I bought a algae eater and one sales person said I had to put algae tablets in the water or it would starve, and another said not to because it would get lazy and not keep the tank clean. Any suggestions??
2006-08-09 16:20:19 · 21 answers · asked by ohio girl 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
You do need the algae tablets. There is not enough algae in the aquarium to keep a fish alive. They will eat the tank algae too. Fish are "programed" to always look for food so feeding him won't make him lazy.
2006-08-09 16:25:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
the first store employee was right... the algae eater will definitely starve if there isn't enough algae in the tank. They'll stop growing, they'll get lethargic and slowly starve to death. how horrible! I have two pleco's and two cory cat's and they're thriving fantastic! I put in two sinking wafers (TetraMin Variety Wafers with Algae) a day. Yum for them! Don't assume your tank will have enough algae to sustain them if you keep your tank healthy and clean and the right temperature. And your algae eaters will not get lazy if you put in the sinking wafers... you'll still see them cleaning the tank and everything. Fish aren't like humans, they don't get lazy. They'll search the tank for algae and come across the sinking wafers and hit the jackpot! Sweet! If however you are afraid of them getting "lazy" drop the sinking wafers in a different spot each time. They'll search the tank for the algae and find them in different spots each time, keeping them active. Please do this though, don't them die by slowly starving them to death because you didn't know to feed them and made the assumption they'd be OK. Good luck tho! And enjoy your fishies!
2006-08-13 08:03:19 · answer #2 · answered by lunakitty0823 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on the size of the tank and how many fish you have if you notice an good accumulation of algae then your plecostamus has more then enough food to eat also realize it will clean the gravel of algae to but if you have a very efficient filter system and not a lot of fish you may be best to feed him a tablet periodically once or twice weekly. Algae eaters grow quite rapidly but that also is dependant on tank size if you have dirty fish like oscars, chiclids your good to go hope this helps algae eaters are very easy to care.
2006-08-09 16:42:56 · answer #3 · answered by Livinrawguy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depend on how long you've had a tank going and with what other fish, most fish stores say to feed the algae eater if the tank has not been running with fish under a week. Then after the week it can feed off the live algae that will be growing.
2006-08-09 16:29:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not to be rude, but should we feed you? Why would you even think of listening to the dolt who told you not to feed him?
Your fish needs to be fed, end of story. If you bought the algae eater specifically for cleaning purposes, let it be known that when he gets older, he will probably start feasting on any other fish you have in there, rather than on the algae.
2006-08-10 18:50:46 · answer #5 · answered by birdistasty 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would really do some research on the type of algae eater you bought...especially if you have other fish in the tank..like goldfish....because these 'algae eaters' have been known to attack the goldies because they enjoy the taste of their slime coat..so if there is not enough algae I would definately give the 'algae disks' as well as trying veggies....especially if you got one of the plecostamos..because I have 1 that loves cucumbers, zuccini and even oranges.
2006-08-09 19:49:03 · answer #6 · answered by TooSassy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on how algae-prone your tank is.
Algae eaters do not live on algae alone. Additionally, there are many different types of 'algae eaters'. Some eat mostly algae when they are small but switch to (or require) different diets as they grow. Others eat mostly algae in addition to other types of foods (flakes, pellets, worms, plant life, vegatables, etc). Algae eaters tend to do best on a varied diet.
2006-08-09 19:17:29 · answer #7 · answered by Kay B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on what type of algae eater you have. And how long the tank has been set up. The SAE is supposed to eat algae, but when they grow up, they are virocious lil things. They will attach themselves to the slime coat of your fish and eat them. So i definetly agree you need to do some research on what type of algae eater it is. I actually recommend you research a fish BEFORE you go out and purchase them.
2006-08-10 11:14:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes,because believe it or not(even tho I am a quin trillion % sure)Algae Eaters don't eat algae.I had one and it never ate any-thing that had something to do with algae.A good food is sinking pellets,but if you have a goldfish don't worry about an algae eater.They are bottom and every where eaters buy themselves.
2006-08-09 17:57:48 · answer #9 · answered by Aquarry 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have an algae eater. I only give him algae tablets if he has cleaned up all the algae and there is nothing left in there for him to eat until more algae grows.
2006-08-09 16:26:42 · answer #10 · answered by snugglebears797 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋