best algea eaters?

Question

i'm having trouble deciding what kind of algae eater to get. I have a 10 gallon tank with a clown pleco, a spotted cory, 2 small platies, 1 adult guppy, 2 baby guppies, and 1 betta. I don't really have that much room for another fish so I was thinking a chinese algae eater or an oto cat.

I'm asking for personal experiences from people that have had this situtation, please.

thanks everyone!

just to let everyone know....

my clown pleco is going nowhere, he's my favorite...

i'm surprised no one has made any comments about my betta yet

Answer 1

Otto's or SAE, my personal favorite is the Siamese algae eaters, you need to make sure on the SAE's that the lateral black strip extends through the tail fin to get the true species. they generally grow to about 4/6 inch's Chinese will grow to about 8 inch.

Answer 2

Your clown pleco is an algae eater, but I believe they prefer driftwood. You'll most likely need to supplement his diet with algae wafers and veggies like zucchini as well. He really should have a larger tank though, about a 30 gallon minimum. Also, cory cats prefer to be in groups of at least 3 of the same kind. I wouldn't add another algae eater to the tank, there won't be enough food for them. I would recommend getting rid of the pleco, and adding one or two oto cats(they prefer groups as well, but one would clean a 10 gallon good). Stay away from the chinese algae eaters, they get too big for that size tank, and when they get larger they tend to get aggressive/territorial to the other fish, and stop eating the algae. Good luck!!

Answer 3

Although I don't seem to have a problem with my 7" Golden Algae Eater, I've heard they can become territorial and violent. Sometimes they can nip fins or even suck onto a rival fish so hard that it will bore a hole thru the side! Be careful!

Do you really need another algae eater? The pleco should be taking care of it. If you need more algae eaters, get a mystery snail or 2. They are cheap ($2) and EASY to care for. Just drop in an algae tablet now and again if you think they are getting hungry.

Answer 4

I had a snail, and there was practically no algae in the tank. One snail would have no trouble cleaning a 10 gal. tank. Also, I had a small spotted Pleco (short for some really long hard to type name) and he helped alot in mine. Currently, I have a cute little Cory cat that is doing all the work in my 30 gal. tank =D

Answer 5

Check out brushy-nose plecostomus. I have recently bought one and it is the best algae eater I have had. They clean algae from the leaves without damaging the leaves. Some call it bushy nose or bristle nose also..

As far as commenting on your betta, I did not really get it, what comment do you want..a betta is just another beautiful fish, and has nothing to do with an algea eater.

http://www.fishforever.co.uk/ancistrus.html

Answer 6

I find that my Otos do a very good job at it.

Chinese algae eaters grow quite big.


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Answer 7

Chinese alge eaters will after a while be aggressive to your other fish. It sounds like you are a bit crowded now but a bristle nose plecto would be fine. They are not aggressive and only get about 5 inches long.

Answer 8

try the plecos, they are great for getting rid of algea from a tank with fish. i owned a pet store with my parents for about 10yrs and we used plecos in all the tanks. they keep the tank clean but you would still need to feed them their food besides the algea in the tank. they attach themselves to the tank, all the stuff in the tank, and to the sides of the tank just cleaning away. i hope this helps and good luck with your fish.

Answer 9

they'll eat algae wafers which they'd desire to be having as they cant proceed to exist algae on my own they'll eat lettuce cucumber zucchini in addition they like flaked nutrition and could eat blood worms and daphina besides

Answer 10

I have found a great fondness for snails. We have one that really gets our attention. Get an active one.