Plecos vs Corys

[Skullburger]

Hi there,

I have a cozy 75L tank (20G) which is finished cycling and I was just about to start adding fish to. I want to start with a couple of corys to control algae but from what I have seen plecos do a much better job and (i think) are cooler looking but I think they would soon get way too big.

My plan was to keep mostly to small fishes in this tank so as to make the overall size feel bigger- (and not to cramp the fish).

I was wondering if anyone could suggest a good species of cory or pleco that will enjoy munching on a bit of algae while not getting too big (and by too big I mean more than 3 or 4 inches or so). Does such a fish exist?

 

[geelloo]

hey try some ottos and corys(ottos will graze on the algae while corys will do the bottom feeding)

 

[wayne]

Bristlenose plecs are great, otocinclus are small plecs that are good too, but a bit more fragile

 

[Jubilee]

Corydoras do not eat algae, they browse through it for microscopic food perhaps. Some plecos are good at eating algae and others are not. Rubbernose plecs grow to around 5" and are good at eating algae. Ottos are excellent for eating brown algae off of everything also and are smaller.

There are so many corydoras in the size range you want it is up to you. I like peppered, sterbais, juliis, adolfoi,.. well all of them.

 

[bobrob]

Yea jubilee is right cory's eat food particle's and things that hit the bottom (not poop) they dont eat algae but otto's seem to be a very popular choice and from what I have heard are really good at controlling algae.

 

[Skullburger]

Hmm, interesting...... after reading so many intersting storys about corys I will probably get some of those anyway as they sound like fun.

How about the Siamese Algae Eaters?

 

[jaws2]

i had a chinese alage eater that did well he died about a month ago now my plec is fat LOL i reccommend 3-4 otos and 3 albino corys i love those

 

[Angelfish]

Siamese Algae Eaters are great, Id recomend one to anyone. Ofcourse they need feeding, but will also eat all of the algae you have. Mine swims about and sometimes chases other fish that are bigger than him! This isnt normal though, they are usually peaceful fish. A nice addition to any aquarium =)

 

[Jubilee]

SAE's are great for algae, but be aware that they can grow big, sorta like a big cigar, and become more aggressive as they grow.

 

[Skullburger]

Hey everyone, thanks for the advice- I ended up getting a pair of Panda Corys last night and they are great! they go up and down and then up and then down and Up and Down again! and again and again!! -then they stop and look at you for a minute- and then they're off again!! They seem to really like my tank too.

I am trying to find a zebra pleco at the moment as well, but at a couple of fish shops I've been to so far, they said "I've never heard of those"........ fools!

Oh well, I keep looking- - - -

 

[geoffgarcia2]

Skullburger, zebra plecos here in the us are pretty expensive so you know. one of my lfs sells them between 40-60$

 

[Fatboy]

I never had a Pleco yet but apparently they produce a lot of waste. You probably have the right idea of keeping smaller fish for your 20g. Maybe a smaller plec would be ok but your probably better off getting a sae or otto with a few corys. As for Saes getting aggressive, mine freaks out whenever I put algae wafers in the tank. He doesn't hurt the other fish but he gets very territorial when the corys come to snack on his wafers.

 

[Skullburger]

HI Geoff, Uhhh, sorry that post should have read "Zebra Oto" not Zebra Pleco- They look amazing but I have read the Zebra Plecs are hard to care for and I am only a beginner so I wouldn't want to inflict death by stupidity upon such a funky and pricey fish.

I expect that they would be in excess of $100 dollars in Australia judging by prices I have seen on the web.

 

[SomethingFishy]

$40 - $50 for a Zebra Pleco is a great price but still on the pricey side for me. If I can find them (which is rare) they sell for $100 - $125!!

 

[Jubilee]

My lfs has had zebra ottos twice that I've seen and they were bought up in a flash. They were $12-14 each. I'd like to have some too.

 

[izabeau]

I have a 20 gal. tank now, with an emerald cory, an adolfo cory, and otto cat and a small rubber lipped pleco and they all get along great!!! They are all small and love to "play" with each other, the otto cat is soo small and so cute I actually "lose" him sometimes in the plants. I am so happy with them and these I think would make a great combo for you, I can't wait to get a panda cory and another otto cat, I only have the one and I think he's a bit lonely!!

 

[Wormo3188]

Geez, 40-50 dollars for a Zebra Pleco? That is cheap, pick them up if you can! My LFS was selling one for like 90 dollars. It was crazy.

 

[420Loach]

i just saw inch and a half common plecos for $1.99. i was thinkin about getting some for my 55. or maybe just one since i heard they get huge (my last two common plecos only got up to 5 inches then died)