So, if I were to stock a tank with South Asian/SE Asian fish (gouramis, barbs, loaches, rasboras, &c.) and I wanted to stick with animals from that area, what would I buy for a clean-up crew? (Note, this is for a future 40g planted tank.)
Clean up crew for a South Asian tank?
- Thread starter irishspy
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Lupin
Registered Member
- Sep 21, 2006
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- Paul
I would never consider buying a fish just to 'clean up' the tank however you can keep true Siamese Algae Eaters to keep hair type algae at bay. What is your final stocklist anyway?
I don't have a final list, because I'm still noodling with the possibilities. As for "clean up crew," I'm just borrowing the expression I've seen often used here for fish that tend to be thought of as scavengers: picking up excess food, &c. Thanks for reminding me of the SAE; I'd forgotten about that.
You mentioned loaches - they are bottom dwellers, and will tend to eat from the substrate. Some will also swim at all levels and eat from the surface or from the water column as foods sink; it really depends on the individual habits of each fish. They're social and need to be kept in groups, so watch your stocking levels carefully and stick to the small loaches (Kuhlii, Angelicus, etc.) as 40g isn't very large.
A few things to note, however: Most loaches require excellent water conditions, and when you say "...picking up excess food, &c." you should give up on the et cetera part. There is no such thing as a fish which will eat waste, and even if there were, any fish that eats is a fish that poops, and therefore creates more waste. You shouldn't add any fish or other creature to your tank unless you genuinely like or are interested in them, rather than merely wish them to perform some duty. Also, if there's an excess of food left to gather in the substrate, then you're overfeeding.
I'm sorry if this comes across as rude; I don't mean to be. I have two Asian tanks myself and it's one of my favourite biotopes.
A few things to note, however: Most loaches require excellent water conditions, and when you say "...picking up excess food, &c." you should give up on the et cetera part. There is no such thing as a fish which will eat waste, and even if there were, any fish that eats is a fish that poops, and therefore creates more waste. You shouldn't add any fish or other creature to your tank unless you genuinely like or are interested in them, rather than merely wish them to perform some duty. Also, if there's an excess of food left to gather in the substrate, then you're overfeeding.
I'm sorry if this comes across as rude; I don't mean to be. I have two Asian tanks myself and it's one of my favourite biotopes.
No, not rude at all; I appreciate the advice. You can rest easy, though, that I'm careful with my fish and try not to overfeed.
echoofformless
Peat Advocate & Defender Of Snails
Amano shrimp are fun to have and are far more "scavenger" than any fish since, well, shrimp are scavengers!
One two cent note however - Southeast Asia is a very big place and has literally hundreds of different biotopes; many drastically dissimilar not only in type (river, pool, stream, floodplain, etc) but also in chemistry. In other words keeping say, tiger barbs with a gourami really isn't much more in keeping with either species' biotope than it would be to keep the gourami with some tetras. I guess I'm suggesting a more narrowed approach - pick something either a little more geographically specific (ie Malay Peninsula, Indian river, etc) or better yet, something with more specific water conditions (Blackwater pool, clearwater stream, etc.) You will find the research fascinating and also come out with happier fish since you will be more closely meeting not only their water conditions, but also stocking with species that are more tolerant of each other and closer in disposition.
One two cent note however - Southeast Asia is a very big place and has literally hundreds of different biotopes; many drastically dissimilar not only in type (river, pool, stream, floodplain, etc) but also in chemistry. In other words keeping say, tiger barbs with a gourami really isn't much more in keeping with either species' biotope than it would be to keep the gourami with some tetras. I guess I'm suggesting a more narrowed approach - pick something either a little more geographically specific (ie Malay Peninsula, Indian river, etc) or better yet, something with more specific water conditions (Blackwater pool, clearwater stream, etc.) You will find the research fascinating and also come out with happier fish since you will be more closely meeting not only their water conditions, but also stocking with species that are more tolerant of each other and closer in disposition.