Algae Eaters

I am looking to add an algae eater to my tank with minimal impact on the bio-load. I picked up about 20 of the little snails from the LFS yesterday but between my crab and my angel, I can't find a single one still living this morning. I am worried that a CAE will get too big or possibly be picked on by the barbs and angel. I need something that can stand up to the crab too.

My algae is not out of control, and I like the way it looks on the rocks and plants (fake now because of the crab), but I don't like it on the glass and gravel. I do have floating anacharis so I am hesitant to cut back on the light.

Any ideas?

I am worried that a CAE will get too big or

More likely the other way around

An SAE is the best possible Algae eater - especially when young - but the can get uite large (4 inches)

It seems that Otos would stay smaller, but are they too delicate for my other fish?

Bristle nose Cat fish: Ancistrus tamboensis.
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/ancistru/ 48_F.PHP

I've got a pair of Albino Bristlenoses in a 65G aquarium.,and my tank never has an algae problem. These fish are nocturnal for the most part. My problem with them is that, they really like to vacum up the eggs, that my Jewel Chichlids lay on the bog wood in the tank. Other than that they are great fish. They stay small, and they're peaceful and interesting to look at as well :0)

Ross T

I have a load of these (I have a couple that just started breeding and once they start - well, rabbits ain't got nothing on them!) I Think I've sold well over 100 fish to the LFS & I have 40+ more that need to go

Dunno what you mean by them staying small though - the biggest ones I have are between 3 & 4 inches from nose to tail. Quite 'massive' fish as well - wide heads. Very placid things as well though.

When I say small, I guess I mean relative to the Common Plecos, most often seen in LFS's. They often reach around twelve inches. Our little Bristle noses aren't going to turn into tank busters, that need to be farmed out when they reach full size. Of course the babies are another thing all together...lol!

I'm curious. At what age did your fish start to breed, and in what kind of environment do they live?

Ross T.

I think it was at about a year old give or take. Actually I think they may have started before that but there were other fish in there that ate the babies.

I have a big piece of bogwood that has a big crack up the back of it & they go in there to do their 'thang'

Tank is a 40 Gallon, pretty 'unkempt' in is a positive jungle of plants - mostly Annubias that have spread like mad & also Vallis & Java fern & some Swords

I picked up an albino bristlenose yesterday. After aclimating and realeasing the little guy, I noticed the RCC took and imediate interest. I was worried the the crab would get it, but the pleco was strong enough to evade attacks. He has made it through the night and cleared all the algae off of the glass.

Thanks for the great advice, this fish is a unique specimen and a great addition to my tank!

The sales person at the LFS said that he has heard from his customers that they do not have any difficulty breeding them... he did not elaborate further as I have no interest in breeding at this time... well, breeding fish anyway

bought. I looked trhough all the brands at the LFS and there was really nothing different between the brands. This tank is at work so I can't feed at night and even dropping the wafer in right before I leave causes the other fish to go after it. I have had an issue with overfeeding so I do not want these clots of green junk loafing on the bottom of the tank making the water cloudy again.

Are there other ways to provide or encourage feeding to the pleco