Looking for a bottom feeder

[vtx-coley]

For my 55 gallon. The residents are in my sig. I need something that will not compete with he Kribs and I'm not looking for a schooling/shoaling fish.

Temp at 76, pH is 7.6, pea sized gravel, silk plants.

 

[theotheragentm]

Are you looking for a bottom feeder specifically or a bottom dweller? Is the fish supposed to play cleanup for whatever falls to the floor?

 

[Gouramigirl71]

I love my pictus cats. They are fun to watch. But your white clouds might end up as lunch. Or something different is a pepper loach. I have one that's out all the time, and he's really cool looking.

 

[vtx-coley]

Are you looking for a bottom feeder specifically or a bottom dweller? Is the fish supposed to play cleanup for whatever falls to the floor?

Yeah, bottom feeder. Wouldn't they be kind of the same?

 

[erin14]

Yeah, bottom feeder. Wouldn't they be kind of the same?

In a sense, yes. But I think when most people say bottom feeders they are referring to Cories or plecos that search in the substrate and plants/decorations for food, where as bottom dwellers are obviously the fish that hang out in the lower levels like Kribs for example (atleast mine are bottom dwellers) but come to the top to eat or pick the pieces of food that fall beneath the surface of the water.

As for your question..the only thing that comes to mind are Cories to be honest. I know you said you don't want a schooling fish so I guess that somewhat eliminates cories, however, they aren't necessary a schooling fish, they are just more comfortable when theres others of the same kind with them. I have a breeding pair of kribs and I also have 4 different kinds of species of cories (12 cories in total) and they don't bother each other at all. Also, my Kribs do a good enough job of protecting their eggs that the cories don't get at them but, they do have a cave that they breed in that can only be entered one way so the cories can't get in when the Kribs are guarding it. When they aren't breeding (which isn't often) my cories and kribs never compete for food because I put enough in that I don't have that issue. Also, you can feed the cories after lights out when all the other fish have already eaten and you won't usually have to worry about the cories not getting anything.

 

[jpappy789]

you could try a synodontis species. Not necessarily schooling but like cories they appreciate groups. They are, however, pretty notorious for getting at eggs.

 

[vtx-coley]

Thanks for the ideas. I want to stay away from cories because they seem so peaceful. In fact I moved my cories to my 29 because I didn't want them to get hurt by the Kribs.

I'll look into synodontis.

 

[erin14]

Hmmmm well from experience, my Kribs have never harmed my cories and they are a breeding pair as I said before. The most they ever do is chase them away from their cave but thats it. Definetly check into the synodontis though!

 

[vtx-coley]

Glad to here your Kribs leave your Cories alone. I've been researching (maybe too much) P. Pulchers and some can be really aggressive when breeding. I've read some horror stories with the combo on forums. Mine might also be okay...I just don't want to take a chance. Maybe I'll just hold off on a bottom feeder until I see how Kribs act guarding their fry. The synodontis species are semi agressive, or so they are listed, but most get larger than what I want. I'd like to get 4" or smaller.

 

[jm1212]

try out some porthole catfish. they are related to corydoras and share many of their behaviors, but are more torpedo-shaped and considerably bigger, growing to at least 4 inches long. porthole catfish swim around the middle of the tank, but swim down to the bottom to feed (these guys are bottom feeders but mid-dwellers ). they like to be in groups but arent necessarily schooling catfish.

or, look at rubberlip plecos. they can be a bit tertorial around feeding time, but as long as you leave food for them away from the kribs, they wont compete.