What Eats Fish Poop In Tank
Fish poop is one of the biggest reasons that people hate having aquariums. The truth is, all fish poop, and those cute little goldfish are no exception. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as just scooping it out of the water with a net. If you leave too much fish poop in your tank for too long, you are asking for a myriad of problems like algae blooms, cloudy water or even death of your fish. So how do you deal with fish poop? What eats fish poop in tank?
Algae eaters
Algae eaters are fish that eat algae, which is a type of bacteria that grows on plants. They also eat the poop of other fish in the tank, so if you have a tank with many small fish that poop a lot, an algae eater could help keep your tank clean.
Algae eaters can be bottom dwellers or top dwellers; it depends on whether they like to swim around in open water or hide under rocks. If you put an algae eater in with aggressive fish who will chase and attack them all day long, it’s possible that the algae eater will become aggressive itself (because it’s scared). This isn’t very good for either the algae eater or its owner!
Some examples of popular types of algae-eaters are guppies and plecostomus (see image). These types tend to be inexpensive but not necessarily very hardy if they’re not cared for properly; if you don’t have experience keeping fish alive before getting one as an adult then I would recommend starting off with something else instead like goldfish–they’re very easy to care for because they’re freshwater creatures so they don’t need special equipment like saltwater tanks do!
Some fish eat poop
If you want to keep your tank clean, there are a few ways that you can do it.
One option is to get some fish that will eat the poop that other fish produce. These are called “cleanup” fish and they will help keep your tank clean by eating the waste of other fish in the tank. Some examples include:
- Siamese Algae Eaters (Crossocheilus siamensis) – These little guys love to graze on algae, but they’ll also pick off any leftover food or uneaten bits from plants/decorations in your aquarium as well!
- Otocinclus Catfish (Otocinclus macrospilos) – These catfish have very tiny mouths so they will only eat very small pieces of leftover food and fish poop, but their presence means less food for algae and less waste accumulating on the bottom of your aquarium!
Bottom feeders
If you have a bottom feeder in your tank, they can eat fish poop. However, they aren’t the best choice for an aquarium.
A good way to gauge whether or not a bottom feeder is suitable for your aquarium is to look at their diet and what they typically eat. Some of these fish will eat anything (like algae), while others will only eat specific types of food. If the fish you want eats algae, then it may also gobble up any leftover nutrients from your tank’s inhabitants as well; however, if that particular species only eats dead plant matter or specialized foods like brine shrimp, then chances are slim that your poop will end up being part of its regular meal plan.
Other animals in tank
You might be surprised to learn that many fish have various types of parasites, including tapeworms, flukes and even small crustaceans. These are often harmless to the fish but may not be good for the aquarium environment. If you see signs of these parasites in your aquarium, it’s a good idea to start treating the water with a parasite-killing medication.
If you aren’t worried about other fish getting sick from their poop, then there are plenty of options for cleaning up after them. One option is snails (often called pond snails). These creatures don’t just eat algae; they also eat dead plants and decaying matter in ponds as well as any fish poop that falls into their habitat. You can also use shrimp or crabs if you want something more predatory than herbivorous!
Eliminating fish poop either through water changes or food choices is the best way to deal with it.
The easiest way to deal with fish poop is through water changes. Fish produce a large amount of waste so maintenance will be required for removing this from their environment. It is possible for you to clean up the tank manually by siphoning the water out, but it can be time consuming and frustrating when dealing with larger tanks or many species of fish that have different diets.
The best way to remove the waste without having to get hands-on with your aquarium is through water changes; however, even this method requires some work on your part as well as regular maintenance in order for it to be effective. The goal should always be minimizing or eliminating any excess nutrients in your aquarium; whether those nutrients are food pellets or uneaten food particles makes no difference because they both require filtration before entering our waterways where they pollute natural ecosystems downstream from us (and ultimately end up back at our house).
So, there you have it. You can either reduce the amount of fish poop your tank produces or increase the number of organisms that will eat it. That’s the best way to deal with it.