Description:
Xtreme Bottom Wafers are a purpose-built sinking food designed specifically for bottom-dwelling fish such as plecos, catfish, and other algae grazers. These wafers are formulated to support the natural feeding behaviour of species that spend most of their time foraging along surfaces within the aquarium.
In the wild, many of these fish consume cellulose-rich materials such as driftwood, roots, and plant matter. To help replicate this in the aquarium, this formula includes stinging nettle as a natural source of cellulose, providing essential dietary fibre that supports digestion and overall health.
These wafers are made with a firm, dense structure, allowing them to sink quickly and hold their shape in the water. This encourages natural grazing and rasping behaviour, while also ensuring the food remains available for extended periods, ideal for nocturnal feeders that are most active after lights out. The durable design also helps prevent the wafers from breaking down too quickly, reducing waste and helping maintain water quality.
The recipe is built around green pea protein as a primary ingredient, supported by a balanced blend of fish meal, herring, shrimp, kelp, and spirulina. This combination provides a mix of plant and marine-based nutrition, helping to support healthy growth, digestion, and natural colouration.
While designed with bottom feeders in mind, many aquarists find these wafers are readily accepted by a wide range of species. They can be particularly useful for feeding fussy or selective fish, as well as providing a targeted food source in community aquariums where bottom dwellers may otherwise miss out during feeding time.
In our own fish room, foods from the Xtreme range have proven to be reliable staples, and these wafers are a great option for ensuring bottom-dwelling fish receive the nutrition they need without compromising water quality.
Suitable for regular feeding as part of a varied and balanced diet for freshwater bottom-dwelling fish including plecos, catfish, corydoras, and loaches.
Curious about the full Xtreme range we stock and why we love it? Find out here!
Diet & Compatibility:
Xtreme Bottom Wafers are specifically designed for bottom-dwelling fish such as plecos, bristlenose, and other catfish species, supporting their natural grazing and rasping behaviour within the aquarium.
These wafers are an excellent staple or supplementary food for species that feed along surfaces, including loaches, corydoras, and other scavenging fish. Their dense, sinking design allows them to reach the substrate quickly and remain intact for extended periods, making them ideal for nocturnal feeders.
Formulated with a balance of plant and marine-based ingredients, including green pea, spirulina, kelp, and shrimp meal, this food supports healthy digestion, steady growth, and natural colouration.
For optimal nutrition and long-term fish health, we recommend supplementing with fresh vegetables such as zucchini and cucumber, as well as rotating with other high-quality foods to provide a varied diet.
Guaranteed Analysis
- Sinking Bottom Wafers Approx 14mm
Crude Protein (Min) – 38%, Crude Fat (Min) – 5%, Crude Fibre (Max) – 12%, Phosphorus (Min) – 0.9%, Moisture (Max) – 12%, Ash (Max) – 12%
Ingredients
Green Pea, Fish Meal, Herring Meal, Kelp Meal, Shrimp Meal, Rice Meal, Spirulina, Brewers Dried Yeast, Paprika, Lecithin, Marigold Extract, Fish Oil, Dl-Methionine, Canthaxanthin, Grain Distillers Dried Yeast, Rice Flour, Dried Kelp, Algae Meal-Dried, Stinging Nettles, Paprika, dl-Methionine, Soy Lecithin, Soy Oil, L-Lysine, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Supplement), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complete (source of Vitamin K Activity), Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Selenite, Red 30, Xanthophyll, Canthaxanthin, Astaxanthin, Beta Carotene
Feeding Guide:
Feed only what your fish can consume within 1-4 minutes, removing any uneaten food if necessary to maintain good water quality.
For most aquariums, feeding a small amount twice daily is the safest baseline. Many fish benefit from lighter feeding schedules, as this allows time for proper digestion and helps reduce common issues such as constipation, bloating, and internal blockages. Even for small or micro-species, skipping food for one day each week is highly recommended to help clear their digestive systems.
In our own fish room, we often stretch this further, feeding a normal portion every 2–3 days rather than daily. This works exceptionally well for large species (like cichlids or predators) that take longer to digest. However, small or micro-species (such as danios, tetras, and nano rainbowfish) have tiny stomachs and high metabolisms, meaning they generally require smaller, more frequent daily feedings with just a single fasting day per week.
Warning: Be careful when spacing out meals. Overdoing the portion size on feeding days can cause severe water pollution and bloating, creating more problems than benefits. If you are unsure, always revert to feeding a small amount twice daily (and fasting one day a week).
For fast-growing juveniles or fry, smaller portions daily may need to be offered more frequently if required, provided water quality is closely monitored.
As with all foods, adjust feeding frequency and portion size based on your fish species, tank size and filtration.
Want to know more about which foods suit your fish? Our guide to choosing the right food covers every food type, which species they're best suited for, how we feed our fish and how to build a varied diet your fish will thrive on.
Xtreme Bottom Wafers - 14mm Fast Sinking Wafer with Pea Protein & Cellulose - 142g
Xtreme Bottom Wafers - 14mm Fast Sinking Wafer with Pea Protein & Cellulose - 142g
Low stock: 2 left
Everything about shipping, specifications and feeding tips are just below.
Why Purchase Food From Us — Our Guarantee & Shipping Info
Why Purchase Food From Us — Our Guarantee & Shipping Info
✅ Quality Food - High Quality fish food carefully formulated to support natural growth, colour, digestion, and long-term health, helping your fish thrive at every stage of life.
🚚 $9.95 Flat-rate shipping - Reliable standard delivery, arrives within 2-8 business days.
🚚 $11.95 Express shipping - Fast safe delivery, arrives within 1-4 business days.
🤝 Trusted Couriers - Reliable delivery at a great rate.
💬 Expert Support - Got Questions? Chat with us anytime for advice!
🐟 Adding fish to your order? - Fish ship via express ($30) with our Live Arrival Guarantee. When ordering both fish and fish food the shipping fee will automatically switch to $30 express and can be shipped in the same box for delivery.
👉 For more details visit our Shipping page.
Tips Before You Buy — Food & Diet Guidance
Tips Before You Buy — Food & Diet Guidance
💡 Not all fish eat the same diet - Take a moment to understand your fish’s natural feeding habits and nutritional needs before choosing a food.
🐟 Some species thrive on high protein - while others do best with a more balanced or plant-supplemented diet. Offering variety helps support digestion, colour, and long-term health.
🌿 Omnivorous fish benefit from mixed feeding - If your fish eat both plant and animal matter, consider rotating foods rather than relying on a single option.
✅ High-quality, hand-picked foods - We source brands and formulas that meet the nutritional needs of all freshwater fish.
✍️ Unsure what’s right for your fish? -Visit our Education or Blog pages for feeding guides, or reach out via our chat, we’re always happy to help you choose with confidence.
Couldn't load pickup availability
Feeding Compatibility
✅ Ideal For
- Plecos & Algae Grazers — Bristlenose, Common Pleco, Rubber Lip Pleco
- Catfish — Corydoras, Synodontis, Otocinclus
- Loaches — Kuhli Loach, Clown Loach, Yoyo Loach
- Shrimp & Snails — Will graze on wafers readily
❌ Not Recommended For
- Carnivorous Catfish — Redtail Catfish, Tiger Shovelnose (need meat-based diet)
- Surface Feeders — Hatchetfish, Archerfish (won't reach the bottom)
- Large Predators — Oscars, Arowanas (need larger, meatier food)
How This Food Compares
🎯 Xtreme Bottom Wafer Formula
- 🪵 Natural Cellulose Sources: Formulated with stinging nettle to provide essential dietary fiber and cellulose. Replicates the wild diet of plecos and catfish that graze on driftwood and roots.
- ⏳ Durable Grazing Structure: Extremely dense wafers sink instantly and hold their shape for extended periods. Perfect for slow grazers and nocturnal feeders without clouding the water.
- 🟢 Green Pea & Marine Proteins: Uses premium green pea protein combined with herring, shrimp, kelp, and spirulina rather than low-cost grain binders, supporting healthy digestion.
- 🎨 Natural Color & Vitality: Packed with natural carotenoids like marigold, paprika, and spirulina to safely deepen natural skin pigmentation and support robust immune health.
❌ Standard Sinking Wafers
- 🌾 Lacks Essential Fiber: Often completely missing natural cellulose elements, leaving wood-rasping plecos and specialized catfish without the dietary fiber they need to digest properly.
- ☁️ Dissolves Way Too Fast: Turns into an unappetizing mush or fine dust within minutes of hitting the substrate, getting lost in the gravel and spiking harmful organic waste.
- 🍞 Terrestrial Wheat Fillers: Built heavily on cheap land-based grains and starches as bulk text, which causes heavy bloating, intestinal stress, and excessive fish waste.
- 📉 Basic Synthetic Profiles: Lacks premium microalgae, kelp, or diverse crustacean meals, frequently resulting in faded, washed-out color variations and slower development.
We stock a significant range of bristlenose plecos and corydoras, and the quality of bottom feeder food available in most Australian aquarium stores are not up to our standards. Xtreme Bottom Wafers are one of the best formulated bottom feeder foods available, with an ingredient list that reflects what these fish actually need rather than cheap filler. The firm structure that holds shape on the substrate is a practical feature that makes a real difference to how much food your bottom dwellers actually consume.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Xtreme Bottom Wafers designed for?
Xtreme Bottom Wafers are sinking foods designed specifically for bottom-dwelling fish. They are particularly suited to plecos, bristlenose, catfish, corydoras, loaches, and other species that naturally forage along the substrate and aquarium surfaces.
Are Xtreme Bottom Wafers suitable for bristlenose plecos?
Yes. Bottom Wafers are a suitable food for bristlenose and other plecos as part of a varied diet. We also recommend providing suitable fresh vegetables and other foods to help replicate the variety of plant matter and natural food sources they encounter in the wild.
Do Bottom Wafers contain ingredients suitable for herbivorous fish?
Yes. The formula includes plant-based ingredients such as green pea, kelp, spirulina, and stinging nettle. Stinging nettle also provides a source of dietary fibre, supporting the digestive needs of fish that consume plant and cellulose-rich materials.
Are Bottom Wafers suitable for corydoras and loaches?
Yes. The sinking format makes them readily accessible to corydoras, loaches, and other bottom-dwelling or scavenging species. Their dense structure also allows the food to remain available on the substrate rather than immediately dispersing throughout the aquarium.
Do Bottom Wafers stay intact in the aquarium?
They are made with a firm, dense structure designed to sink quickly and remain available for longer than many softer foods. This makes them particularly useful for fish that graze slowly or feed primarily after the aquarium lights have gone out.
Are Xtreme Bottom Wafers suitable for nocturnal fish?
Yes. Their dense sinking design makes them particularly useful for nocturnal bottom dwellers. You can place the wafers into the aquarium shortly before the lights go out so fish can feed naturally during their most active period.
Can other fish eat Bottom Wafers?
Yes. Although designed for bottom dwellers, many community fish will readily eat them. This can make them useful when feeding selective fish or when you want to ensure food reaches the bottom of a busy community aquarium.
Can Bottom Wafers be a complete diet for plecos?
They can form an important part of a pleco's diet, but we recommend offering variety rather than relying on one food alone. Supplementing with fresh vegetables such as zucchini and cucumber and other suitable foods can help provide a broader range of nutrition.
How often should I feed Xtreme Bottom Wafers?
Feeding frequency depends on the species, number of fish, aquarium size, and other foods being provided. Offer an amount that can be consumed without leaving excessive uneaten food behind, and remove any remaining food when necessary to maintain good water quality.
Can Bottom Wafers be fed alongside other Xtreme foods?
Absolutely. Bottom Wafers can be combined with or rotated alongside other suitable Xtreme foods to provide variety. For plecos and other herbivorous bottom dwellers, pairing them with fresh vegetables and appropriate plant-based foods can help create a more balanced feeding routine.
Our aquarium fish and plants ready to ship Monday & Tuesday! browse our Fish and Plant collection.
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
- Opens in a new window.