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Hi guys

looking at getting some Florida Flag Fish to eat the hair algea in my tank. Just some Q's will they eat hair algea?

What do you feed them when all the hair algea is gone?

do they need any thing special?

Also will hair algea be there first choice of food or will the go for flake or live first?

They do eat hair algae, but rather like SAE's may not chose to do so unless "starved out" a little. Technically they are omnivores with a preference for vegetable foods, so they can subsist on regular fishfoods for a while, but you'll want to make sure theyre getting stuff like vegetable flakes, pieces of algae wafer, blanched finely chopped lettuce , cucumber, zucchini, as a fairly regular part of the diet should algae be a bit sparse. The main focus should be on vegetable matter. You could even include a few edible plants that the FFF's can nibble at. The roots of floating plants will often be nibbled on.

They are reasonably temperature tolerant, but for their long term health it helps not to let the temps go much over 75f, and preferably not over 70f. They are technically the cooler end of tropical. They are sometimes kept in higher temperatures though, and captive bred ones may have higher tolerances, but don't take it for granted. At the very least, should the temps take a hike, compensate a little with plenty of oxygenation and ensure the water quality is kept low on the nitrate front, that way they will take less metabolic damage, and their immune systems will continue to function properly.

They have been known to fin nip if the diet is lacking.

are right well my tank is 24-26 C which is a bit to high realy. Can i get rid of the hair algea with any other natural way, Also forgot to say that i all ready have a SAE and he is more intrested in live food! so is there any thing else i can do but remove it by hand?

Tried amano shrimp yet? Failing that its all about water chemistry, phosphates, and lighting.

um i have got one in a 40 uk gallon tank i want to add 2-3 more. Come to think of it I did not have a prob when the other 2 where in there it has only happend after they died. Huummmm. I think i will have to get some more. Also are there any other ways?

I have to disagree with Longhair on the FFF being like a SAE, I have 2 to 1 (female:male)Ratio of FFF in each of my tanks and in the larger ones I have 2x's that. FFF are the best thing to put in your tank for Hair Algae. I feed my fish a good flake food in the morning and frozen bloodworm at night. I have no great growth of hair algae. In tanks that had hair problems, I put the FFF in the tank and with in weeks they had in under control. These are a part of all my tank cleaning crew. I been using them for sometime now and recommend them highly. They are a good alternative to SAE for smaller tanks as a really big one only gets 2 inches, with minimal bio waste.

You can also find them list as American Flag Fish.

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams

I had a look about and the temp varies like on the profile on here http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/413.htm

Thanks for the help djrichie as a Q what temp have you got your fish at?

all tanks run at 75 except for one in a hot room it runs 80 and breeding tank are chilled to 70.

These fish are collected in the canals and shallow waters in south florida here, and that temp is much greater than 80 during the hot summer days

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams