Is there an Algae eater that doesn't get too big?

Question

I am looking into getting an Algae eater for my 150 gallon tank, I know there is plenty of room for one but I really don't want one that is going to be 20 inches long. What is the best one to get that wont get to big?

Answer 1

Generally it's only the Sailfin pleco that get's about 2 feet long. Sadly many stores sell them as Common plecos. (Common pleco only grow to a foot, or so.) Good alternative are small breed plecos like clowns, bristle/busky nosed, rubber lipped/ bull nosed which will grow to maybe 6 inches. Oto, and Siamese algae eater stay very small. Chinese algae eaters grow to slightly under a foot, but tend to get very aggressive, and develop a taste for meat. There is also the common, and royal Farlowella (stick fish). Also molly will happily eat the annoying hair algae.

Answer 2

Commonly available plecos are rubber lips and bristle / bushy noseds. These guys grow to 4-6 inches, and cost less than 10$.
There are also some less readily available plecos such as pit bulls and gold nuggets that don't grow much bigger than 4-6 inches, but they are more expensive and harder to find. Mind you, none of the above will eat too much of your algae - they need to be fed algae wafers or/and shrimp pellets.

There is also the chinese algae eater. They reach about 6" but they can be mean little SOBs, and tend to pester flat-sided fish like angels and discus. Proceed with caution.

Siamese algae eaters are a nice addition to a tank; they are in the 3-4" range and you can get 3-4 of them.

Or if you have a tank with relatively small fish, oto cats are a nice choice. Get at least 5 of them. They grow to less than 2", so no tankmates big enough to eat them (obviously).

Answer 3

an oto catfish! they get only an inch or and inch and a half. i have one in a five gallon. put in like 6-10 they like to school.
maybe some snails but they may take over your tank. lol
and the bushynose plecs were 50 dollars a piece at my local pet store. the otos 1.50 each

Answer 4

chinese algae eaters their brown and black striped don't grow over an inch about 89 cents to 1.59 a piece. Good Luck

Answer 5

Clown Plecos stay really small. Mine is an adult and he is only 5-6 inches. The only downfall is that he is nocturnal and just hides all day.

Answer 6

There are lots of plecos that don't get too large. Otos are the smallest, but there are many others too. Here's a link to some more info on them:

http://www.jjphoto.dk/fish_archive/mall2.htm

MM

Answer 7

Ottos stay small, like an inch and a half, tops.
They like to be in groups, so you can buy a small school. As long as you don't have bigger fish that might eat them

Answer 8

golden mystery snails are good.