FishProfiles.com Message Forums

What would be a good algae eater for a 10 gal. that eats lots of algae. My 10 isn't very clean its needs a small sized, hyper algae eating fish.

You know in advance that I'm going to recommend Otocinclus aren't you?

And I have several good reasons for doing so.

[1] Maximum SL is 1.5 to 2 inches depending upon species.

[2] They are efficient algae eaters more or less from the moment they first begin to feed as fry, and remain so throughout their lives.

[3] If handled with reasonable care, they are long lived (One of mine lived for nine years).

[4] Once acclimatised with care to your setup, they prove to be surprisingly hardy fishes. Most of the problems encountered with Otocinclus are due to incompetenec or neglect at the wholesaler end of the distribution chain, though thankfully some wholesalers (at least here in the UK) are learning the lesson.

[5] If given a lush growth of algae to dine upon when introduced to your aquarium, they will settle in vey nicely indeed.

Just remember that Otocinclus should be given a planted aquarium to live in. Bare aquaria devoid of algae and subject to rock concert levels of floodlighting with the wrong kind of lighting, of the sort that used to be the aquatic Hell that many fishes in the trade ended up in, will result in horrific levels of attrition. Given a planted aquarium, places to hide, shaded areas and a nice crop of algae to munch upon, they'll reward your TLC many times over. Be prepared to shop around and look for specimens residing in a decent aquarium at the dealer's - if the dealer aquarium has a nice algal growth and some furnishings (including live plants) then specimens from such an aquarium are more likely to acclimatise to your setup without losses. If you are forced to buy them from some aquatic Black Hole of Calcutta with totally inappropriate maintenance conditions, then be prepared to provide lots of TLC and some intensive maintenance for the first month or so in order to bring them back to a good state of health and rescue them from their previous abuse. In those circumstances, be prepared also for losses to occur.

Cared for properly, these fishes are little honeys that deserve the best you can give them. Tireless little workers that should be rewarded for their diligence, and which sadly find themselves all too often doomed in the distribution chain at the hands of people who care more about Excel spreadsheets than decent animal husbandry. It would serve some of these people right to be reincarnated as an Otocinclus and see how they like it ...


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

My Otto did a amazing job in my 10G, but I only noticed that after he died...I even had 3for my 50G and they were pretty good, not enought though, Sadly one got its head crushed under the drift wood and the other 2 dissappered...

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

My Ottos died suddenly and I have been waiting for three weeks now for my LFS to some in and I can see the difference alraedy. I have one small rock which is like a green carpet are they goingb to have a good feed when they go into my Betta tank.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

You might try a few olive nerite snails. I got a dozen for my 30 gal. and was impressed with the clean up.
jan

I also recommend some Otos, but i also like a BN for Algae eating.


puddle, do you only keep or you also breed Nerite Snails?.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

i know what everybody says and believes, but chinese algea eaters DO eat algea. I have had two in my 55g for over a year and ther is not a spot of algea in the tank anywhere, and these do not grow that large. I have two, bought at the exact same time from the same, one is an inch long the other is almost 3.

but yes, snails work to as long as you dont get the wrong bread and go crazy and over throw the tank

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

Then you don't have chinese algae eaters. There are a couple similar species that are harder to find but make great algae eaters and don't get as big. Somewhere online there is a good comparison showing the exact differences between them but I can't find it.

I ordered olive nerites from AZ. Gardens but I have seen them offered on other sites.
jan

I recently picked up a few ottos for my 72 and they seem to be working non-stop since day 1. I also have a bristlenose and he does really good job. I would say go with some ottos for sure. I also had a chinese algea eater in my tank a couple years ago and he ended up getting 7 inches long, pushing 8, in about a years time. He did keep the algea down, but he got big.

What does that mean, Bob? "Till the cows come home." Where have the cows been?

This is the Algae Eaters link:-

http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/



http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Yes, I have a pair of ottos in my ten, they are just incredible. Most efficient algae eaters I've ever seen, put my rubbernosed pleco to shame (he's in the 30). They are, however very non-hardy and do die off easily and for no real apparent reason. I lost 4 of the six I bought. Dunno why, all the parameters are mormal. Every profile I've read on them states the same, and my lfs well, ya hafta be there on tuesdays cause by thursday there's only about 3 left.