Is your aquarium full of fish poop that your precious fish have so generously excreted? And are you wondering if Plecos will solve the issues for you.
Do Plecos really eat fish poop? Plecos will not eat fish poop, but they will eat the food that falls into the water column, so it’s important to keep an eye on what your pleco is eating. However, plecos are opportunistic feeders, and they will eat whatever they can get their jaws around.
In this article, I’ll discuss what plecos eat and what fish eats poop, and I’ll give you some tips on how to clean fish poop from your aquarium and keep your fish happy and healthy.
So, Do Plecos Eat Fish Poop?
Now let’s get down to business and talk about whether Plecos really eat fish poop or not.
Well, no! Plecos don’t actually eat fish poop. In fact, fish in general, do not eat excrement (‘poop’). Plecostomus can in theory, suck off algae from rocks and the tank’s walls and they also like to rasp on driftwood.
But still, they need a high quality, variable diet just like all other fish. It’s a common misconception that bottom feeders eat poop.
Just because they eat food from the bottom surface doesn’t mean that they are scat eaters.
To summarize, plecos don’t actually eat fish poop, but they do eat food from the bottom surface of the aquarium. And this includes some algae and leftover foods as well.
What Eats Fish Poop In a Tank?
You cannot find a fish that will eat poop in an aquarium. That’s because such a fish does not exist.
However, it’s true that some fish are seen occasionally chewing on fish poop. But that only happens if/when they mistake it for food.
Even the fish that are wrongfully believed to be fish poop eaters, such as catfish, plecos, or shrimp, don’t actually eat fish poop. The only way you can remove fish poop is by using a gravel vacuum or python water change system.
Other possible explanations for the presence of too much poop in an aquarium are that the tank is not maintained properly or you have fish that have large bioloads.
Do Bottom Feeders Eat Fish Poop?
Bottom feeders don’t eat fish poop but they eat detritus, which is composed of decaying organic matter, such as dead plants and animals.
Bottom feeders don’t eat fish poop. In fact, they eat nothing but plankton, leftover foods settled in the bottom, and small fish.
It is not something that they would get their mouths on. People just assume that because bottom feeders stay in the bottom of the aquarium, they might eat anything they find at the bottom.
Furthermore, bottom feeders filter feed, which means that they suck up water and food particles from the ocean floor.
This means that they would not consume any fish poop. Let’s reiterate the fact that there are no fishes that eat fish poop.
Bottom feeders, which are creatures that live in the bottom of the water bodies and consume plankton and small fish, would not consume any fish poop.
Is Fish Poop Toxic?
There are two types of wastes produced by fishes. And they are the inorganic ammonia (released through their gills) and the organic fish feces (released through the rear side).
And if you’ve taken any chemistry class in your high school then you know that the former is really toxic.
However, the latter is directly toxic at the chemical level. There are indirect harmful effects of fish poop if it gets accumulated for a long time. That can be quite devastating.
So, the answer to this question is yes, fish poop can be toxic if it’s not cleaned up properly.
How Do I Get Rid of Fish Poop In My Aquarium?
There are several ways to get rid of fish poop in an aquarium. One popular method is to use a siphon to transfer the poop to a clean container and then remove the waste with a net.
Another option is to use a water change to remove the poop and then add new water to the aquarium.
Here are the steps for the first method:
1. Plug the aquarium’s power cord in and wait 10 minutes.
2. Turn off the filters.
3. Add the fish poop to a clean container.
4. Use a siphon to transfer the poop to the aquarium.
5. Turn on the filters.
6. Watch the fish poop disappear into the aquarium.
7. Wait a few hours, and then check the aquarium to see if the poop has been removed.
You can watch this video to get a better idea:
Here are the steps for the second method:
1. Turn off the filters.
2. Add new water to the aquarium.
3. Add the fish poop to a clean container.
4. Use a net to remove the poop from the aquarium.
5. Turn on the filters.
6. Watch the fish poop disappear into the aquarium.
7. Wait a few hours, and then check the aquarium to see if the poop has been removed. So, whichever method you choose, make sure to do it gradually so as not to shock the fish.
Related Questions
Do Snails Eat Fish Poop?
No, it’s a misconception that snails eat fish poop. Snails consume plant-based foods, not animal poop.
It’s true that snails do consume some impurities from the bottom of the fish tank, but this is not poop.
They will also consume the leftover food and waste that the fish produce, but this is not poop either.
Do Shrimp Eat Fish Poop?
No, shrimp do not eat fish poop. However, there may be instances where they take fish poop in the mouth and spit it as soon as they taste it.
Shrimps also clean up algae, the leftover fish food, from the bottom of the aquarium.
How Long Does it Take for Fish Poop to Decompose?
It generally takes a few weeks for fish poop to decompose. The issue is that fish poop doesn’t dissolve in the water like human waste does. Instead, it forms clumps and sits on the bottom of the tank.
Over time, the clumps will break down and the poop will sink to the bottom, where it can be cleaned up.
What Breaks Down Fish Poop?
Fish poop breaks down due to bacterial action and exposure to oxygen. Also, fish poop contains a high concentration of nitrogen which helps break it down.
Furthermore, fish poop is high in moisture which encourages microbial action.
Do Otocinclus Eat Fish Poop?
No, otocinclus do not eat fish poop. Otocinclus is a type of catfish, and as you probably know, they are scavengers which means they will eat any leftover food that sits in the bottom. But, they are not known to eat fish poop.
Recommended Article: Otocinclus Vs. Pleco: Which One is Better?
Which Fish Species Are Most Likely to Eat Fish Poop?
Now that we’ve established that there is no definitive species of fish whose sole purpose is to consume fish poop, there are some fish that are thought to consume fish poop.
Those fishes include catfish, sunfish, and largemouth bass. And that includes Plecos and Corydoras, as well as some of the most common types of feeder fish.
Final Thoughts
That marks the end to our discussion about whether Plecos eat fish poop or not.
We hope that this article has been helpful and that you will now be able to make an informed decision about whether or not to keep a Pleco in your aquarium.
Moreover, we hope that this article has given you some insights into the habits of some of the most common fish species and made it easier for you to decide which type of fish might be a better fit for your aquarium.
Thanks for reading! If you want to know more about Plecos, these articles may help:
