gardening fish???

[Magnum Man63 178]

so I have some live plants in nearly every one of my tanks, and the tanks that have the best plants seem to have critters who “garden”, who tend to my plants, some keep the bio film down on plant leaves, so they look fresh and nice, some actively eat algae, and thus save me from polishing it off the leaves, some I never see, actually eating anything on the plant, but some how the activity seems to make the plant grow more vigorously… in my hillstream tank the only fish that I wouldn’t put in the gardening catagory, are the denison barbs, they don’t damage the plants but have little to do with them… some of my most active gardening critters are the panda garras, though my new spot tail algae eaters, are already giving the garras a run for best… my super red bushy nose pleco spends as much time on the plants, as on the glass, and all my neocardia shrimp tanks, have exceptional plants growing in them…

what works for you??? I’m always looking for someone new, to help me with the gardening… the spot tails (Crossocheilus reticulatus ) have been particularly good with the plants, so far…

 

[GaryE23 22]

It's funny, from my perspective, I have never seen this. I have fish that graze on algae, but it doesn't function as gardening from what I see. Things don't grow better with them. Or worse without them.

 

[Back in the fold17 2]

I can’t believe I never thought of this ! I think that is what some fish do . Whether they know it or not is another question but do it they do ! Every creature has its niche and purpose . You win The Forum today with this thought .