Chinese Algae Eater And Bristle Nose Catfish

[JulieLynn]

Hi everyone!!
 
I have been searching the internet looking for the answer to this question. I just can't find it. So maybe someone here has the answer or can post a link to the information that I am seeking.
 
I need to know if I can keep both a Chinese Algae Eater and a Bristle Nose Catfish in the same tank.  
 
 
I know that you just cannot keep more than one Chinese Algae Eater in a tank. The dominant one will terrorize the others non stop, and it is awful, I made that mistake...I simply didn't know.   So that won't happen again I assure everyone.
 
But can I keep a Bristle Nose in the tank with an Algae eater?  
 
Before anyone tells me that Algae are useless, territorial and will kill the other fish by sucking the slime coat off them, let me assure you all, that is not the case with my algae eater.  I know many people feel this way, and maybe with good reason, but it has not been my experience with them.

 More than one of them in the tank and that is bad, but only for the other algae eaters. The one I have now has never gave my fish one bit of trouble, and I love him. He is such a funny fish to watch! He comes to the glass and stands up on his front fins and looks at you through the glass, he is more like a dog that lives underwater.

   The first one I had was the exact same way, except he terrorized the other algae eaters...which I was too dumb as a newbie to know not to put in there with him/her.  
 
But I have always wanted a Bristle Nose, and I am going to the pet stores to look around either tomorrow or the next day. I have been looking for an answer to my question for days whenever I had the chance to look online. But I just cannot find anything that answers just simply, can they live together peacefully in the same tank?
 
Can anyone shed some light on this for me or point me to a link that I can not seem to find myself?  
 
Thanks so much in advance for anything anyone can tell me!!

 

[SarahR]

As long as you provide adequate caves for the Bristlenose and your Algae Eater, there will probably be no problems. Male Bristlenose will fight for spawning territory, but once ensconced in a nice tight cave they are happy even if there is another male right next door. Be sure to have driftwood if you add a Bristlenose, they eat it.
I too have a well behaved Chinese Algae Eater. It actually is relentless at algae patrol (they supposedly don't eat much algae when older) and rarely touches high protein food. It much prefers vegetable matter, especially zucchini and peas. Buggar does a happy dance when peas drop in. It does eat a tremendous amount of food.

 

[JulieLynn]

Thanks!  I am sure I overfeed my fish but none of them try to eat each other so I think that is okay.  Of course I do water changes and so if I do overfeed it doesn't hurt anything.  I have often wondered if that may be why people have so much trouble sometimes, just not enough food in the tank to satisfy all the inhabitants.  I don't know, but it has always been something to wonder about. I have never fed by the rule of their eye is the size of their tummy, so don't feed them much. That goes for all my fish not just my algae eater. But that is just the way I do it and it works for my fish. 
 
I have never checked into driftwood. I will though. I will just have to make sure I have the driftwood at the same time I get the Bristlenose. I hope one of the pet stores has some in stock. I have a Petco and a Pet Smart and one other family owned store. I will check all three.  I am betting that I can get the Bristlenose at the family owned one. They have a huge stock of fish, not like the other two stores. I bet they will have the driftwood too.  

 

[SarahR]

Yes, I think in some cases your instincts may be correct. I'm sure, judging by my chinese algae eater's appetite, that some of the trouble they cause is simply a hungry fish looking for different food source. You can't really feed grazing species like algae eaters by any "size of their eye" or "eat in 3 minutes" type rules, because they eat large volumes of low nutrient foods and that requires long periods of feeding (hours, not minutes). Bristlenose also feed this way.
There are usually two types of driftwood available, African Mopani and Malaysian. The Mopani is very attractive but very hard. Malaysian is a bit softer. I keep both types in my tanks, if you only use one I would get the Malaysian if possible. Bristlenose (and CAE) will also eat leaves, putting dried Indian Almond or oak leaves in is beneficial. If you look at my pics you will see the caves the Bristlenose are in, something that size is best, 5-6 inches long with a small entrance and closed end.
Good luck with your tank.

 

[JulieLynn]

When I first got my tank, back in 2007, I had a dream of 'underwater world Atlantis sunken city of old" . I searched for hours and hours over the coarse of many days and trips to the "big" city, before I decided on  what I wanted. There were so many choices, but finally I settled on the colosium (sp?) as the big item I wanted in the tank...so to make a long story short, my CAE resides inside there and when he/she hides in there, you cannot find him/her.  It loves it there. I have thought about taking it out and going another route, but I just can't do that to my CAE.  Over the years it has colored with algaes of different colors and really does look good in there I think.
 
My tank has changed so much over the years, due to plants of different kinds and such. And it is fixing to change again, but the CAE will keep his hiding place, it isn't going anywhere!

I will however get the driftwood...I didn't mean to imply that they would have to share the hiding place!

 

[SarahR]

No, even a well behaved CAE shouldn't be expected to share, though mine has no issue with the cory cats or botia in the cave with it. It will take issue if my common pleco tries to cozy up close however, and yours may object to another suckermouth type fish like a Bristlenose getting too close also. I assume they see them as competition for food. Still I doubt you will have a serious issue, especially since you feed them well. Again, best of luck.

 

[JulieLynn]

I got my little Bristlenose today!  It is an albino. He is only about an inch or so long and so cute! I love him already 

 

[SarahR]

Congrats! They love zucchini slices and spinach leaves (and just about any veg.) Lots of people feed unsalted canned green beans to babies because they are soft, but they are actually capable of eating pretty much anything.