Bottom Feeding clean up crew for Poly tank

[Shadow Chaos]

Hello,
Looking for some recommendations for some tank mates to help pick up the un-eaten food in the tank and pick through the gravel of my Polypterus tank.

The polypterus is only about 3 in big at the moment, a baby. I plan for 2-3 of them in the tank.

Thanks.

 

[jaws7777]

Hello,
Looking for some recommendations for some tank mates to help pick up the un-eaten food in the tank and pick through the gravel of my Polypterus tank.

The polypterus is only about 3 in big at the moment, a baby. I plan for 2-3 of them in the tank.

Thanks.

What species of poly are you keeping ? I like Raphael cats for this purpose. I have a spotted that never grew past 3 ir 4 inches and i dont keep him qith the big boys but he does a great job in the grow out tank.
I think striped Raphaels get bigger

 

[monkeybike]

Maybe some large Hoplo cats, mine are constantly rooting through the pool filter sand in my tank.

 

[DMD123]

I had a hopplo cat when I kept upper jaws. But when I decided to go larger lower jaws, that was when I decided to rehome him. Im glad I did, my big endli would have tore it up.

If I did a cat I like the synodontis family. The featherfin are fairly inexpensive and not to difficult to get a hold of. They get about 8" and they have that tall fin, but even then a hungry lower jaw could take it down.... they are said to be able to get larger (11") which might stand a better chance.

 

[Polyaddict86]

Bala sharks will be good. And they can be you middle and top swimmer.

 

[thefredpit]

I just use shrimp and replace them as they get ate

 

[Shadow Chaos]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

What species of poly are you keeping ? I like Raphael cats for this purpose.

The common one, Polypterus Senegalus.

I had a hopplo cat when I kept upper jaws.

Thanks I was not away of this species as I have never seen one but it looks to be a good choice, if I can find one.

Bala sharks will be good. And they can be you middle and top swimmer.

Do Bala sharks clean the bottom of the tank though? I thought there were more like mid swimmers.

 

[Polyaddict86]

Thanks everyone for the replies.
Do Bala sharks clean the bottom of the tank though? I thought there were more like mid swimmers.

They do, they they sniff the sand from their mouth and sand cames out to their gills, similar to geo.

 

[Zilch]

I've got a pair of juruparis that cruise around, none of the polys give them any trouble but they're pretty much full grown at this point. They do a decent job of keeping the tank bottom pretty clean

 

[magpie]

Asking the same question in your other thread - what size tank?

Do you plan on keeping all Senegals?