These bottom feeders do a fantastic job of keeping the tank clean by constantly rooting around in the substrate, looking for algae and food that would otherwise rot and pollute the tank. Popular species include the Bronze cory, Panda cory, and pygmy cory. Corydoras CatfishĬorydoras catfish, affectionately known as ‘corys’, are a popular family of catfish for freshwater aquariums. The real reason that goldfish are good at surviving low oxygen levels is their physical adaptation to suppress metabolism when exposed to poor water conditions.įunnily enough, the primary organ that they sacrifice to save oxygen is their brain! Maybe it’s why goldfish famously fail the memory test. While some sources have listed goldfish as a labyrinth fish that can breathe oxygen from the air, this is not true! Like most fish, goldfish can only breathe oxygen that’s been dissolved in the water through their gills. Goldfish are heavy feeders and produce a high bio load, meaning that if you keep them without a filter, you’ll need to change half of their water every day! But just because goldfish have been kept in bowls without a filter, doesn’t mean they’re happiest that way. The goldfish is another fish that often suffers because of its robust reputation. So, remember, they’re likely to survive longer than some other fish, but you’ll still need to clean your filter and change your water often to keep them alive and well. As active fish, they require decent oxygen levels and can suffer ammonia poisoning just like any other species. Guppies are hardy fish that can tolerate an extraordinarily wide range of temperatures, but their tolerance for poor water conditions might not be as endless as you imagine. If you can become sentimental about your favorite clown loach or angelfish, then why not your guppy?! But we must remember that the guppy is an intelligent fish species like any other. The poor guppy is the victim of a lot of mistreatment in the pet trade, partly owing to their prolific rate of breeding and the very cheap price you pay for them – they’re sometimes seen as expendable. To survive such conditions, bettas have evolved a special organ known as the labyrinth organ which allows them to breathe some of their oxygen from the air as well as the water.Īs we’ve said, this mustn’t be taken as a reason to keep bettas in poor water conditions, and their sensitivity to ammonia and other toxins means that a filter is still essential except in emergencies! Guppies In the wild, bettas are found in shallow pools, swamps, and rice paddies, which can become low in oxygen. The reason that betta fish are hardier than most is the adaptations they’ve made to their natural habitat. Sadly, bettas kept in poor water conditions will often die before their first birthday – tragic for a beautiful fish that can exceed 5 years in a well-maintained aquarium! But while a betta may be able to survive in a tank or bowl without a filter for a short time, it definitely won’t thrive. The infamous betta fish or Siamese fighting fish is sometimes listed as a species that can live without a filter. Choosing a setup without a heater is more cost-effective than a filterless aquarium. Aquarium filters are cheap, easy to operate, and will save you a lot of time changing water.Some fish families such as labyrinth fish, catfish, and danios, however, can live longer like this than others. Without a filter, fish will quickly die from ammonia poisoning or oxygen depletion.The vast majority of fish keepers need an aquarium filter to keep the water clean, well-oxygenated, and free from toxins.Just promise me you won’t try to keep them like that for the long run! Key Takeaways Here we’ll look at some types of fish that, in emergencies, can live without a filter for a longer time than others. Although very advanced aquarists have occasionally managed to create densely planted filterless tanks, these complex setups are unsuitable for the vast majority of fish keepers.įor the rest of us, an aquarium filter is an essential piece of kit, and without one, fish and invertebrates die very quickly. In my opinion, there are far too many myths circulating the internet that aquarium fish can live without a filter.
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