I'm not looking for one. Only asking because I recently switched to sand. The other day there was a bunch of fish waste on the sand I thought I was going to have to clean this weekend. Yesterday I noticed it had almost all disappeared. I have mostly new world cichlids, 2 pacus, 2 spotted raphael catfish, and a pleco. I wouldn't think any of them would eat that or any fish for that matter. Any insight would be appreciated though. Thanks.
Do any fish eat fish waste?
- Thread starter aaronb
- Start date
Ballsy move with the 2 raphael's I'm suprized their not always going at it. I have sand as well and I find since the fish waste can't actually get in between the sand much like it does with gravel as the fish swim around and kick it up it finds it's way to the filter. As far as I know the answer to your question is no. I'm basing that off the fact waste would have absolutely no nutritional value and probably tastes like crap so I don't see why a fish would.
They're only an 2 inches right now, but they seem to be getting along so far. Yeah I know generally when I see the cichlids grab some poop thinking it's food they spit it right back out. I had wondered about it getting kicked up toward the filter by the fish. That would a lot more reasonable. Thanks.
I'm not aware of any fish that eats feces, at least not as its primary diet. Some will be eaten unintentionally. It's more likely that the poop was disturbed enough to be sucked up into a filter.
No problem, you should look into getting "Waste Control" from nutrafin. I use it once a week and right after cleaning it makes waste and what not clump together so it's easier for the filter to suck up/you suck up with a vac. Plus it keeps nitrites and nitrates down and who wouldn't appreciate that.
Thanks again. I'll look into that. You wouldn't happen to know the growth rate on the spotted raphael catfish would you? They've probably doubled in length since I got them a month ago, but look way bulkier.
Hey get some eartheaters. They are a godsend in a South American sand tank. I have 2 satan Jurapari in with some pacus, big RTC, oscar, pictus cat, and a few others. They clean the sand like crazy and i dont really have to use a gravel vac when doing water changes.
