Aquarium Scavengers and Bottomfish
Aquarium scavengers are the working fish of the aquarium. Most fish are there simply because of their interesting personalities or colouration.They are very rarely "useful" in the aquarium environment. However, there is one set of fish that is usually selected for their ability to clean a certain part of the tank. There are three basic types that work hard in your aquarium, these are the fish that use the wastes in the aquarium as their main food source.
Algae Eaters
The algae eaters are a very diverse set of fish, they come in quite a variety of shapes and sizes, but most can be identified by the sucker mouth they often have.These mouths are specially adapted to scraping and removing algae growths on the surfaces of the habitat. In nature these can be rocks, logs and a variety of other hard surfaces that support the growth of algae, a one celled plant that can either anchor to a surface or be suspended in the water.
There is no fish that is interested in removing suspended algae, that must be done mechanically by a filter.
Catfish
Catfish are the janitors of the system. They often work tirelessly through the substrate to dislodge and consume wastes that have fallen in there.No aquarium filter is powerful enough to remove all the solid wastes from the aquarium before at least some of them fall into the gravel at the bottom. Catfish work through the gravel and as they disturb it; food is found in the process.
There are a wide variety of scavengers available in Centre D'Animaux NATURE Pet's six store's aquariums. You should be able to find exactly the type you need for your particular aquarium.
Loaches
Loaches are the third janitor-type fish in the scavenger category. They are not algae eaters and often find that standard fish food are quite palatable as well.In this facet, they are not like either algae eaters or catfish. What does place them in this category is many loaches penchant for eating snails.
Snails are a nuisance for many aquarists who keep live plants. Whenever a new live plant is added to an aquarium, there is the danger that a few these hitchhikers are along for the ride.
Snails, either live or deposited as eggs on the leaves will do very well in most tropical community freshwater aquariums. They often begin to multiply out of control.
When this occurs there are two possible remedies, use a product that kills snails, which often can be somewhat too effective, or select a fish that will do it. There are some loaches that will enjoy clearing out as population of snails rapidly, effectively and safely.
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