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	Algae Eaters!!!
ghostfish Hobbyist Posts: 101 Kudos: 79 Votes: 4 Registered: 23-Nov-2004	I have a 3' tank with a breeding harem of apistogramma but the tank is ridddled with algae I had a bristlenose in their but it became to stressful for the apistogramma females as it kept trying to eat the eggs! I don't like my chances but are their any algae eaters wich eat algae but not fish eggs. I don't kike using formulations to get rid of algae as i believe its harmful to the fish.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
jasonpisani Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 5553 Kudos: 7215 Votes: 1024 Registered: 24-Feb-2003	Maybe you can get a couple of Otto's. They are very good Algae eaters. http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/ Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970. http://www.maltaaquarist.com
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
keithgh Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003	ghostfish Ottos certainly help to control the Algae but I have no idea if they can live with you fish in that tank. 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
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
longhairedgit Fish Guru Lord of the Beasts Posts: 2502 Kudos: 1778 Votes: 29 Registered: 21-Aug-2005	Ottos are tolerant of a wide range of carbonate hardness and they tend to be very unobtrusive to most fish - I say give em a go. Last edited by longhairedgit at 02-Sep-2005 22:03
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
sham Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3369 Kudos: 2782 Votes: 98 Registered: 21-Apr-2004	Like longhairedgit said otos aren't noticed by many fish and are actually pretty adaptable to various water conditions if you acclimated them carefully. They can often be kept with somewhat aggressive fish or fin nippers because they just get ignored. That's not always true but it's usually worth a try.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
LEE_WILMOT_706 Enthusiast Posts: 243 Kudos: 201 Votes: 3 Registered: 27-Jun-2004	If you acclimatise them correctly, then they will be able to survive, acclimatise them longer then most fish as they need time to get used to the new water. I have 3 and am amazed at what such a good job they're doing in 2 days my tank was virtually clear of algae, I'd definately give them a go
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
ghostfish Hobbyist Posts: 101 Kudos: 79 Votes: 4 Registered: 23-Nov-2004	Thanks everyone, but I checked the price of otto's where I live and their $12 for a tiny fish and i don;t see how one little fish could control the algae? I saw fish advertised as SUCKERS for $3 are they any good I tried looking for any info on them but came out with zilch!!!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
jasonpisani Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 5553 Kudos: 7215 Votes: 1024 Registered: 24-Feb-2003	What type of Suckers?. Are they common Plecos?. http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/ Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970. http://www.maltaaquarist.com
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
_wendy_ Enthusiast Posts: 174 Kudos: 164 Votes: 64 Registered: 18-Mar-2005	$12 for one fish? im not sure what that works out at but sounds expensive. we get ours for £1 each. as for not seeing how 1 small fish can clear it, u would be amazed. they are very greedy, but hard workers when it comes to clearing algae. and very cute too, in their own kind of way edit: wow just worked it out - u pay nearly 5 times as much for an otto Last edited by _wendy_ at 03-Sep-2005 06:41
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
sham Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3369 Kudos: 2782 Votes: 98 Registered: 21-Apr-2004	It's about $4 here but 2 of them cleared my entire 55g in less than a week so even at $12 they'd be well worth it to me. If the other algae eaters weren't plecos then they were probably CAE which may start out being great fish but as they grow they don't eat algae and get agressive along with reaching 12" eventually. They always get generalized into simple labels like just calling them algae eaters or I saw them labelled once as golden sucker fish.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04
ghostfish Hobbyist Posts: 101 Kudos: 79 Votes: 4 Registered: 23-Nov-2004	I finally decided to buy a couple of ottos, i'm getting them for $8 from a breeder, so it's a bit cheaper I'll just have to see how well they clean the algae but by the sounds of it they are worth the cost.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:04


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