Fish eating Gravel?

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Plecostomus
MFK Member
Nov 3, 2008
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Anyone ever had to worry about their fish eating gravel? My tinfoil barbs now like to pick up and drop the gravel around the tank. Do I have to worry about them eating it?
 
Just about all of my cichlids do this, nothing to worry about. I did have a clawed frog that accidentally swallowed one once. After he had to "get rid of it" he was a little more careful what he swallowed. :)
 
My tilapia love to build nests in the gravel, and I think I've seen them sloshing gravel around in their mouths with food to break up the pellets too. Personally I've given up on having the breeder tank neatly arranged.. I've also given up on having plants too.. Who knew you couldn't keep plants in a tank full of omnivores?!
 
thx. For all the replys. Sometimes he picks it up with food. and swallows the food then spits out the rocks?
 
I had some white sand type stuff that came from a salt setup, it would get covered in a green algae, the fish would put it in the mouth suck the agae off and spit it out.
 
Its possible for Bichirs to be killed by gravel consumption I know that much. But they are striking predators so.. I am not too worried about my other species doing it except the shovel nose the jury is out on him still.
 
I've had many fish do this and I've never had one actually eat it, they always spit it back out.
 
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