What type of fish can I keep wih my goldfish that will help to clean the tank?

Question

I've heard that most algae-eaters like coryfish or plecos are not good. What about snails?
I already clean my tank very well but would just like some help with the bottom of the tank.

My tank is a 10 gallon

Answer 1

Apple/mystery snails would be a good choice. They're usually sold with tropical fish, but their life span is shortened if they're kept in heated water. The prefer cooler temperatures.

Apples are also nice in that they need two snails to breed. Although the female can continue to lay fertile eggs for a few months after being with a male, after a few months, all the eggs will be infertile, so no overpopulation by baby snails. It's also possibly to determine the gender of the snails with a little practice. The eggs are laid above the water, so their easy to remove as another option to population control.

ADDITION: I would not recommend getting a Chinese algae eater mentioned in the link below. These are capable of growing to 10", and only eat algae as juveniles. As adults they're territorial, and they eat the slime coat of the other fish in your tank, stressing them, sometimes to the point of death: http://www.fishlore.com/profile-chinesealgaeeater.htm These also need tropical tank temperatures, which will be warmer than your goldfish would prefer.

Answer 2

Corydoras are not algae eaters and will not keep the glass clean in any way. Plecos are great algae eaters in some cases, I don't know where you got your information. The problem with plecos is that they have a huge variety of species, and new ones are being discovered all the time. Some grow to 4' and some grow to about 1 1/4", which covers just about any sized tank you could own. Some don't eat algae at all and some will work better than windex (I'm kidding, don't use windex on your tank). For a tank that is 4' or shorter, a bristlenose L144 pleco will work wonders in most cases. Rubbernose plecos are another favorite algae eater. Both of these fish stop growing between 4-6". Otocinclus are great for 10 gallon tanks, because they only grow to 1 1/4" or so. Another option is the Chinese algae eater. They can grow to 7" or larger and are often aggressive when they are adults. Either way, you will need to suppliment their diet with algae wafers because they will not allow the algae to grow enough to keep them fed. Also, keep a piece of driftwood in the tank, they need it to properly digest their food. I hope this helps, email me if you have any questions.

Answer 3

Hi Purple, I agree with Something Fishy-do yourself & your Goldy a big favour & get a larger tank & another Goldfish as his buddy! He will be happier & so will you watching them interacting in a larger space. Regarding keeping the tank clean-it's really much easier to spend a little time each week doing regular tank maintenance yourself-in general algae eaters & Goldfish are not good tank mates.

Answer 4

I'd seriously consider not adding any more fish. Gold fish need 10-20 gallons each. They get to be 8-12" long or more.
I'd say putting two in a 29 would be pushing it.
Keeping them in a proper home is more important. One gold fish alone is a sad, lonely fish. They need more of their own kind around them.

Answer 5

goldfish dont really belong in tanks, due to dirtyness and shear size.

But it depends on your tanksize, snails are best for small tanks. plecos will grow too large for most tanks and should be avoided. Cory catfish are really more for tropical fish tanks.

If you have a pond then you can get a high fin loach, they are often expensive(100 + dollars) and your pond must be large, these fish turn out to be 4 feet in legnth. The one i have is currently 2 feet with my koi.

Answer 6

Sucking Catfish are great. I have two of them. Ask for them at your local petshop.
Here is a picture of a Sucking Catfish:
http://www.tropicalfishonline.com.au/images/sucking-catfish.jpg
I hope you choose them, but remember to get your tank a bit dirty before you get them, otherise they will starve.
Hope I helped,
:)