They have small mouths and large stomachs to help them digest their food. Most barbs, cichlids, gouramis, and tetras have terminal mouths. Bottom feeding fish are those that feed on the bottom of a body of water, such as lakes or ponds. Moray eels are one type of species that have a pharyngeal jaw placed well back in their throat. These feeders will sink to the bottom and the bait moulded around the feeder will start to dissolve and break away from the feeder. They may also possess specialized teeth, and in some cases an additional jaw. Flat Bottom Method Feeder Flat bottom feeders, like the one in the picture above, are weighted on the bottom so this lies on the lake bed with your bait facing up. Most fish that feed on other fish have terminal mouths, which are often hinged to allow them to accommodate the action of snatching and swallowing another fish. It is quite common for fish with a terminal mouth to also have a protrusible mouth which allows them to thrust the jaw forward when grabbing food. Corydoras Catfish Scientific Name: Corydoras spp. They typically feed on the move, either grabbing bits of food that they pass or preying on other fish that they chase down. These fish are active bottom feeders that love to search the substrate for uneaten food at the bottom of the tank. Apart from just the regular Dojo Loach, there is also a golden variety available in the hobby. These species of fish are often omnivores, eating anything that is available. This has earned them the name of weather loach as well. Other types of Loaches, like Dojo Loaches, are opportunistic scavengers. Kuhlis, Pandas, Botias, and Dwarf Chain Loaches are often considered to be great bottom feeders. Not all Loaches are bottom feeders, but many of them are scavengers. Fish having a terminal mouth are generally mid-water feeders however, they can feed at any location. Image Credit: slowmotiongli, Shutterstock. More fish have this mouth type than any other. Some fish species, like catfish, feed from the bottom, but also spend time at different levels. Terminal mouths are located in the middle of the head and point forward. Bottom feeder fish are those that eat from the bottom third of the water column, but not necessarily those that spend all their time at the bottom of the water column. Some have heavy armor, or thickened areas of scales. This allows them to hover easily and glide over the bottom surface of the tank. Diane Shapiro / Photolibrary / Getty Images Most species of bottom-feeder fish have a flat belly or ventral region.

Flat bottom feeder fish