Algae eaters

[Darbex]

Does anyone know of a good algae eater that will not grow large? Soni has tried the Otto's but have lost 2 and we dont know if the Angels are the reason, but would like to have a larger fish but one that wont get too large like the common Pleco.

[Ranakalea]

Re: Algae eaters

bristlenose pleco doesnt get too big and seems to always eat

[Fire_chair]

Re: Algae eaters

Rubberlips are good too

[Darbex]

Re: Algae eaters

Are either big plant eaters this is will go into a planted tank and I dont want them to destroy the plants.

[finfan]

Re: Algae eaters

what about SAE's?

[finfan]

Re: Algae eaters

or american flag fish

[rrocket2002]

Re: Algae eaters

You want bristlenose for your tank.

Raul

[Darbex]

Re: Algae eaters

Any reason for BN over SAE?

[szidlon]

Re: Algae eaters

From my experience SAE's get lazy when they get larger and just want to eat the food on the bottom.   Also, larger SAE's can get a little agressive and I've never seen BN's chase after anything but algae.  BN's are not known to attach themselves to the sides of fish for a quick, or not so quick meal (the flat anglefish sides can be quite a temptation).

[Cesar]

Re: Algae eaters

Bristle nose plecos are the only way to go,when I had my mbuna tank(45 various species)none of them dared to touch my male bristle nose,plus they are very hard workers I had only one in my 110 and it was clean all the time no algea what so ever,hpefully Ill have some fry here pretty soon if not I think wvdiscus breeds them also,Mike has been know to also carry them I picked up a couple of females to mix up some blood lines
-C

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Algae eaters

SAE's will eat brush algae if its still young and in its prime but most tanks don't have that.....

I would either find better ocats or get a bristlenose.....best two algae eaters ther is.

[High-PH]

Re: Algae eaters

I never had any Oto's till I recently got some for the planted tank. Can anyone tell me if they are considered delicate?  All the ones I've gotten have come from Petsmart ( I know ! I know !) and it's gone like this...Buy 2, loose 1,  Buy 2 kept 2,...Today, I went by there and they had a lot, so I got 5. By the time I got home (less than 45 minutes from the time they were bagged) two were stone dead and one lasted another 5 minutes. #4 is acting weird, but I hope two will make it. Can't imagine what went wrong, unless that kid clobbered them. I really hate it when they want to show off how fast they can brandish a net.  So anyway, are Otos supposed to be wimpy?

[szidlon]

Re: Algae eaters

Don't know how delicate they are but I would certainly take the deceased, if not all of them, back for a refund.

[Zulaab]

Re: Algae eaters

High-Ph... I know its a drive for you since you list La Porte as your home, but I got two Otto's from City Pets (BW-8 & Beechnut / west side of town) and they are thriving and happy.. they come out of a heavy planted tank, and are very healthy when I got them and they are eating away at all the algae in my planted tank.  They got to be in high Heaven when I added VAL's into the tank.. they seem to love to clean the long leaves :)

[High-PH]

Re: Algae eaters

Thanks, Zulaab. I know I need to hit the road and check out some other shops.  Didn't want to go far today with the weather going downhill, so I thought I'd give the local Otos a chance again. The ones that haven't died right away are cute and happy as you say. I like them a lot. My little planted tank has turned out to be something of a jungle. Can't decide if I'm proud that things are growing so well, or embarassed that I didn't plan it more carefully.