One big Poop Or Many Little Poops
nipat;47557 said:
Yep, people say that 1 Neon produces less waste than 1 large Angelfish.
And everyone agrees with that.
But how about a group of small Neons that weight as same as 1 large Angelfish?
Do they produce equal amount of waste?
Hi Nipat,
While I entirely agree with Tom Barr, the amounts of food in are all that can be in the system eaten or not. Once upon a time, I dosed my plants by over-feeding the fish.
I would like to answer your question as asked.
Neon Tetras, Paracheirodon innesi are omnivores with, in my humble potted-plant opinion, a definite carnivore bent. I suspect that gram for gram the Neon Tetra is as messy as any Angelfish.
Given the Neon Tetras higher energy lifestyle, as compared to Angelfish, I would not be surprised if someone were to do a serious study that it would turn out that our little Neon Tetras were “dirtier” from a waste perspective than the Angelfish.
As to Dan’s observations regarding Bristlenose and Ancistrus in general. My suspicion after having watched these marvelous little creatures in quite a bit of detail in the past six months is that like any predominantly vegetarian critter the Bristlenose consumes more plant material to gain equivalent nutrient value compared to net consumption of carnivores or omnivores. That the resulting poop is simply more fibrous and less nutritive value, therefore less associated microbial activity, less overall potential for toxic effects than that of a carnivore/omnivore.
Viewing our tanks as the miniature wastewater facilities they are, wastes of vegetarians requires less “treatment” effort than that of carnivores and omnivores.
Biollante