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I have a ten gallon that is very well planted that also has a bad case of algae. I'd much prefer to have a fish to eat the algae than clean it manually (it also gives me an excuse to get a new fish for the tank) but I need something that will get on well with my CT Betta boy that lives in this tank. My LFS said that a rubbernose or bulldog pleco would do fine in a ten gallon as algae control, but I'd like to know what you all think.

Thanks much for the help!

Bulldog plecos will be fine, as they stay nice and small, and are willing algae eaters. You might want to consider some ottos, though. They are the best algae eaters out there, stay very small, and won't bother other fish. Just be sure that your tank is very clean and well-maintained if you go with ottos, though.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

ottos are the best fish solution to algae in a 10g. but if you can get yourself a handful of malaysian trumpet snails, they will clean the algae off of just about every surface in your tank, and keep your substrate turned as well

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

Thanks for the replies. I had Otos in the tank for several weeks, and they never touched the algae so I just moved them over to my 20 gallon with my other Otos so they would at least look good as a larger group in the bigger tank and so I could make room to add another fish. My 20 has never seen as much algae as my ten and it gets a full dose of ferts every month and has a lot more nitrate accumulation by WC day than the ten.

Do bulldog plecs need a group, or are they fine solitary? Also, if it's no too much trouble, could you perhaps point me to a good website for info on them? I like to do a lot of research now before buying fish. I learned my lesson early on in my fishkeeping adventure that research is the key to keeping fish healthy.

Rubbernose plecs get fairly large--large enough to need a thrity gallon. If properly cared for, all commonly available species of the genus will reach lengths in excess of 4 inches in length, many, even to six. Furthermore, they aren't THE best algae eaters around, although they certainly will clear the tank up some. If you buy a smaller specimen, you can house one in a ten gallon for about a year, then he'll need to be upgraded to a larger tank. I would suggest ottos. I don't know why they aren't gorging themselves on the algae in your tank. My only guess would be that the "algae" in your tank probably consists of BGA and other algae posing nasties that no fish will eat.

Well, it's just the regular green algae growing on the glass and caves. I had some of the same (mainly on the gargoyle decoration) in my 20 gallon before my otos moved in and they devoured it overnight. That's why I picked up some more otos in the first place. Maybe I should increase their group? I had 3, may 4 or five would be better? They're small fish and I perform tank maintenance religiously, so that wouldn't be a problem, right? Ammonia and nitrites are 0 and nitrates are always very low thanks to the plants.

You preform tank maintenance religiously? :Imagines above poster chanting whilst rearranging her plants:

Anyhoo, I guess ottos would do better in groups. Try that--maybe it will encourage them to eat.

Last edited by Cup_of_Lifenoodles at 07-Oct-2004 23:11

Oh, and I think I may have been mistaken about the name of the pleco my LFS recommended- I believe it may have been pitbull, not bulldog. Those stay way smaller according to this site. Anyone know about these guys?

Don't laugh. I don't chant, but I do tend to sing while trimming/rearranging plants. Hehe. When you have a lot of fish, they almost become a religion. (has a ten gallon, a 20, a tank for breeding guppies for feeder fry, and 10 individual betta tanks)

Ah, para-ottos. Although they do stay small, the members of this genus don't seem to consume algae quite as efficiently as ottos, and are thus usually only purchased as show/fun fish. While you may see SOME results, don't except a single pitbull to tackle your entire algae problem.

Maybe 2-3 pitbulls? They can't be any worse at eating the algae than my otos were, LOL. Too bad bettas don't eat algae, the betta in that tank eats like he's starving everyday at feeding time.