Every aquarist has to battle algae in their fish tank at one time or another. One of the best ways to do this is to buy a fish that will eat algae. Many people refer to these fish as algae eaters, but this term can encompass a wide variety of fish. Depending on the size, water conditions, and other fish in your tank, not every algae eater is suitable. Here is a brief overview of the most common algae eaters offered for sale, and for which aquariums they are best suited.
The Pleco or Plecostomus (Hypopostomus plecostomus)
This catfish is what most people are referring to when they use the term algae eater. The pleco is that black fish you see at the pet store, stuck to the glass, slowly cleaning the walls of the aquarium.
These South American fish have tough, spiked plates covering their body, so are impervious to most fish picking on them. Plecos keep to themselves as they forage for algae, and usually do not bother other fish in the tank. Very hardy, the plecostomus can tolerate a wide range of water conditions.
The problem with the common pleco is that it can outgrow the tank. In the aquarium, they can grow to be 3 feet long (5 feet in the wild), and so should really only be placed in large aquariums of at least 50 gallons. Many aquarium stores will allow you to trade in a large pleco for a small one, but a better option is to shell out a few extra bucks for a pleco that stays small.
Clown Pleco (Panaque maccus)
The light brown stripes of the clown pleco make it a more attractive fish than the common pleco. These fish are hardy, and only grow to 10 centimeters, which is perfect for aquariums 10 gallons and up. These fish should have drift wood placed in their tanks, as they enjoy eating this as well.
The only drawback to clown plecos is that they cost more than common plecos, and are not always available. You may have to ask your local fish dealer to stock them. The extra money you spend on a clown pleco, though, will be well worth it when you don't have to spend time finding a new home for a common pleco that has outgrown your aquarium.
Bushy or Bristlenose Pleco (Ancistrus, sp)
There are a few different bristle or bushy nose plecos offered for sale to the hobbyist, all from the Ancistrus family. These catfish are definitely some of the coolest looking algae eaters you can put in your tank. As the name suggests, bristle nose plecos grow an array of tentacles around their mouth and head, with males having more of these appendages than females. The bristle nose is fairly hardy, a great algae eater, and only grows to be 10 to 15 centimeters.
The bristle nose pleco is easy to breed in the home aquarium. These fish are also perfect for cichlid tanks, as even the most beligerent fish seem to leave the bristle nose alone. It is recomended that this fish has an aquarium of at least 20 gallons.
Oto Cat, or Otocinclus (Otocinclus sp.)
The oto cat is perfect for small aquariums. This fish stays small, only growing to be a maximum of 4 centimeters, so it can be housed in desktop aquariums as small as 2 gallons. The small size of the oto cat, though, means that they won't eat as much algae as will larger algae eaters. One clown pleco is sufficient to control algae in a 10 gallon aquarium, but at least 3 otto cats will be needed to do the same job. Oto cats are not as resilient to cold temperatures as plecos, so they are not well suited to cool water tanks, such as those that house goldfish.
Chinese, or Gold Algae Eater (Gyrinocheilus ayamonieri)
After the pleco, this is probably the next most popular algae eater offered for sale. This fish, though, doesn't suit many tanks. Though it is a hardy fish, the gold algae eater only eats algae when it is young. Once it gets 10 to 15 centimeters (it can grow up to 27 cm), it develops a taste for meat, ignoring algae. As the gold algae eater ages, it becomes aggressive and belligerent towards other fish in the tank. Don't waste your money on the Chinese algae eater - hopefully if people stop buying them, retailers will stop selling them.
Flying Fox (Epalzeorhynchus kallopterus)
Often confused with the gold algae eater, this fish looks similar, and grows to the same size of 27 centimeters. The difference is that is does not have the thick lips of the gold algae eater, and has barbels at the side of its mouth. The flying fox may get belligerent with age, but not as much as the gold algae eater. It eats algae throughout its life, but is omnivorous, so will eat flakes and pellets as well. This fish can be kept in a community aquarium, which should be at least 20 gallons in size.
Supplemental Feeding
It should be noted that, just as with any other animal, an algae eater should not always be fed the same food. Offering algae eaters a prepared diet of sinking discs, romain lettuce, peas, or other green, leafy vegetables will keep them healthy. It is especially important to feed your algae eaters if they have eaten all the algae in the aquarium, as with no food, they will starve to death.
References:
Baensch, Hans A., and Dr. Rüdiger and Riehl. Baensch Aquarium Atlas. Melle, W. Germany, MERGUS, 1996. Print.
Sanford, Gina. An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aquarium Fish. New Burlington Books, London, 1995. Print.
Ian Shoust - With a degree in Communications and a certificate in Digital Video Editing, Ian Shoust has worked as a freelance videographer, editor, and ...
Join the Conversation