Are your fish herbivores or omnivorous? If your answer is yes, than they are eating algae that grow on the rocks, pebbles or sand. It’s normal for the fish to do it. They are in fact, helping clean the tank.
Do aquarium fish consume stones?
Betta Fish – Betta fish prefer to relax on gravel at the aquarium’s base. While resting, they may munch on food remnants that have fallen to the substrate. On occasion, a pebble or two may be consumed alongside the meal since their teeth are so keen that they can readily crush rock. If it occurs seldom and you observe that stones are being expelled, there is usually little cause for alarm.
Why do fish consume pebbles?
Lastly, certain fish utilize this gravel similarly to how a chicken utilizes grit. They are toothless. It is utilized to pulverize food particles. Once food is broken down and removed from the rock, the fish spits out the rock. This is also true for algae-eating fish. The inner mouth is quite rough and bristly.
Why are the fish in my aquarium eating stones?
Why Do My Fish Keep Eating Stones? – It is not unusual for aquarium fish to consume stones. As they explore along the substrate in search of uneaten food fragments, they may ingest a rock. Or, if they are grazing on algae that has accumulated along the gravel, they may accidentally pick up a rock or two.
Observing goldfish in particular, I often wonder if they don’t hoover up aquarium rocks on purpose to clean them before spitting them back out. Below, we’ll discuss goldfish in greater detail, but I wanted to include this behavior because I don’t believe these fish are as stupid as some hobbyists believe.
I like to consider them carefree achievers! In most circumstances, though, fish will abandon rocks immediately after picking them up. Should it be taken unintentionally, it will pass through the digestive tract and be expelled together with other waste.
Why do fish bite against rocks?
If you mean when they nibble at rocks, then they are not eating the rocks, but rather the organisms that live on them. Grazing is the term used by the majority of individuals I know. There is algae and leftover fish food on the gravel; unless they are sick or picky, fish will eat at any opportunity.