Algi Eaters

[Queen oF The Gravel]

Whats the best algi eaters to get... i hear loach feed on algi and i know that pleco are bottom dwelling algi eaters, but which would you recomend? my tank is 60 litre. Housing 2 fantails 3danio's and 2 little mollys. all fish healthy and getting along fine.

I would like a plec and a couple of loach that will get along with each other and my other fish.

 

[Nim]

Loaches dont really eat algae. They are omnivores. There is really no best algae eater as many fish eat different types of algae so unless you want to get a specific fish, there really may be nothing to suggest. Plecs and bristle nose cats do eat more common types of algae but if you dont have any algae problems then you dont need them.

Nim

 

[Queen oF The Gravel]

i dont have algi problems at all i just think the plec are really amazing looking fish to keep and would like to have one myself. you can get wafers for them to feed on i hear? i spoke to some people in my local aquarium and they said their relativly easy to keep and did'nt say i had to have a lot of algi growth. Im a little confuzed wether i can get them or not.

any more info X

 

[Nim]

Yes you can certainly get them if your tank size allows for it I was just working on asumption that you are looking for a specific algae eaters as there are a million more algae eaters apart from plecs. You can feed them wafers or boiled/microwaved cucumber slices or blanched lettuce etc. They will also have a go at flakes and catfish pellets so they can pretty much eat anything that their mouth allows and not just algae.

Nim

 

[Queen oF The Gravel]

Wow, thanx for the information. The pleco iv seen (think they were called 'red spot' and also common plec) are just such amusing and cheeky looking fish, i really wanted to be able to keep one.

So i dont need any algae at all to keep one?
Will the plec bother any other fish?
I hear they prefer to be alone, this correct?
Do you have any pleco?

Thankyou

 

[Nim]

The common plec can get very big. How large is your tank? Just keep an eye out for the one that remains small enough for your tank but plecs are messy eaters and you can count them as 2 fish when calculating your fish load. I am not a plec expert but I think you can mix plenty of different types of plecs but ask the questions which ones you want to mix before getting them.

The only plec I have is a 5yr old bristle nose at 5" who loves to munch on my echinodorous (it has already killes 2 echinodorous rose and almost managed to kill a nice red rubin). Apart from plants, plecs usually dont harm any other fish but they may have squibbles amongst themselves. Many people however keep plecs with plants and if wellfed, they leave the plants alone but I have yet to see that happen with mine

Nim

 

[Queen oF The Gravel]

Thankyou. The ones i have seen in the aquariums were really small (around an inch) but i obviusly everything starts out small lol.

ill Question the fishy people at the shop as to which ones they have that are only small.

Thankyou for all your help, the information was much appreciated.

Hope to speek to you later. x

 

[liannegarcia]

Hiya
I have a sucking loach that eats algae and keeps my tank very clean. He isnt aggresive to the other fish. But i believe they only eat algae whilst they are young. They sem to stop once they reach maturity. Although i dont know how old they are when they become an adult - does anyone know???

 

[Dan81192]

Maybe try a siamese algea eater?