Looking For An Algae Eating Fish

[RipSlider]

So, Now my new is settling down, I'm starting to get algae growth, and think it's about time I got an algae eater of some sort.

However, I've read bad things about most of the common ones, or have issues with them. Anyone got any suggestions, or are willing to say that my current idea's are wrong?

I have a peaceful community tank, with about 12 inches of fish space left, so looking to keep some room for a couple more fish.

Options
Siamease Flying fox: grows big at 6inches
Flying fox: 6" fish. looks really good though
Chinese algae eater: gets aggressive with age and feeds on fishs flanks and eyes
Plec: far too big
rubbernose plec: still big, would dwarf everything else in tank
Mollies/Guppies: breed too much. No space for the kiddies.


Am I wrong about any of these? Is there a best of a bad bunch?

I did see a fish that my LFS described as a "sucking loach" which looked for all the world like a three inch stingray which had been squashed up in the middle. I can't find reference to these fish under this name, so don't want to get it before I do research.

Many thanks

Steve

 

[Oscar101]

try an otto.they are always actively eating and very social.u need a pre-cycled tank though and they are very seceptable to disease

try an otto.they are always actively eating and very social.u need a pre-cycled tank though and they are very seceptable to disease

try an otto.they are always actively eating and very social.u need a pre-cycled tank though and they are very seceptable to disease


from fishfishfish

 

[@ombomb]

I did see a fish that my LFS described as a "sucking loach" which looked for all the world like a three inch stingray which had been squashed up in the middle. I can't find reference to these fish under this name, so don't want to get it before I do research.

It's hillstream loach. They're cold(er) water fish so don't fair well in your average tropical community.

It would help if you said how big your tank was and what else you have in it athough you need to remember that keeping algae at bay is best done by maintaining your tank well, NOT by adding more to the bioload.

 

[Nevergone815]

a group of 3 otto cats would be nice. they grow to only 2" MAX. also a bulldog/rubbernose pleco or a bristlenose pleco don't get to big (6" or so) and are both good algae eaters. you could get shrimp or a snail. it really depends on what's in your tank and how big the other fish are.

edit: also mollies and guppies can easily be controlled by getting same sex thios would produce no babies (providing you get females that for some reason aren't pregnant) even if the ygive birth... the other fish in the tank will eat the fry before the get to big.

i personally don't like flying foxes, SAE, and especially not CAE (will actually only eat algae as a baby but will wean off of it and be a bottom feeder/scavenger and very aggressive as it gets bigger. at least IME)

 

[Mikaila31]

A lot of people find otos to be a difficult fish to keep alive, Because they are so sensitive. Some will die for no reason at all and most of the ones in the pet stores are starved. So i would suggest a pit bull pleco which get a little bigger.

 

[RipSlider]

OK,

My tank is 3foot x 15 inches x 18 inches

Stock is currently:

6x WCMM's ( all of which are adapted to and breeding, then eating their fry!!, at 24 Degrees )
4x corys: 1x Julii, 2x schwartzi, 1x bronze. All who live in their own little shoal of four and try to breed constantly although always fail.
2x Kribs, in the middle of pairing
4x amano shrimps
1x giant bollivian shrimp ( which is 3inches )

I'll be looking to get 3x khuliee loaches and maybe a couple of 4 of either belleding heart or congo tetra's if I'm left with space.

Tank is medium densely planted, maybe 20 plants in total, which are just starting to establish. Water stats are pretty much perfect.

There is a little current, as tank is fed by a spraybar from an external filter.

Water is quite hard, although pH is near nuetral.

I thought of Oto's, but I understand they can be very difficult to get them to start feeding, and they die easily.

What about an apple snail? or with this graze on ALL my plants, not just the algae?

Thanks

Steve

 

[Nevergone815]

i know MTS (malaysian trumpet snails) don't get big and don't eat plants. but they do eat algae and leftover foods and keeps sanmd substrate loose. if you do not have sand they won't burrow in there during the day (unless you have nice finer gravel) but no worries.

i don't know much about apple snails or even mystery snails as far as it comes to eating live plants. but i do know that they can be quite good algae eaters, and eat leftover foods as well.

edit: i have 3 in my tank and they ate as soon as i put them in, my tank isn't even fully cycled (not 6 months old- its 2-3 months old) and they are doing great. i probably got lucky as i have learned (not from personal experience) that there is no middle ground with ottos. they either die in tanks or thrive. no "oh they are doing ok".

well anyways good luck with anyone you choose