otos or pitbull pleco??

[catwoman]

My LFS has some pitbull plecos in. I want some additional algae eaters in my 37g newly planted tank. I was going to put 4 otos in there but was wondering if the pitbull pleco would be better. If so, how many? Anybody out there have them? How big do they get? I have read different things. Planet Catfish says 2". I already have two SAE's in there and are doing a fine job with the longer algae but I want the shorter algae eaten.

 

[noelberg]

IMO 4 Otos will out-algae-eat most anything. But I say go with what you like best.

 

[smithrc]

my ottos are actually poo at eating algae...

i've recently added 7 tiny (4-5mm) bristle noses and the difference they have made is amazing.

our ottos have never been stable... we've gone through 6 now and we arnt getting any more - they are over hyped if you ask me.

I love my plecs - so i say get the bulldog as mentioned or get a bristlenose.

EDIT - doh it says pitbull get 2 or 3 of them they only get to about 2"

I'd love a few!

 

[catwoman]

alright, I'll try 2 pitbulls. they are kinda cute. I was surprised to see them at the LFS. I can always get otos. Thanks.

 

[Oddball]

Well if this is late ah well
But the bulldog pleco is a shy lill fella who will tuck itself away, preferring to sneak food at night. Ive had the pleasure of owning one of these for a year and for the first four months i only saw him twice, it would dart off as soon as it saw me as well. They are quite cute with the markings they get around their snout and are excellent algae eaters to make up for their shyness and do become accoustomed to you eventually.
The bulldog to my knowledge grows to 2-2.5 inches and has no particular specialist needs so an excellent choice of fish which is more hardy than the little ottos.

 

[smithrc]

Well if this is late ah well
But the bulldog pleco is a shy lill fella who will tuck itself away, preferring to sneak food at night. Ive had the pleasure of owning one of these for a year and for the first four months i only saw him twice, it would dart off as soon as it saw me as well. They are quite cute with the markings they get around their snout and are excellent algae eaters to make up for their shyness and do become accoustomed to you eventually.
The bulldog to my knowledge grows to 2-2.5 inches and has no particular specialist needs so an excellent choice of fish which is more hardy than the little ottos.

Actually Bulldogs (rubbernose) can get to about 4".

I read Bulldog to start with too as Pitbulls arn't all that common!

 

[corrosive]

Dont bother with a rubbernose plec, or oto's just get 1 or 2 Bristlenose's theyre by far the best!

I added mine, and emediatly he went into work mode, and my tank it real mint!

Also feeding is easy, just a bit of an algae wafer, and the odd cucumber, sorts them out fine .

Edit: oh yeh, dont panic if they dont take food for a week or so!

Mine didnt touch any food, i think because of alittle stress MAYBE, but mainly because he had so much food on the ornaments and glass. Now after having him a couple of weeks i see him munching away on food .

Also, theyre not really nocternal plecs, theyre as active or more active than my 2 oto's lol, its probably the most active fish in my tank, just running behind my corys.

 

[Oddball]

So whats the difference between the bulldaog and pittbull plecos then.................i may be interested in the pittbull if i can find one

 

[catwoman]

I bought the 2 pitbulls and I rarely see them. When I do see them, they are on the wood and on the substrate - never on the glass. I don't know how they are different then bulldog plecos. They are cuter for sure. They look like slightly bigger otos. Not sure if they are eating any algae off the plants though.

 

[Paul_MTS]

i have the 1 pitbull in my 25 gallon along with my sailfin and starry night and my tanks spotless.

the sailfin seems to cover the back wall, the starry night on the near end side and the front then the pitbull does all the leaved, slate and end.

he's a very active lil dude and always first to suck on the algae waffers dropped in or the cucumber.