Black Neons Feeding Off Bottom

[thisguyek]

picked up 10 black neon tetras for my 10 gal a week ago. did a little reading on them just for grins, and i found out that they typically do not feed off of the bottom. Is this, for the most part true? I can't say i have much more room for bottom feeders... as most can either grow to be sizeable or needed to be kept in groups. Maybe a snail or two?

What, if anything, would i have room for. Is it really necessary if i clean gravel more often?

 

[safire_eye]

My black neons generally hang in the middle, and certainly are not bottom feeders, altho they might pick the odd scrap up. Corys are bottom feeders and most don't grow that large, although it sounds like you might be overstocked already (especially with odd behaviour like that). What have you got in there? You shouldn't need to rely on fish to keep your substrate clean.

 

[thereverendturtle]

In nature that would be unusual behavior, but an aquarium is far from nature. I have mollies that are top feeders that will feed off the bottom. Personally I don't think you have anything to worry about. Add some shrimp as scavengers if you want...

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I have "regular" neons and while they won't come to the top for the flakes, they will head down to the substrate for food once it has fallen past them. They don't do this until after the food has all fallen past them though. Then, they slowly (and I mean slowly) migrate down and will peck at the pellets and wafers for the true bottom feeders.

 

[Bignose]

In nature that would be unusual behavior...

I not sure I agree with this. In nature, if it is a choice between food at the bottom and no food at all, I think that that they'd be all over the bottom assuming there is no obvious threat at the bottom.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I agree. What we truly know about what many of the fish in our aquariums "do naturally in their habitat" is very slim pickings. Scientists don't spend much time or money truly studying the habitats of most of these fish in the wild. The aquarium trade is very interested in them, but they are mostly interested in breeding... breeding more efficiently with less dead loss, breeding for color specialities, breeding for sizes, etc. Figuring out when and where a black neon eats off the bottom... very low priority and not a lot of bucks to fund the study in the Amazon. Besides, there are many bigger fish to fry there. (Pardon the expression.)

 

[safire_eye]

They're not bottom feeders, that's not to say they won't eat from the bottom now and again. Sounds to me as if they're spending a lot of time on the bottom though, as space for them is being mentioned.

 

[soybean]

Try feeding floating micropellets that don't sink. If you have excess amounts of food falling to the bottom you're feeding too much. Bottom feeders aren't a solution, they don't live off scraps and need regular feeding themselves with sinking tablets and pellets. Snails multiply and will create another problem.

Feed less, gravel vac more.

Ny regular neons eat anything they find, top middle or bottom of the tank.

 

[thisguyek]

well thanks for all of the speedy replies!

Maybe I should try to clear some stuff up. this behavior is something i only read about... even though i can't say i've observed them pecking off of the bottom. I'm quite sure they must to some extent, because every other fish i've ever kept has scavenged to some point.

I wouldnt be buying fish to clean the bottom as i know that is my job. Usually do a water change with a light vacuum once a week. I just dont want to have to clean every three days or so...

I believe someone asked the question as to whats in the tank... if not im going crazy! It's just the ten tetras.

again, thank you for the responses!