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The Clean-Up Crew

More than just a pretty face, these babies know how to earn their keep. Indeed, these fish are most often sought after by aquarist for their rigorous dedication to detail. The catfish has a voracious appetite for algae, and can prove a precious commodity for the hobbyist with too little time to clean. That's right; the slimy, green sludge that plagues the majority of aquariums everywhere can be remedied, at least in part, by this meticulous little worker. Catfish though, are not your typical nine to- fivers, they're nocturnal and prefer to labor in the relative privacy of darkness.

Catfish are bottom-dwellers in nature and in the aquarium. Their flat-bottomed bodies are suited perfectly to cling to aquarium walls, ornaments and substrate while they diligently perform their jobs. Their sucker-like mouths are equipped with small teeth capable of raking food into their hungry bellies, and long barbs are found on either side of the catfish's jaw, which contain taste cells. This extrasensory device aids the fish in finding food when its vision is impaired by water currents.

Some species of catfish are known to make irritated hissing noises. Others prefer to swim upside down. A few are capable of walking across land to find a more respectable body of water, and still others put off enough voltage to kill if needed. Strangely, these little guys are without scales, but have a smooth texture reminiscent of dolphin skin. Most catfish are omnivores, but many are strict vegetarians and will need vegetable rations distributed if they've cleared your tank of algae.

Last but not least, as the title suggest, catfish are social fish and prefer working in "crews" of their own species. As the old adage goes, all work and no play, makes the catfish a dull fishy. (Yes I know that was cheesy)

Learn more about this author, Paula Eckard.
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