smallest plecos?

[gale]

I need something to clean up algae in my 20g. I can't find any otos around here and the lfs has CAE that they say are the 'good' kind of algae eaters. I'm not going to argue with them-I'll just go with a pleco that stays small. They might order it for me. (they won't order the otos since they think they already carry them ). So are there any plecos that stay small enough for a 20g?

 

[Arashi]

Bristlenoses. Great algae eater, and they stay relatively small, usually only reaching about 6 inches in most species. I have three and they are just awesome fish.

 

[plecoperson]

Make sure it is a bristlenose before you buy... my sister got a pleco which she was told was a bristlenose and it turned out to be a gibbiceps pleco. they were both tiny (fortunately mine was a bristlenose!!!)

Bristlenose is a wonderful little fish. I prefer common plecs meself but my 15g isn't really big enough for one of those!

 

[cometcattle]

Pitbull plecs (LDA25) don't get any bigger that about 2.5". I just picked up 2, but the jury is still out on their algea eating abilities for me.
I bought them just because they are cool fish, and I rarely see them in stores.


Like Arashi said, BN's are great algea eaters.

 

[gale]

Thanks everyone! At first I was shying away from a plec due to the bioload issue but since at least 2 and maybe 5 of the fish will be moved to my 10g I can probably swing it. I'm going to call the lfs today and see if they'll order me a bristlenose.

 

[Dwarfs]

Bulldog/rubbernse/rubberlip plecos are great, my 2.5 inch BD pleco cleaned out his 20l of al algae (Brown and green) over night