Cory catfish are, in general, not algae eaters. Cory catfish nibble at algae growth but do not consume the algae. Algae is not part of the cory catfish’s natural diet. They do not eat algae wafers.
Even though cory catfish are bottom dwellers, they do not eat algae like their friends, the otocinclus, twig catfish or pleco.
Will Cory Catfish Eat Algae Wafers?
Cory catfish do not eat algae that grow inside a fish tank, nor do they consume the algae they often nibble on.
Every fish species has specific nutritional needs. Keeping cory catfish in a freshwater tank will require you to research to feed them the right foods. However, refraining from meeting their nutritional needs will shorten their lifespan and cause illness and lethargy in otherwise bright, active, and happy fish.
Uninformed people often presume that all catfish eat the same food. For example, algae-eating bottom feeders will enjoy algae wafers, while cory catfish will not eat them.
Catfish Species That Eat Algae Wafers
As with so many things, there are exceptions to every rule. In the cory catfish world, the otocinclus catfish or dwarf suckers and twig catfish are avid algae eaters. They can be kept alongside cory catfish to keep fish tanks clean from algae. Since the otocinclus and twig catfish love algae, they will enjoy algae wafers!
What Wafers Do Cory Catfish Eat
Fortunately, there are wafer options that specifically cater to the nutritional needs of cory catfish. These bottom feeders are scavengers which means they eat leftover food and debris. They always enjoy a treat of brine shrimp!
With the knowledge of what cory catfish eat, fish food manufacturers designed sinking wafers containing all the nutrients and vitamins needed to live optimal lives.
For instance, the ingredients in sinking wafers from Hikari were explicitly designed for cory catfish and include the following.
- Fish oil
- Krill meal
- Crushed silkworm pupae
- Fishmeal, wheat germ meal, and soybean meal
- Dried seaweed and brewer’s yeast
- Vitamins and mineral supplements
- Spirulina and garlic
Advantages Of Sinking Wafers
Hikari sinking wafers, for instance, are good food options for the following reasons.
- These wafers soften in the water without dissolving. Dissolving wafers cloud and pollute the tank.
- These nutrient-rich wafers are easily digestible.
- These wafers are excellently sized for community tanks.
- Portion sizes are adequate and prevent over-feeding.
Since cory catfish have small mouths that face down, it was important for the food manufacturers to make the wafers smaller. Furthermore, the wavers need not dissolve easily and have the perfect shape for easier consumption.
Quick feeding tip. Refrain from overfeeding the fish by only feeding the amount of food they can consume in twenty minutes, and remove any unconsumed food after the feeding period.
Commercial Food For Cory Catfish
The inhabitants of freshwater fish tanks are dependent on their keepers for food. The wide variety of commercial foods available to fish enthusiasts makes proper feeding of all kinds of fish very convenient.
Commercial fish food will state how much and how often to feed the fish and include a list of all the ingredients. Below is a list of commercial food brands available for cory catfish.
- Tetra Shrimp Wavers are sinking wafers and consist mainly of shrimp-sourced protein and an ideal food supplement for cory catfish. These protein-filled wafers complement omnivorous diets, especially when combined with spirulina and algae.
- Sinking shrimp pellets were designed for consumption by smaller cory catfish with smaller mouths, making them easier to consume. They are filled with nutrients and stimulate growth.
- Bug bites bottom feeder fish food is a well-rounded meal consisting of forty percent black soldier fly larvae and enhanced with minerals and vitamins. The granules are small and suit both juvenile and adult cory catfish.
- Bottom feeder tablets are slightly bigger and suit adult cory catfish and other bottom feeders. These tablets are meant to be main course meals and include an array of proteins, oils, vitamins, and minerals. Notable ingredients are kelp, garlic, fish oil, fish meal, and spirulina.
- Omega one sinking catfish pellets are ideal cory catfish food that contains everything they need to live long, healthy lives. These are complete meal pellets and, depending on appetite, can be given three times a day. Notable ingredients are shrimp, herring, salmon, and pea protein.
Natural Food For Cory Catfish
Good quality commercial fish foods such as wafers and pellets are excellent for feeding fish kept in aquariums. Still, nothing beats fresh or frozen natural foods.
Cory catfish in freshwater tanks enjoy worms, larvae, and insects as much as their wild counterparts. They are not picky eaters and will eat anything small and soft enough. Spoil them by feeding live black worms, frozen blood worms, vibra bytes, and other sinking protein delicacies.
How To Feed Cory Catfish
Word of warning. Keep an eye on the cory catfish in your tank, and be on the lookout for signs of underfeeding. Remember, these are bottom feeders, and food reaches them last. Therefore, fish in the upper levels of the tank may scavenge the food before it reaches the bottom, leaving cory catfish hungry.
Ensure to place their food directly on the substrate or use quick-sinking waffles and pellets. Keep an eye out for all the bottom feeders at feeding time. Aggressive eaters in the top parts of the tank may cause bottom feeders to become malnourished.
In general, you should only feed fish the amount of food they can consume between two and three minutes. If the food is consumed under two minutes, feed them another portion, and remember to time again. Overfeeding your fish is just as bad as underfeeding. Therefore timing is critical to successful fish feeding.
Conclusion
Cory catfish are popular amongst fish keepers due to their sweet natures. They peacefully mind their business at the bottom of the tank keeping themselves out of trouble by either scavenging or resting. In addition, they contribute to the tank’s health by removing food particles and debris from the substrate.