Maintaining an aquarium is tough work. All the species need to be well-fed, and the entire ecosystem needs to be balanced. If anything tips off, it can be a huge hassle.
Therefore we know how troubling it is when amphipods raid your tank due to overpopulation.
What eats amphipods?
Multiple fish eat amphipods. In fact, for fish like Wrasse, Diamond Goby, and Mandarin Dragonets, it’s essential for their diet.
Besides, common fishes like Cleaner Shrimp will also do the trick.
If you have the time, read our article for details. We have it all covered, from fish behavior to tank requirements and more.
What are you waiting for? Let’s dive in right now!
Are Too Many Amphipods A Problem?
This depends on things like what’s your tank size and the existing organisms in them.
If you have a small tank, around 5 to 10 gallons, fewer than 100 amphipods aren’t an issue.
The lack of other organisms and small space will keep their population in check.
However, there are risks for a larger tank with 40 to 80 gallons. With a larger tank, there’ll be greater organisms that may not play well with amphipods.
In a large tank, the schools of amphipods can reach thousands.
This is where the problem lies. Amphipods can attack other organisms in the tank due to many reasons.
This can be a lack of food, a lack of detritus to scavenge, etc. This can then cause corals and other organisms to die off.
What feed you are giving in the tanks also plays an important role. Amphipods thrive when great algae wafers are used.
More algae feed more decaying algae matter that amphipods will feast on.
This is why the amphipod population needs to be kept in check. Their populations have direct effects on your aquarium’s health.
It can also help you think about decisions like if your coral needs special care.
Now, if your tank is being overtaken by amphipods, you can buy a predator for them.
However, this can get tricky and confuse you. But don’t worry; we have your back.
What Eats Amphipods And Brings Peace In My Tank?
If your tank is overrun by amphipods, don’t panic. Many species will eat them as it’s part of their regular diet.
Many of these are also going to be gorgeous additions to your tank.
Let’s look at it in detail, shall we?
Wild World Of Wrasse
This is an all-rounder champ for your aquarium, no matter the tank size. They’ll eat all the amphipods in your tank as long as it fits their mouth.
When it comes to Wrasse, there are a bunch you can choose from a selection of:
- Six-line Wrasse
- Yellow Coris
- Black Leopard
- Picture / Nebulous Wrasse
- Melanurus Wrasse
Anyone from the list above should keep your amphipod population in check. Wrasses need to be fed a few times a day. If you have too many amphipods, you don’t need to worry about feeding the Wrasse.
You can always start with one and see how it’s doing with the amphipods. If you have hundreds of large amphipods, it’s wise to get two wrasses.
On top of that, they are gentle fish. So they won’t cause disruptions with other fish. If you do get Wrasse, your tank must have gentle mates.
Now that you’ve seen the Wrasse let’s explore some more options.
Diamond Goby
If you have a tank that is bigger than 40 gallons, a Diamond Goby is a great option.
Many amphipods seek refuge and hide in the sand and the rocks in their tanks. This will make it difficult for them to be found.
Enter the Diamond Goby. This fish will sift through the sand, looking for food, and eat the amphipods.
It requires a meaty diet anyways, and the amphipods will serve that purpose well.
With this said, you can only keep 1 Goby in the tank. These fish are peaceful, but they can get possessive over territory within their kind. Bear that in mind before you get this.
Mandarin Dragonets
This gorgeous fish is a great addition to mid to large tanks. That will be about 40 gallons and bigger.
This fish has two favorite foods, namely amphipods and copepods. While this fish loves to eat copepods, in particular, they’ll eat amphipods without a fuss.
However, this fish is slightly sensitive. You can’t put them in bare-bottom tanks as they tend to search sand and rocks for food.
Thus your tank needs to have a sandbed as well as many rocks.
Since amphipods hide out in these places, Mandarin Dragonet is ideal for the job.
They are peaceful and low-maintenance fish as well, so they won’t add any extra trouble. Ideally, just one of these should do the trick for your tank.
Mysis Shrimp
Shrimp is always a great idea to add to a tank. While you may get lost between Mysis or Brine shrimp, this is an easy decision, especially when dealing with amphipods.
No matter what you get, simply opt for a cleaner shrimp such as Mysis Shrimp.
While they prefer copepods, Mysis will actively eat amphipods if they see it’s available.
This way, Mysis Shrimp will kill 2 birds with 1 stone. It’ll keep your tank clean as well as eat the amphipods. Keep in mind this shrimp is best suited for saltwater tanks.
But the good thing with this shrimp is that you can add as much as you like without worry.
Dottyback
This is a unique fish to add to your tank. They’ll eat up the amphipods in no time, especially if they’re large and meaty.
If you have corals, especially bubble coral, the Dottyback will help them. It’ll live around it and pick out the amphipods attacking your corals.
However, think carefully before getting a Dottyback. They require special care but tend to work well with most mates in the tank. But only if you add them as the last member of the tank.
Dottybacks can get fussy and territorial if mates are added after their addition to the tank.
If you choose them, add them last. Dottybacks are great for larger tanks, preferably from 40 gallons and over. With Dottybacks, you only need to add one to the tank.
Now that we have the types of fish covered, we are at the very end.
FAQs
Question: Do clownfish eat amphipods?
Answer: Most clownfish love copepods over amphipods. However, if only amphipods are present, the clownfish will eat that.
Question: Will seahorses eat amphipods?
Answer: Yes, they will. Seahorses prefer amphipods as a source of live protein.
Question: How do I get rid of amphipods?
Answer: Transfer the fish and other organisms to a separate tank temporarily. Then flood the full amphipod tank with freshwater.
This way, the amphipods will die out, and you can easily clean and transfer the fish back in.
Conclusion
There you have it. If your tank has trouble with amphipods, you know what eats amphipods.
We hope this helps your aquarium be restored to its best condition. Hopefully, your creatures remain friendly mates in the tank.