Bottom Feeders Than Aren't Corys?

[VaegaVic]

Long story short, 60L tank, owner (not me) has become bored of the clown loaches (AHHH!!) she has. I'm stealing the clown loaches for my 300L and replacing them with another bottom feeder.

Problem is only bottom feeders I can think of for that size tank would be corys, but she doesn't like them at all "ugly little beasts" apparently.

Any ideas so I can liberate these clown loaches from their prison?
Need a good bottom feeder, not a cory, ideally in a group, not too expensive and active during the day.

Any takers?

 

[Truck]

Aspidorus, Mikrogeophagus, other Loaches.

 

[VaegaVic]

Aspidorus, Mikrogeophagus, other Loaches.

Already suggested Aspids, apparently too "cory like".
Mikrogeophagus is an interesting option, but she also has small fry and shrimp in the tank.


Loaches - can you be more specific?

 

[Jonty]

Khuli Loach, Dwarf Chain Loach

 

[Jenste]

kuhli loaches, in my experience are great! they dig all around in the substrate...swim in the filter current, and are cute little brown and white striped "eel" shaped fish. very very friendly - no risk to fry due to their small mouths

 

[doresy]

Goby?

 

[AdamM]

Plecos?

 

[discus_lover]

clown loach and other loach...

 

[VaegaVic]

clown loach and other loach...

Thanks for not reading.

Ideally, the perfect fish would be a cory, so I suppose I'm asking, what's a cory that doesn't look like a cory?

It NEEDS to be diurnal, not nocturnal, it needs to be able to keep the entire bottom of a 60L tank clean by itself, or in a small group.

The only suggestion that could work right now would be dwarf chain loaches, but they're incredibly hard to source down here, an when we do get them, they border on £6 each.

Anyone else got any ideas?

 

[OldMan47]

Not a bottom feeder but a bottom dweller is the kribensis. By definition they are African cichlids but they always spend almost all of their time at or near the tank bottom. Be careful not to get more males than there is room to accommodate, they can be very territorial.

 

[Wills]

60 liters is a bit small for kribs IMO. Some kind of cichlid could work to help with digging around the bottom what are the other tank mates? Apistos hang around the bottom and will scavenge things around.

Interesting subject, as cories do kind of have this niche requirement to themselves but there are a few others. But before we dismiss cories has she seen the dwarf ones? Quite different to the larger ones but a bit cuter

Few others for you to think of though maybe, there are a few tatia catfish that could be suitable but you need to find out which probs have a look on planetcatfish as to which species stay around the same as cories, these are quite shy but if the tank is quite dim they will make a move in the day. Also have you thought about the different ottos you see around? You have the standard but you also get gold, batman and giants all would be suitable for your tank Could also consider the south american bumblebee catfish, the true one you could try a trio of these maybe? But again kind of depends on your other tank mates.

Then you always have shrimp, lots of bright colours becoming available now like cherry, bumble bee, blue and gold etc

Wills

 

[VaegaVic]

60 liters is a bit small for kribs IMO. Some kind of cichlid could work to help with digging around the bottom what are the other tank mates? Apistos hang around the bottom and will scavenge things around.

Interesting subject, as cories do kind of have this niche requirement to themselves but there are a few others. But before we dismiss cories has she seen the dwarf ones? Quite different to the larger ones but a bit cuter

Few others for you to think of though maybe, there are a few tatia catfish that could be suitable but you need to find out which probs have a look on planetcatfish as to which species stay around the same as cories, these are quite shy but if the tank is quite dim they will make a move in the day. Also have you thought about the different ottos you see around? You have the standard but you also get gold, batman and giants all would be suitable for your tank Could also consider the south american bumblebee catfish, the true one you could try a trio of these maybe? But again kind of depends on your other tank mates.

Then you always have shrimp, lots of bright colours becoming available now like cherry, bumble bee, blue and gold etc

Wills

Thank you, that was the sort of response I was hoping for.
The other tank mates consist of guppies, fancies and some hybrids from my tanks and that's all.
It's not very well planted, bordering on minimalist, just a few moss balls and plastic plants, some duckweed coming in soon to act as a mineral taker-uperer.

Have to remember, this isn't my tank, so I'll have to run any ideas past the lovely lady first.

I love the idea of cichlids, but I wouldn't personally chance them with the guppies.
Ideally we are looking at some sort of catfish, but as she doesn't like corys or anything cory looking, it makes it rather difficult (that includes pygmys and what not, sorry lol)

Shrimp again are out the window as they, and I quote "look like little bugs". Why does everything look like a bug to this bloody woman?

Those catfish look interesting, I shall be doing a bit of research and see what type of sourcing I can find in the area.

 

[Wills]

What are fancies? Fancy guppies? Or goldfish? Quite a few tiny cichlids that dont dig that much but would pick over the bottom, you could try Nannacara Anomala the golden dwarf cichlid. Peaceful enough to go with guppies as well. If it were me I would go for the bumble bees, quite tempted to get some for my tank atm actually.

 

[meguro]

I love the idea of cichlids, but I wouldn't personally chance them with the guppies.

mikrogeophagus and apistogramma won't touch guppies at all. if u go with the former get bolivians. you'd also be hard pressed to find someone who considers them hideous (both apistos and rams). Of course the already mentioned small fry in the tank may become a food source but this would help keep the tank from becoming overpopulated.

is she hot?

 

[VaegaVic]

In the end we went with a pair of Bristlenose plecs at an inch each, odd, she doesn't like corys, but likes one of the ugliest fish know to man.
Ah well.

Thanks for your replies everyone!