Small effecient algae eater
- Thread starter midmichman80
- Start date
The only efficient algae eater that I have ever owned has got to be the Oto. Not saying others wont do it but Otos are more efficient. It may be becuase Plecos are known for eating other foods that fall to the bottom too; where as, the Oto's diet is algae, with only an occasional few that munch of something else.
If you get Ottos get at least four. In a tank that size I would actually go with 6 or 8.(hell I have 6 in a 10 gallon!). They are far more efficent little algae when they have a proper shoal, and they're far more active and social too that way.
With the exception of the Zebra species which is larger, they stay very very tiny. I count them only as 3/4" of fish towards my stocking. They make very very little waste as well.
With the exception of the Zebra species which is larger, they stay very very tiny. I count them only as 3/4" of fish towards my stocking. They make very very little waste as well.
I'd grab 4 to 6 then. Be warned they're not the hardiest fish at first. Be sure to acclimatize slowly and keep an eye on your water perameters as the little guys can not tolerate Ammonia well. They're wild caught in south america and then flown up to here so by the time they reach your fish tank they're likely enduring their 6th or 7th water change in a week. I try and get them when they've been at the pet store for at least a week when ever possible. They're more settled and less 'jet lagged' then.
Once they're settled in a bit of fresh veggies (mine LOVE cucumber) once and a while (I shoot for once a week) will help keep them healthy and hale. I find they toughen up once they get into a stable environment.
Once they're settled in a bit of fresh veggies (mine LOVE cucumber) once and a while (I shoot for once a week) will help keep them healthy and hale. I find they toughen up once they get into a stable environment.
If you are going to go with that many then you need to supplement feed them. There wont be enough in the tank to sustain them.I don't recommend it as its hard to keep them fed, but...
When you look to get them at the LFS look for ones with bellies that are more white verses grey. The whiter the belly the more healthy they are and obviously if they have a normal belly they are being fed and are eating.
When you look to get them at the LFS look for ones with bellies that are more white verses grey. The whiter the belly the more healthy they are and obviously if they have a normal belly they are being fed and are eating.
I have 4 in my 29 gallon 3 are little fatties one is smaller but seems to be healthy. I give them an algae wafer about once a week but the rest in the tank likes them so they don't really get a lot of it. They do better with more than just one. I noticed the last time I had only 2 and one died the other only lasted another month.
They're easy little guys to feed. An algae wafer every couple days. Some cucumber once a week. I've been keeping them for quite a while now and never had a problem. As I said I have a whole shoal of them in a 10G and little to no problems.
If you have real plants they'll nibble on soft bodied once now and then when there isn't enough algae for them as well.
If you have real plants they'll nibble on soft bodied once now and then when there isn't enough algae for them as well.
Well and the simese algae eatter babies that steal all the food from everyone but yes.
It's my vegitarian + betta tank though.
Added: If getting food to the thing is an issue though a bristlenose pleco or flying fox might be a better choice for that tank then though. All those fish can be kept alone and more actively fend for themselves.
It's my vegitarian + betta tank though.
Added: If getting food to the thing is an issue though a bristlenose pleco or flying fox might be a better choice for that tank then though. All those fish can be kept alone and more actively fend for themselves.
Last edited:
My pleco's keep my tank algea free, I still supplement with wafers, they will occasionally eat the floating pellets. I dont have otto's, I personally dont care for them, to small and fragile for me. I am not sure why feeding the otto's would be such a problem if you were to drop the wafers in after the lights have been out for a few minutes, unless of course otto's are not active at night.