photo credit: threefingeredlord
Whether you’re keeping a coldwater aquarium, tropical tank or marine fish there are a host of invertebrates which are available in the trade at a reasonable price. Not only do invertebrates add an extra level of interest to an aquarium but they can also offer practical benefits.
Quiet simply many invertebrates are grazers and will work their way around your fish tank finding leftover food and cleaning it up thus you not only have a very interesting aquarium tank but your tank also stays cleaner which means a more attractive aquarium and less manual cleaning required by you.
An example of an invertebrate worth considering are the various snails available who typically graze on algae. They will slowly work their way around your fish tank getting rid of any green algae on the glass of your aquarium, on your aquarium tank decorations and so on. Just be certain you have a tight-fitting lid on the top of your tank if you don’t want them to escape.
Depending on the species of fish you keep (please check suitability with your local provider of aquarium pet supplies before making an investment) there are also a range of other invertebrates you can consider. From shrimps to crayfish to crabs. All of these small crustaceans will slowly work their way across the bottom of your aquarium picking up any interesting food particles either ignored by your fish or too small for your fish to bother with.
There are a huge range of different sizes, colors and shapes of these crustaceans and so some research is well worthwhile before introducing one or more to your tank. If you have used invertebrates to help you keep your tank clean please leave me a comment and let me know what you did.
