Algae Eater?

Question

First off, please read my other question about goldfish & parasites! Thanks.

I am considering buying an algae eater. I have 2 goldfish in a 10 gallon tank. What are the pros & cons of algae eaters?

Thanks!

Answer 1

To the people saying not to feed the algae eater, what are you guys retarded or something?? If you do not supplement the algae eaters with vegetables (cucumber, zuccini, broccoli, romaine lettuce, driftwood for fiber), algae wafers, and spirulina flakes, then the algae eater is going to definatly eat your fish or starve to death once the algae is depleted.
Bird is right about you being overstocked part. But the common plecostamus wich is the cheapest grows to be about 2 ft long and will need larger then a 55 gallon. They often develop a taste for the slimecoat on the goldfish despite being fed and having enough algae to eat. They excrete alot too, who ever told people that algae eaters are good cleaners need to be smacked upside the head with a shovel. Algae eaters excrete alot of ammonia, whereas they are cleaning up one mess (algae), they are making a bigger one (poop).

A healthy aquarium will have a little bit of algae. Algae is a plant and in my opinion it is beneficial in that it helps consume nitrates (the end product of a cycle). It is only when there is alot of algae then you need to be concerned. Too much algae is a sign that your either A) overstocked, B) overfeeding, C) not doing enough partial waterchanges, and D) too much light.

There are other types of algae eaters that dont get as big. Such as ottocinclus, bushy nose plecos, rubbernose plecos, garra pingi pingi, snails. However none of them do well with goldfish. Because of the amount of ammonia the goldfish excrete and the fact that goldfish are coldwater fish. Plus your tank is over stocked as it is and getting a algae eater will just result in the death of the algae eater.

Chinese algae eaters are not good algae eaters. Once they hit a certain size their diet changes from algae to fish. They get 9 inches wich is too big for a 10 gallon anyways and they are just plain nasty.

Answer 2

If you do decide to buy an algae eater you will need to get a larger tank. The ideal situation is 3" of fish per gallon of water. The best algae eater is the Plecostomus. You can get a 3-4" for $3-$5 depending on where you are. These fish will get up to 15" long when fully grown but this will take years as long as you don't feed them. They will eat the algae and keep any food that the other fish don't eat cleaned up. If you don't want one that gets that big, the Chinese Algae Eater or Cory Catfish are the next best things. Good luck with you tank!

Answer 3

Your biggest con is the fact that your tank is overstocked now. You should have your current goldfish in at least a 30 or 40-gallon tank.

If you are planning on getting an algae eater, I hope you know that the ones that actually do eat algae can sometimes grow up to 12 inches. You will need a 55-gallon tank. They also produce large amounts of waste, like your goldfish.

Why are you buying the algae eater? Are you having problems with algae?

Answer 4

Cons, add to a tank which needs to be 3 times it size (hint hint), unless an extremly delicat oto, will outgrow tank. If choosing the chinese algae eater, or just the algae eater, or golden algae eater, will suck off slime coat of fish, and grows to a foot. If common plec, grows to 2 feet

Pro- eats algae that well maintained tank should not have much of.

Oh wait. There is one perfect algae eater. It is called the algae scraper

Fancy goldfish need 15 gallons each, and commons, try giving them to someone with a pond

Answer 5

Goldfish can grow large and are slow leisurely swimmers. I found that if you put an algae eater in with them as the algea eater grows it is likely to latch onto the side of a goldfish and kill it. I lost a goldfish this way. Needless to say I removed the algae eater and will not put one in with goldfish any more.

Answer 6

The most effective control of algae in a planted aquaria is via algae
eating fish. It is especially critical in the set up of a new tank to
make
sure algae does not get established before the plants have had a
chance to
establish themselves. For this reason and to help theOy are usually
considered expendable and are removed after a month or so. It is
important
to NOT FEED THEM. If they are fed, they will not be quite so eager to
consume algae. When they are hungry, they are eager consumers of most
algae types seen during the break-in period.

Answer 7

Plecos, commonly called algea eaters or suckerfish, can grow quite large (some up to 24 inches) and have been known to eat the protective slime coat off of slow moving fish (including goldfish) causing exposure to harmful bacteria. It's not recommended to simply allow them to eat the algea off the tank for a complete diet. Some tanks don't provide enough algea others too much. They make sinking food for them.

Algae Eaters are a little different than Plecos, and I haven't read any recommendations for them to cohabitate with goldfish. Goldfish are usually best kept with other goldfish, within their grade of "fanciness." (ie- moors orandas and pearlscales should not be kept with standards or with celestials and bubble eyes)

Answer 8

I'VE HAD MY ALGAE EATERS FOR YEARS AND THEY HAVE NEVER GROWN PAST 3 1/2 INCHES. ALSO DON'T FORGET, GOLDFISH ARE COLD WATER FISH AND I BELIEVE ALGAE EATERS ARE WARM WATER FISH.

Answer 9

Well, if you get aquatic hermit crabs, they will eat more algae but also your fish, but snails, they are fine, as long as your fish are bigger than the snaild you put in, i would suggest putting 3 nassirus and 3 bumble bee snails in.