cleaner fish for a goldfish tank

[balloon molly]

hi guys my aunt has 2 goldfish and a spotted raphael catfish in her 20 g tall aquarium.i know the spotted cat will not make it in the coldwater.
but my aunt wanted cleaner fish.
is there any bottom feeders for a coldwater tank.thnx

 

[Paul_MTS]

any type of hillstream loach really.

most shops will stock 1 type in the coldwater section .i.e weather loach, hong kong plecs, stone loach.

 

[balloon molly]

what about algae eaters

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Hillstream loaches are algae eraters but would not be happy in such a tank. The tank is overstocked and that will be why there is excess algae and dirt.

 

[Danno]

well how big are the goldfish and catfish anyways?

 

[balloon molly]

from head to the end of the body they are five inches.tail included is 8 inches.
the catfish is 1 inch

 

[koimom]

Um...well...you might have a bit of a problem. I tried once to keep an oto cat with a shubunkin--the oto was much smaller. It went missing quickly, so I suspect it was eaten. I think the best rule is to normally keep goldfish alone. (Though I should talk--I still have 2 plecos and I synodontis with the inside koi! )

 

[balloon molly]

wont the big spines in the catfish help defend itself or should i take it and house it in my 20 g for a while

 

[jacblades]

any sort of spiny catfish wit a goldfish is a bad idea...since you know goldfish like to travel along the bottom sucking up things as they go.

the only algae eaters suitable for goldfish tanks would be apple snails (of suitable size,) hillstream loaches, rubbernose plecs, or bristlenose plecs.

 

[Opcn]

I'd say large snails. They are cheap and fun to watch but have high thresholds for overcrowded tanks Like the kind 9 out of 10 indoor carp are kept in.

 

[balloon molly]

sadly the little catfish has died.
i told her that her tank is overcrowded.she doesnt understand that goldfish produce alot of waste ad that they need atleast 15 gallons of fish tank per goldfish.
but ohwell.
thanks for the info everyone

 

[koimom]

Snails are probably a bad idea as goldfish tend to relish them as a gourmet delicacy...