Hello, I just purchased 5 lovely neon tetras and well I've run into a question that has been answered both ways by Petsmart [not always reliable] && Aquarium Adventure [name says it all]
Petsmart has a 10 gallon tank with neon tetras and a algae eating fish [the kind that you see "sunctioned" to the sides of the aquarium] And well they seemed to be living peacefully, as with the other fish in the aquarium.
However --> Aquarium Adventure states "you should not have any breed of "algea or vegtable eaters" aka the ones that stick themselves on the glass and stuff, because they are aggressive.
But I've seen them in the same tank at several other places as well?
Is there any common algea eater that I can buy [[just 2 or 3]] that would be "neutral or peaceful" towards my neon tetras.
Thank you for any advice beforehand,
Jesika
2006-08-15 06:46:54 · 7 answers · asked by computer_glitch_uhoh 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
The ones that I've been looking at only grow between 2 - 3 inches. And they are "spotted"
2006-08-15 07:18:40 · update #1
I will definitly look into the "Otocinclus". To see if any "fishmarts" around town have them too. I don't like having my fish shipped to me haha.
2006-08-15 07:20:08 · update #2
and i don't mind giving them their veggies and tablets. I grow romaine =]!
2006-08-15 07:22:44 · update #3
Also, can black mollies be buddies with Neon Tetras?
2006-08-15 07:23:50 · update #4
No, do not put black mollies in with neons. Neons like very soft water at about 80-82 degrees. Black mollies are brackish water fish and need salt in their water. About one teaspoon per gallon of water for the mollies. One will suffer if you adjust for the other. There is no happy medium with these two.
Otocinclus are by far the best non-agressive algae eater. If you cannot find them, a bushynosed pleco will do fine. They are not agressive and only grow to about 4-5". Males have a bunch of bristles growing out of their snouts. Very cool little fish. I have about 30 of them right now, albino and regular.
Snails will end up multiplying quickly and overrun your tank unless you start with the large "mystery snails." They lay their eggs above the water and if they hatch, they are worth about a buck each when they get to be around the size of a nickel.
Nothing eats poop! Snails may sort through it to find undigested bits of food, but they do not eat poop! Nothing does!
Aquarium Adventure, eh? Are you in north east Ohio?
2006-08-15 08:53:02 · answer #1 · answered by 8 In the corner 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you get a Chinese Algae Eater ( http://www.fishlore.com/profile-chinesealgaeeater.htm ), they do get aggressive. However, I've never even heard of a Pleco attacking or eating anything that wasn't already doomed. Certain plecos get WAY to big for most tanks - Common Plecos can end up two feet or longer. However, certain Plecos do stay small and do a great job. You would have to ask the employees at the store about its size, but you also have to be sure it doesn't end up with malnutrition problems. Despite what most people think, Plecos do not live well off of detritus and should be given algae/veggie tablets to supplement whatever else they eat.
There are other fish, too, that will eat the algae off of the side of the tank. Actually, Otocinclus ( http://www.fishlore.com/profiles_otocinclus.htm ) stay small and do a great job - however, they need to be given algae/veggie tablets as well, since the amount of algae isn't enough to sustain them most of the time. Don't worry, that picture isn't the best - they look far better in real life. In fact, they're pretty cute.
2006-08-15 14:05:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be careful most sucker fish like algae eaters, and pleco grow to be huge. Like most catfish type they will eat anything they can swallow. (Often at night.) In general most neon will fit in the mouth of even the smallest sucker fish types. Plus at 10 gallon you are start to approach the limit of your tank.
Good tank mates for algae:
Mystery/Apple/Trapdoor snail- Good for algae on the glass of tanks. Need a mate to reproduce. May eat your plants, but not in my experince.
Guppy/platty/swordtail/molly- Good for bearded algae on plants/rock/equipment, but not so much for algae on the glass. Molly tend to grow fairly large and due to random interbreeding even the generally smaller black molly can get 3-4 inches. Also molly are more eefected by poor water conditions.
Plastic pot scrubber- Doesn't need food, or eat neons. Cheaper, and faster than specialized tools. You'll need to roll up your sleeve and get your arm wet.
PS- In a 10 gallon tank a single fish can remove all the algae in your tank. 2 mollys kept a 30 gallon tank in a window with direct sunlight free of bearded algae. A single 2 inch algae eater cleaned up the glass. A single snail cleans the glass, and gravel of each of my 5 gallon betta tanks. (no direct sunlight)
2006-08-15 19:38:56 · answer #3 · answered by Sabersquirrel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Different members of my family have had aquariums for years and I've never seen a pleco be aggressive toward any fish. Just get the smallest one you can find, and they'll grow together and learn to tolerate one another.
2006-08-15 13:53:06 · answer #4 · answered by Jen B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we have that exact combo here at the office. the sucker fish doesnt bother the neons. we just stir the pebbles at the bottom every so often so the sucker has food
2006-08-15 13:52:36 · answer #5 · answered by Southpaw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its really trial and error. if you want something to eat alge off the glass and wont be aggresive buy some snails
2006-08-15 13:55:45 · answer #6 · answered by doc_djj 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
honey, get a snail, they will eat feces and algae and they will not hurt your fish... they are tooooo slow, i promise!
2006-08-15 13:51:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋