd have hundreds of Otos! But, it's all about getting healthy ones which is difficult. I lost my first 5 because they were so starved before I ever got them. If I could find US tank-bred ones I'd pay extra just to know they weren't wild caught.

 

[St3v3]

Hey Everybody

Just for fun what’s your favorite bottom fish besides a Cory!

Something that works in groups on its own. List your pick or multiples if you have different and answers based on tank size.

I know cories are a staple so it will be nice to hear everyone’s favorites that against popular opinion.

I personally have a liking toward bumblebee catfish since they have the big catfish look without the big catfish requirements. I also like bamboo shrimp.I like having a large shrimp in my tanks plus the flower like appendages coming off their arms is a plus

 

[bettafairy]

I personally have a liking toward bumblebee catfish since they have the big catfish look without the big catfish requirements. I also like bamboo shrimp.I like having a large shrimp in my tanks plus the flower like appendages coming off their arms is a plus

What size tank do you have the bamboo shrimp in? I’ve been interested in them.