need a new bottomfeeder
- Thread starter valbogert
- Start date
In a 10 G pretty much the only suitable algae eater I'd suggest would be an otto or an apple snail. Since you didn't have good luck with the ottos why dont you try an apple/mystery snail? You might need to scrub the tank because mine never seem to make much headway if I put them in a dirty tank, but they seem to keep it at bay if its clean to begin with?
The other thought would be to get a tiny common pleco and talk with your local store and see if its ok to bring him back and trade him in when he gets to be more than a couple inches long. One of my stores actually suggests this because some of their customers dont want tiny plecos they'd rather have larger ones but the larger ones are more expensive for them to order.
The other thought would be to get a tiny common pleco and talk with your local store and see if its ok to bring him back and trade him in when he gets to be more than a couple inches long. One of my stores actually suggests this because some of their customers dont want tiny plecos they'd rather have larger ones but the larger ones are more expensive for them to order.
My rubberlip has stayed pretty small...I've had him since april or may in there and he has only seemed to grow from about an inch to maybe an inch and a half. Just remember that even if they grow slow etc they still get up to about 5 inches and a 10G probably wouldn't be a good permanent home for any pleco.
Maybe not enough food or not enough oxygen in the water? Not sure. Sometimes mine like to crawl along the top of the tank, but they've never gotten stuck anywhere.
Danios might try to eat them...depends if there's anywhere for the shrimp to get away and what kind/size of shrimp I suppose. Not all shrimp eat algae.
Danios might try to eat them...depends if there's anywhere for the shrimp to get away and what kind/size of shrimp I suppose. Not all shrimp eat algae.
snails will eat algae wafers. Another decent alage eating snail is the Malaysian trumpet snail. They are nocturnal, and live in the substrate...so even if they 'infest' your tank, you won't see them unless you turn on the lights at night.
Otos really are the best for eating the green stuff on the glass...maybe try them again when your tank is more established?? They are hard buggers to keep alive in the beginning, but once you find some hearty ones they'll take a lot of abuse. I usually buy 2x the amount i want to end up with.
Otos really are the best for eating the green stuff on the glass...maybe try them again when your tank is more established?? They are hard buggers to keep alive in the beginning, but once you find some hearty ones they'll take a lot of abuse. I usually buy 2x the amount i want to end up with.
If you opt for a plec I'd suggest a bristle nosed pleco. I've had various plecs and the bristle nosed has been the best for keeping my tank algae free. As for the snails I've had snails do the same thing in my tank. They get stuck on the intake right? I don't think it has anything to do with oxygen or water quality. I think they're just attracted to the current or something?? I ended up having to turn my filter off in that tank because I could leave it on for a day and I'd have 5 or 6 snails sucked up against it when I got home. A few of them got sucked right out of their shells. Of course these weren't apple snails. I've switched to a fluval plus 4 underwater filter and I don't have that issue anymore.
If you do go for a BN do not go for a common, they do get pretty large and mass produce waste.
For a 10 gal if you wanted something different there is a rare species of BN that stays under 3 inches. LDA08 here is a link for them. http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/ancistru/152_f.php I've not kept them so I can't speak about their algae eating abilities but, I would strongly assume that they are pretty much as good as standard BNs. I see them from time to time on aquabid. But never as individuals. There is an auction for them right now going on. You may want to email the person selling them and ask them about algae eating, and see if they would part with just 1.
Other than that otos are your best bet. you might even want to look at giant otos, they are pretty neat and do a good job. I've only seen them once and that was at my LFS. I bought every one they had.
For a 10 gal if you wanted something different there is a rare species of BN that stays under 3 inches. LDA08 here is a link for them. http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/ancistru/152_f.php I've not kept them so I can't speak about their algae eating abilities but, I would strongly assume that they are pretty much as good as standard BNs. I see them from time to time on aquabid. But never as individuals. There is an auction for them right now going on. You may want to email the person selling them and ask them about algae eating, and see if they would part with just 1.
Other than that otos are your best bet. you might even want to look at giant otos, they are pretty neat and do a good job. I've only seen them once and that was at my LFS. I bought every one they had.