Chinese Algae Eater And Moss Balls... Nightmare?

[lozronz]

Hi!

I just recieved some mail order Moss Balls and Java Moss Balls I'm gonna try my hand at a heavily planted Nano Cube unfortunately the substrate which I ordered ages ago is yet to arrive.

I just put it in another tank whilst I wait to set up the cube and my Algae Eater is all over it, is it safe for a few days or is he just gonna have the best lunch of his life?


I can't tell if he is eating it or just sucking off algae it doesn't seem to be getting any smaller.

 

[AndyTaylor]

I'm guessing a little as I have neither 'moss balls' nor algae eater in my tank but I reckon this fish thinks it's Xmas all over again. As far as I know. moss balls (Marino Moss) is actually an algae, albeit an attractive sort. Having said that, how much of a moss ball can one fish eat? I'd say it'll be ok in the short term... It'll grow back!

 

[MadCatter]

Its strange that your algae eater is going after this.... maybe there is just something on them? They're supposed to be a type of algae that your algae eater wont eat (mine wont touch the stuff). You could probably separate the moss balls into a smaller container until you get your substrate - these things will live through anything.

 

[nurglespuss]

Yes the moss balls are fine, infact they are getting h best grooming of their life!

The algae is unpalatable to all fish, he is merely rooting around in it for food. My moss ball is practically an organic-toy for my catfish, who spend all day rooting round in it, especially at feeding time.

 

[Tommo]

The moss ball will be fine, they tend to get algea growing all over themselves very fast so the fish is probably doing good cleaning work.

 

[wayne84]

yi have a big Chinese Algae Eater and a nice size moss ball and stays away from it never seem him trying to eat it or anything like that maybe it might be as its new he prob leave it alone soon

 

[lozronz]

Thanks for all the replies, here is a pic of him having a pop at it sorry for the quality its from my phone

You are right the moss balls seem fine but very clean, however the Java moss seems very much depleated!