Member

Posts: 19
From:springfield, OR, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-09-2004 08:36 PM         

---

I need to get an algae eater for my 72 gallon bow....does anyone have a suggestion on which algae eater to get...i don't want one that will get too big, i was thinking about a chinese algae eater? Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks...

IP: Logged

Moderator

Posts: 806
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 01-09-2004 10:55 PM         

---

Hi 72glbow, Plecostamus get pretty large. Chinese algae eaters get kind of lazy when they get larger. Otto's are a very popular fish. Try looking at Otocinculus at www.planetcatfish.com

[This message has been edited by kc5gvn (edited 01-09-2004).]

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 18
From:Ann Arbor
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-11-2004 09:29 AM         

---

I would go with a plecca and trade him in if he got too big. Chinese algae eaters are good when they are small, but when they get about 5-6 inches long they will try to suck the membranes off your other fish. I don't know how long it takes for them to get lazy again, or if they ever do (I traded mine in when it started attacking other fish).
The plecca's do get big eventually, but a good fish store will happily give credit for an exchange. Especially since they can sell the larger ones for more. I have one in my 36 gallon tank, and don't expect him to get too big for a few years.

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 19
From:springfield, OR, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-11-2004 09:49 PM         

---

those ottos are very nice algae eaters my tinfoil barb thinks so too i looked over and noticed half of one sticking out of his mouth lol oops

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 266
From:Canada
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 01-12-2004 12:36 PM         

---

You'd need a small army of otto's for a 72. You could look into something like a bristle nose pleco, the don't get as large as a common pleco but are less likely to be snacks than an otto. If you like the look of chinese algae eaters, get a siamese algae eater. It can be difficult to get the real thing though, so I'd look up some pics before buying one. I even had an LFS owner tell me that chinese and siamese algae eaters were the same fish! Buyer beware...

IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)