The short answer is: no fish eats poop in aquarium. Some fish may accidentally ingest poop as they scavenge the bottom of the tank, but they do not deliberately consume it as a part of their diet. In fact, fish poop has no nutritional value and can be harmful to fish health if ingested in large quantities. Therefore, it is a myth that there are fish that can keep your aquarium clean by eating poop.
However, there are some fish that can help reduce the amount of poop in your aquarium by eating other types of waste, such as algae, leftover food, and dead plant matter. These fish are known as scavengers or detritivores, and they play an important role in maintaining the balance of the aquarium ecosystem. In this article, we will explore some of the best scavenger fish for freshwater and saltwater aquariums, and how to care for them properly.
Freshwater aquariums can benefit from having some scavenger fish that can help remove excess waste from the substrate, the decorations, and the glass walls. Here are some of the most popular and effective freshwater scavenger fish:
Corydoras Catfish
Corydoras catfish are one of the most common and beloved scavenger fish for freshwater aquariums. They are small, peaceful, and active bottom dwellers that use their whisker-like barbels and suction-cup mouths to search for food in the gravel. They will eat any edible scraps that they find, including algae, uneaten flakes, pellets, frozen foods, and live foods. They will also nibble on fish poop, but they will not eat it entirely.
Corydoras catfish are schooling fish that need to be kept in groups of at least six of the same species. They prefer soft, slightly acidic water with a temperature of 72-79°F. They are compatible with most community fish, but they should not be kept with aggressive or large fish that may harass or eat them. They also need a well-filtered tank with regular water changes, as they are sensitive to poor water quality and ammonia.
Plecos are another popular choice for freshwater scavenger fish. They are also bottom dwellers that use their sucker mouths to attach to surfaces and scrape off algae and other organic matter. They are especially good at cleaning algae from the glass walls and the decorations. Some plecos will also eat fish poop, but they will not rely on it as their main food source.
Plecos are a diverse group of fish that come in different sizes, shapes, and colors. Some of the smaller and more suitable species for home aquariums are the bristlenose pleco, the clown pleco, and the rubber lip pleco. These plecos can grow up to 6 inches and need a tank of at least 20 gallons. They prefer warm, slightly alkaline water with a temperature of 74-80°F. They are generally peaceful and can coexist with most community fish, but they may be territorial with other plecos or similar fish. They also need a varied diet that includes algae wafers, vegetables, and occasional meaty foods.
Goldfish
Goldfish are not scavenger fish per se, but they are notorious for eating their own poop and the poop of other fish. This is because they have a very high metabolism and a voracious appetite, and they will eat anything that fits in their mouth. However, this does not mean that goldfish can survive on poop alone, or that they can keep the tank clean by eating poop. On the contrary, goldfish poop has no nutritional value and can cause digestive problems and infections if ingested in large amounts. Moreover, goldfish are very messy fish that produce a lot of waste themselves, and they need frequent water changes and filtration to keep the water quality high.
Goldfish are not suitable for most community aquariums, as they have different water requirements and can outgrow and outcompete most other fish. Goldfish need a large tank of at least 20 gallons per fish, with a temperature of 65-75°F and a pH of 6.5-7.5. They are omnivorous and need a balanced diet that includes flakes, pellets, vegetables, and occasional live or frozen foods. They are social and can be kept in groups of the same or similar varieties, such as common, comet, fantail, oranda, or ryukin.
Saltwater aquariums can also benefit from having some scavenger fish that can help reduce the amount of waste in the tank. Here are some of the most popular and effective saltwater scavenger fish:
Rabbitfish
Rabbitfish are herbivorous fish that can help control the growth of algae in saltwater aquariums. They have a rabbit-like face and a venomous spine on their dorsal fin. They use their small, protruding teeth to graze on algae and other plant matter that grow on the rocks, the sand, and the corals. They will also eat fish poop, but they will not depend on it as their main food source.
Rabbitfish are schooling fish that need to be kept in groups of at least three of the same species. They prefer warm, slightly alkaline water with a temperature of 72-78°F and a pH of 8.1-8.4. They are peaceful and can coexist with most reef-safe fish, but they may be aggressive with other rabbitfish or similar fish. They also need a varied diet that includes algae, seaweed, vegetables, and occasional meaty foods.
Scat
Scat are omnivorous fish that can help remove waste from saltwater aquariums. They have a disc-shaped body and a striped or spotted pattern. They use their strong jaws and teeth to crush and eat anything that they find in the substrate, including algae, detritus, worms, crustaceans, and fish poop. They will also eat poop from other animals, such as birds and humans, if they live in brackish or freshwater habitats.
Scat are schooling fish that need to be kept in groups of at least five of the same species. They prefer brackish water with a salinity of 1.005-1.015 and a temperature of 75-82°F. They are semi-aggressive and can coexist with other brackish fish, but they may nip at the fins of slow or long-finned fish. They also need a varied diet that includes flakes, pellets, vegetables, and occasional live or frozen foods.
Surgeonfish are another herbivorous fish that can help control the algae in saltwater aquariums. They have a laterally compressed body and a sharp spine on their tail that resembles a surgeon’s scalpel. They use their small, protruding teeth to scrape off algae and other plant matter that grow on the rocks, the sand, and the corals. They will also eat fish poop, but they will not rely on it as their main food source.
Surgeonfish are schooling fish that need to be kept in groups of at least three of the same species. They prefer warm, slightly alkaline water with a temperature of 72-78°F and a pH of 8.1-8.4. They are peaceful and can coexist with most reef-safe fish, but they may be territorial with other surgeonfish or similar fish. They also need a varied diet that includes algae, seaweed, vegetables, and occasional meaty foods.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is no fish that eats poop in aquarium. However, there are some fish that can help reduce the amount of poop in your aquarium by eating other types of waste, such as algae, leftover food, and dead plant matter. These fish are known as scavengers or detritivores, and they play an important role in maintaining the balance of the aquarium ecosystem. Some of the best scavenger fish for freshwater and saltwater aquariums are corydoras catfish, plecos, goldfish, rabbitfish, scat, and surgeonfish. These fish need proper care and feeding, and they cannot replace regular water changes and filtration. By choosing the right scavenger fish for your aquarium, you can enjoy a cleaner and healthier tank for you and your fish.
