Are there any non-shoaling bottom-feeder fish?

[woola]

I have a 10 gallon tank with a few guppies in.

I would like to add a bottom feeder but do not want to overstock.

Most loaches, catfish etc seem to like to live in groups of 3 or more eg corydoras.

For every person who says Oto catfish can live alone, another says they must be in groups.

Are there any small bottomfeeders that can happily live alone?

[Buenchico]

Unless they're served on a plate with chips, I freely admit to knowing nothing about fish, but I wondered whether anything here might help?
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/page s/show_article.php?article_id=384

Chris

[B00]

I've a bristlenosed catfish in mine, wonderful addition to the tank and definintly a one fish type of...well fish! He'll get quite arsy infact if anything else goes inside his house (a log) but generally he's quite peaceful and quite amusing to watch in the evenings.

[hammerman]

Corydorus are the answer. Small peaceful catfish that will live happily in groups or on their own. You can get pygmy cory's or larger ones but they rarely grow bigger than 1". I would suggest either an albino cory or a peppered cory....both very nice fish.

If you want algea removal, try an otocinclus. There are tiny, south american suckermouth catfish that cling to the side of the glass. again, rarely over 1" long

Hope this helps.

[woola]

Hammerman,

Thanks - though, I'm afraid corydoras are not suitable, they do not like living on their own, and need to be in groups of at least 3, and preferably 5 or more. Dward corys may be an option though, I have seen those and they are very tiny indeed.

Otocinclus is the other option I have, but I do not have any algae. Also I am not positive they are ok living alone - I don't want a miserable fish! I shall do a bit more research on them though.

[hammerman]

in 35 years of keeping and breeding tropical fish, ive never had any problems with keeping ottos and corys singly !!!

[woola]

Ok, well I have considered keeping corys before in a different tank, and absolutely all of my research and enquiries from other people have told me they need to be in groups. A quick search for information on corys will state they need to be in groups. They ARE shoaling fish, I may not have kept them for 35 years but I do know that.

Ottos may be ok singly though.

Thank you for your input.