2006-11-09 11:16:31 · 12 answers · asked by dpe556 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Its usually called an algae eater. if your looknig for the most popular algae eaters you might be thinking of Plecos, which come in different sizes and species.
2006-11-09 11:26:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Here are some of the most common fish sold as algae eaters and their scientific names:
Common Pleco (Pterygoplichthys pardalis)
Bristlenose Pleco (Ancistrus spp.)
Otocinclus/Dwarf Sucker Catfish (Otocinclus spp.)
Siamese Algae Eater (Crossocheilus siamensis)
Chinese Algae Eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri)
Florida Flagfish (Jordanella floridae)
If you are considering getting an algae eating fish, please do research on these species and decide which one is best for your tank. Keep in mind that these fish will not clean your tank, and in actuality, most of them produce more waste than other fishes of a similar size.
Common Plecos reach up to two feet long (and they WILL get that big, no fish "grows to the size of the tank"), so although they are relatively cheap, they should be avoided by the vast majority of aquarists. They need at least a 120 gallon tank for long-term maintenance.
The common name of Gyrinocheilus aymonieri is nothing but a lie. These fish are not from China (rather, they are from Southeast Asia), and quite frankly, they are horrible algae eaters. They will browse on algae when young, but they are actually scavengers in the wild and do not subsist on algae. Additionally, they grow up to one foot long and usually become highly aggressive as they age. Avoid these fish as well.
If you have a smaller tank and are good at keeping up on your weekly tank maintenance, Otocinclus or Florida Flagfish would be your best choice, depending on what kind of algae you have. If your tank is 30 gallons or larger, a few Siamese Algae Eaters or a Bristlenose Pleco would be excellent. They are great algae eaters and are interesting to watch.
Hope that helps.
2006-11-09 20:01:41 · answer #2 · answered by give_me_more_drugs675 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Is your tank freshwater, brackish or salt?
There are many, many different fish that eat algae. Although many fish eat algae, most also require meaty foods. The list of fresh, brackish and saltwater fish that eat algae would be quite long. Crabs and snails are great at controlling algae, but they are often not compatible together.
2006-11-09 20:47:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends, there are a few.
Most common by far are Pleco's(Plecostomus)
Chinese Algae Eaters(have a latin name that I cannot recall at the moment) are also quite popular.
it depends on what kind of tank/size/other fish and how much money you want to spend on one as to what variety to get. There are others, these are just the two most popular.
2006-11-09 19:35:29 · answer #4 · answered by sabinepd 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sabinepd,
Gave you the correct name of the fish that you are looking for. Their sold in all fish stores, and they are very good to rid of algae in your fish tank. You should buy several of them, depending upon the size of your fish tank.
2006-11-09 19:41:30 · answer #5 · answered by Tiff 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
http://www.fishtanksandponds.info/live-stock/plants/algaeeaters.htm
Check that link out, it names a lot of the different kinds of algae eaters. And make sure to read the very bottom about the plecos, most people don't know that about them.
2006-11-09 19:30:18 · answer #6 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
they are called plecostomus but the more common name is algae eaters, or sucker fish
2006-11-10 00:27:11 · answer #7 · answered by ~*Tink*~ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Plecostamus
2006-11-09 19:51:18 · answer #8 · answered by Steph L 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ummmmmmmmm...algea eating fish ????
friends have a Sucker Fish...hangs onto the side of the tank eating the algea
2006-11-09 19:29:20 · answer #9 · answered by geekieintx 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i named mine Gunsalious
2006-11-09 19:54:03 · answer #10 · answered by kristy 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋