Flagfish

[BrianK]

Just wanted to share in case anyone is struggling with hair algae like I was. My snails don't touch it, my pleco doesn't touch it, amano shrimp got eaten by my fish. I did keep it somewhat under control with Algaefix but I really don't like using that. Anyway, about a week ago I put in a few flagfish. In that first week almost all the string algae is gone! These guys are voracious algae eaters. The only downsides so far is one of them is a little bit nippy although so far not excessively and I appear to have gotten 3 females because they are pretty plain looking with very little "flagginess".

 

[Innesfan]

There are several species that have 'flag' in their common names but given the fondness for algae demonstrated by your fish I assume they are Jordanella floridae. Yes, the females are less colorful and the bright flag-like stripes are found on males only. Females also have a black blotch on the dorsal fin, absent in males. Is the nippiness confined to each other or does it extend to other tank mates as well? Adding a male might help. And given their persistence it is recommended that there be at least two females per male, so that would work out well for you.

 

[BrianK]

Yes, Florida flagfish. I would not mind getting another but I have no way to guarantee getting a male. I only have big box stores near me and neither have flagfish. I had to mail order these. Mostly just one is nippy and not excessively so
and yes, nips at my Boesemani rainbow fish as well.

 

[Liam]

I keep a group, two males five females and yes they are nippy with other fish so they live in their own tank and yes they love eating hair algae.

 

[Innesfan]

Does the nippy one have a black blotch on its dorsal?

 

[BrianK]

Does the nippy one have a black blotch on its dorsal?

I haven't noticed but I haven't looked closely and the lights are off now.

 

[Innesfan]

This is what you're looking for--that black blotch at the rear edge of the dorsal fin. If it's there, the fish is a female. If it's not there, the nippy one is a juvenile male who is coming of age and claiming territory..

 

[BrianK]

This is what you're looking for--that black blotch at the rear edge of the dorsal fin. If it's there, the fish is a female. If it's not there, the nippy one is a juvenile male who is coming of age and claiming territory..

View attachment 374122

All females

 

[emeraldking]

Well, I will get some new ones of these flag fish. For it's been a while when I had my last ones.

 

[BrianK]

I just found another benefit, sort of. I have ramshorn snails (on purpose). They were beginning to have more of a population than I want but I just saw a fish eat a cluster of eggs right off a leaf. I think they might be eating some of the smaller snails too but I am not sure on this.