The bottom feeders in North America, which feed at the bottom of lakes, Rivers, and Oceans, include some of the oldest and most incredible species. These fish have developed unique characteristics that help them find food on the water floor. With ventral mouths pointing down and small and sensitive appendages called barbels, they can easily detect and consume invertebrates, clams, fish, worms, and other organisms that live below.
These bottom-feeder fish are not only interesting for scientists but also for aquarium lovers. Many fans are attracted to these fish due to their unique behavior and exhibition. While some, such as Plocos, are very popular, they often grow a lot for small home aquariums. However, its existence in recreation presents particular adaptations and the unique role of these fish in the aquatic ecosystem.
Types of Bottom Feeders:
Bottom feeders have a unique advantage in their ability to consume organic material, making maintaining a healthy water environment essential. Many of these species are carnivorous or detritivorous, feeding on other animals or decomposing objects. The bottom feeders are particularly useful for aquarium lovers since they can help clean the tanks, which consume algae and decompose plant material. Let’s explore some of the most popular types of bottom feeders.
- Sturgeons:
Sturgeons are an ancient type of bottom-feeding fish whose lineage traces back 350 million years. These nearly prehistoric types of bottom-feeding fish can live in both freshwater and saltwater in North America, and some ocean species travel to rivers to spawn. Sturgeons have a unique appearance, with five rows of bony plates running around their bodies, giving them a five-sided look. They have a ventral mouth without teeth and four barbels around their mouths that help them find food on the bottom.
You can find many types of sturgeons in American waters, including Atlantic, Lake, White, Shortnose, and Shovelnose Sturgeon. Shovelnose sturgeons usually weigh about 7 pounds, while white sturgeons can weigh more than 1,000 pounds.
- Blue Neon Goby:
If you are an experienced aquarist, the Goby Blue Neon can be the perfect fish for you. Known for its escape artists, this fish presents a notable blue neon color and a tubular body, making it an eye-catcher.
You need a well-tight-fitting cover in your aquarium to keep the Blue Neon Goby. Native to Japan, this fish can live in a small tank size. However, avoid keeping many males together because they can be aggressive. A mated pair in a 20-gallon tank can thrive well if provided with the right environment.
- Carp:
The carp found in North America’s water originally came from Asia and Europe. Meanwhile, the grass carp preferably eats more plants and occasionally eats at the bottom. However, the common carp is an accurate bottom feeder. The standard carp can grow up to more than 50 pounds and is omnivorous, eating algae, insects, larvae, invertebrates, and plant matter from the bottom.
Common carp live in North America’s rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds and can survive in populated waters. They swim on the bottom to find food and use their ventral mouths to eat what they find. Interestingly, their teeth are in their throats and are similar to human molars.
Catfish:
The catfish obtained their name from long barbels around their mouth resembling cat’s whiskers. These bottom feeders have sharp spines, one at the base of each side fin and one in the upper or dorsal fin. Catfish live throughout the continent in rivers, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs, especially where the bottom is muddy.
There are many catfish types, including channel catfish, flathead catfish, blue catfish, brown bullheads, and yellow bullheads. The catfish has a variety of diets, feeding on insect larvae, clams, fish, plants, snails, river crabs, and other foods they find on the bottom.
Suckers:
The suckers get their name from their ventral and fleshy mouths, which allow them to suck up food as a vacuum. Their teeth are found in their throats. The suckers can be found in several sectors of North America, with species including Northern Hog Sucker, White Sucker, blue sucker, and Quillback. While suckers generally live in flowing streams and rivers, some, such as White Sucker, also live in lakes. They feed on invertebrates, plants, mollusks, and insects.
Pygmy Cory:
Pygmy Cory, famous for their cute puppy-like appearance, are some of the most charming fish you can keep in an aquarium. These small fish are gray-colored with a horizontal black line along their bodies. It is good to keep them in groups of at least six; however, you can easily keep up to twelve Pygmy Corys for every ten gallons of water.
The Pygmy are peaceful and easy to care for, making them a popular option for aquarium fans. They enjoy swimming with groups and active bottom feeders. Their small size and friendly nature made them a satisfactory addition to any community tank.
Rosy Loaches:
Rosy Loach is a beautiful and vibrant fish native to Thailand and Myanmar. It shows a bright orange and red color and is known for its active behavior. These fish are a satisfactory addition to any aquarium, adding a touch of color and energy.
Rosy loaches are easy to care for and thrive well in groups. You can keep up to ten rosy loaches in an aquarium of 20 gallons. Their playful nature and their remarkable appearance make them the favorites of aquarium fans. They are also bottom feeders, which help keep the tank clean when eating leftover foods and debris.
Conclusion:
We have listed some of the best bottom feeders for small aquariums. We have listed some of our favorites, but many more bottom feeders will be excellent for a small tank.
Have we missed your favorite fish? Let us know in the comments section!