Do bottom-dwellers keep the tank clean?

They help, but they are not a cleaning crew you can neglect. Corydoras and loaches eat leftover food that would otherwise rot, and plecos graze algae — but they produce waste too and need their own sinking food. They reduce mess; they don't replace filtration and water changes.

How much do bottom-dwellers cost in the UK?

Common corydoras and kuhli loaches start at about £2-£3 each, bristlenose plecos and mid-range loaches £6-£30, with rarer plecos and specialist catfish much higher. As shoaling species, corys and small loaches are bought in groups. Prices on this page are live: what you see is what's in stock today.

What substrate do bottom-dwellers need?

Soft sand or smooth, rounded gravel — never sharp-edged gravel. Corydoras and many loaches sift the substrate with delicate barbels that sharp material wears down, letting infection in. Sand is ideal and lets you watch their natural foraging. It matters more for bottom-dwellers than for any other group.

Do bottom-dwelling fish need to be kept in groups?

Most social species do — corydoras and kuhli loaches are shoaling fish that need at least six to feel secure, and hide away miserably if kept singly. A few catfish are solitary, so check the species. As a rule, buy corys and small loaches in groups, not ones and twos.

Is it safe to buy bottom-dwellers online?

Yes. Corydoras, loaches and plecos all travel well in oxygen-charged bags inside a polystyrene-insulated box, dispatched midweek by a licensed live-animal courier so they never sit over a weekend. Every delivery is covered by our photo-proof live arrival guarantee.

Bottom Dweller Fish for Sale UK

Bottom dweller fish for sale UK — Corydoras, Loaches, Plecos, Synodontis. Cleanup crew for the aquarium substrate.

374 products available

This page collects the fish and invertebrates that live and feed along the substrate — the busy, characterful bottom level of the aquarium. Everything listed is live stock held in our own system, dispatched with a licensed live-animal courier under our live arrival guarantee.

Bottom-dwellers include corydoras, loaches, bristlenose and other plecos, catfish, and foraging shrimp. They occupy the tank floor that mid-water fish ignore, sifting the substrate, grazing algae and hoovering up leftover food.

Read the species care guides linked below before ordering. Most bottom-dwellers are shoaling and social, need a soft or smooth substrate to protect delicate barbels, and require their own sinking food — they are not just a clean-up service for the fish above them.

Current delivery and offer information

Follow each link for the latest terms before ordering.

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Browse all 374 Bottom Dwellers

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Frequently asked questions

Corydoras are the classic choice — peaceful, active, shoaling and perfect for a community. Kuhli loaches add movement, bristlenose plecos graze algae, and larger loaches suit bigger tanks. For nano tanks, pygmy corydoras and dwarf shrimp work the bottom. Match the species' adult size and group needs to your setup.

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