dummy question, what is..

[Beemo]

detritus?

 

[Golden Angel]

The dictionary actually says:
Loose fragments, esp. those formed by the disintegration of rocks. Debris.
But I always here it used to describe fish waste and other organic material in fish tanks. Hope that helps!

 

[Beemo]

so is fish poop detritus?
cuz i saw my lawnmower blenny eat the clown fishes feces a few times and it list detritus on the lawnmower blennies diet, so i wasnt sure if poop eating is what they meant...is this what they meant?

 

[Golden Angel]

I think so. I've heard the word detritavore, though it's not in the dictionary. I guess that means they're like scavengers of poop.

 

[Swanwillow]

Detrivore
An organism that feeds on large bits of dead and decaying organic matter. What detrivores leave behind is used by decomposers. Crabs and seabirds are examples of detrivores. Compare decomposer; see also detritus.

 

[Golden Angel]

So, then aquarium inhabitants that eat poop are actually decomposers? Isn't poop decaying organic matter?

 

[Swanwillow]

technically, yes... in a way.

the blenny will eat the poo, and break it down farther, pooing out less than what it took in. THEN the smaller detrivores come in, such as snails, hermits, bristleworms, things like that. what THEY poo out is decomposed by amphipods, copepods... what THEY poo out goes to bacteria, and what THEY poo out eventually turns into nitrate. THATS why ya need to do water changes.

 

[Beemo]

lol yes i do 10% weekly water changes
so it is known that blennies will eat fish poo? i just wanna make sure i have a normal blenny and not a weird lil dude with a poo eating fetish

 

[Swanwillow]

I dunno... he may have a fetish. he may not. mine that I had long ago .. well, I didn't watch him close enough to notice him eating poo