Wishful Thinking?

[TF Keeper UK]

Just wanted to know if there is a species of shrimp or crab that acts as aqaurium 'garbage disposal'? Or is it just wishful thinking on my part?

Del

 

[Nix]

Do you mean alagae? or fish "waste" ?

 

[TF Keeper UK]

Both I suppose. Though I haven't got an algae problem in my 28gal tank, but a small one in the 15gal tank.

Del

 

[Synirr]

There are plenty of shrimp (ghost shrimp are most common and cheapest) that will pick up uneaten food, algae, and other edible debris from your tank bottom. They will not, however, eat fish waste and do produce waste themselves, so they won't exactly save you on water changes or anything

 

[TF Keeper UK]

That's the sort of thing i'm after. Any shrimp that could eat fish waste would be worth it's weight in enriched plutonium!

Del

 

[prankster705]

You should know that no living aquatic thing actualy eats waste, except some bacterias.

 

[TF Keeper UK]

That I do know, but bacteria are not cute to look at!

Del

 

[@ombomb]

You should know that no living aquatic thing actualy eats waste, except some bacterias.

Not really true, but as has been stated, anything which eats produces waste.

Best cure = gravel vac

 

[TF Keeper UK]

The ultimate cure - don't keep fish

Del

 

[prankster705]

Yea I know or the alternative water changes and gravel vac, Or a really powerful filter.

 

[paulc855]

hi i currently have a fresh water crab in my tank and its very thorough cleaning up anything that is missed by the fish, it does not however make any difference to water quality so water changes are just as often.

you also have to be careful with slower moving fish cos if it can catch it it will eat it, also you need to have a place in the tank where it can climb out, mine shins up the heater and sits on top of the filter basking under the light.

interest wise it is fantastic to watch