What stays small and won't suck slime coats?

[lillibirdy]

I am going to have some flat bodied fishes and don't want them sucked on, I thought I had finally decided on otos, but apparently they too suck on fish bodies and eyeballs.... Is there a solution?
KathyW

 

[CFC]

I've never heard of ottos sucking on other fish, this myth comes from the similar looking when small Chinese algea eaters which can be real terrors.

If you want a fish strictly for eating algea then i would suggest looking at siamese algea eaters Crossocheilus siamensis which is a Cyprinid and is widely known to be the best algea eater available in the aquarium hobby.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi lillibirdy

Otos are small and very peaceful fish that do eat a lot of algae.

The only thing to be concerned about is getting ones who are healthy and who will live in your tank. Once they have acclimatized and become established they will do well. Do not buy any that look weak or anything less than active and vigorous, because they are not likely to be able to make the transition.

I've had a dozen of them for about 3 weeks or so and just love them. Not one has died and they have eaten all the algae in the tank as well as all the algae on all the movable decorations and plants in my tanks. I am now having to feed them on zucchini. For their size, they do a great job.

 

[SirMinion]

Yep, otos are the answer, as long as they're kept in groups of at least three.

Groovy little plecs.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Hmm, I'd not go with otos meself. They are too fragile for my likeing. I personally would go for a bristlenose plec but I don't know how good they are on algae....

 

[Kittycat]

From what I've researched in the net prior to getting ottos, the chances of their sucking slime coats are very, very slim (probably only if you don't feed them and they are desperately hungry with nothing to eat). I've kept them with discus with no problem at all. They never bother any of my other fishes, either.

 

[SirMinion]

Hmm, I'd not go with otos meself. They are too fragile for my likeing. I personally would go for a bristlenose plec but I don't know how good they are on algae....

Bristlenoses aren't that small, adults of most species are six inches, with som getting up to 12 inches.

Lillibirdy asked for an algae eater that stays small.

Bristlenoses are excellent against algae though.