Fish nibbling on tube buildup

[TheDudeAbides818]

Anyone have a clue as to why my red dwarf gourami is nibbling on the buildup that forms on the air hoses in my tank? The slimy stuff that builds up on the lines and hoses in the tank from time to time has now become of interest to my gourami, to the point where he looks like he’s eating it. WTH?

 

[CassCats]

It's just biofilm buildup, it's good food for many fish, usually algae grazers, but hey some others enjoy it as well.

 

[Magnum Man]

Yep, perfectly normal… as to why air lines seem to build up faster is beyond me, but dozens of my fish do the same

 

[jaylach]

Yep, perfectly normal… as to why air lines seem to build up faster is beyond me, but dozens of my fish do the same

This is just a guess but mayhaps there is a faster buildup due to the airflow making the hose surface a different temperature than other surfaces.

 

[TheDudeAbides818]

Oh wow! Ok, good to know! I did not know that. It’s like they say, “you learn something new every day”. Thank you all.

 

[Jinx_]

Eh, fish are weird

 

[Magnum Man]

Sometimes even bigger fish, that you would think would graze on something bigger, work air lines, so it must accumulate more than tank surfaces…