Small Algae Eating Plec?

[Sausage]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend a small pleco for a 90L tank? I know that these fella's can grow very big, so I am after a nice little one who likes to munch on algae and who wont take over and outgrow my tank?

Any suggestions would be great
Thanks.

 

[Timmy_Bee]

a bristle nosed (or BN) plec is usually a good choice. But somewhere on here is a pinned topic detailing a list of plecs that stay small. I would hunt that down and have a look.

Also, please be aware that all plecs do need feeding - they wont just live off the algae. Also, they do poo a lot, so are not always such a good 'cleaning fish' as people make out...

 

[walkers101]

BN or a bulldog

 

[Timmy_Bee]

found the link:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/132656-30-plecos-under-8-inches/

 

[Sausage]

found the link:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/132656-30-plecos-under-8-inches/

That's great, thanks for the replies guys.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I'd say your biggest priority here is matching an algae eater to the temprement of its future tankmates and the water temp/current that your current fish need.

For example, unless you had a riverine setup around 22C, I would rule out almost all Chaetostoma and Garra species for a start, as these sort of fish need a high oxygen saturation to do well long term.

 

[Carlovel1]

L270 eat a tiny bit of algae apparently

 

[JenCliBee]

I'd say your biggest priority here is matching an algae eater to the temprement of its future tankmates and the water temp/current that your current fish need.

For example, unless you had a riverine setup around 22C, I would rule out almost all Chaetostoma and Garra species for a start, as these sort of fish need a high oxygen saturation to do well long term.

chaetostoma species adapt quite well in most conditions, they will withstand temps upto 27 quite easily. The well oxygenated water is pretty much paramount to most species of plec so ideally keeping any plec will require this sort of conditions. Fast water flow is also a trait to most plecs but isn't a great requirement as long as it's reasonable. For breeding purposes then it's a completely different story.

L270 eat a tiny bit of algae apparently

At a juvi stage then yes they will probably eat a bit here or there but dont expect miracles from them because you will be very disappointed lol.


To the OP, the BN is probably your best bet, adapt to pretty much any conditions and are a relatively decent algae eater, once there at adult size they do tend to get lazy but still will graze.

I personally would source the algae problem, it's a far better solution rather than masking it by getting fish to eat it. The problem with plecs are they produce more waste than they consume so combating an algae problem is gonna result in a waste problem, so no real winner tbh.

 

[LJEV]

Got a clown plec last week only grows to about 3" apparently, looks fantastic when you actually manage to catch a glimpse of him, spends all day in my cave and just comes out at night under my moon phase lighting.

 

[Sausage]

I'd say your biggest priority here is matching an algae eater to the temprement of its future tankmates and the water temp/current that your current fish need.

For example, unless you had a riverine setup around 22C, I would rule out almost all Chaetostoma and Garra species for a start, as these sort of fish need a high oxygen saturation to do well long term.

chaetostoma species adapt quite well in most conditions, they will withstand temps upto 27 quite easily. The well oxygenated water is pretty much paramount to most species of plec so ideally keeping any plec will require this sort of conditions. Fast water flow is also a trait to most plecs but isn't a great requirement as long as it's reasonable. For breeding purposes then it's a completely different story.

L270 eat a tiny bit of algae apparently

At a juvi stage then yes they will probably eat a bit here or there but dont expect miracles from them because you will be very disappointed lol.


To the OP, the BN is probably your best bet, adapt to pretty much any conditions and are a relatively decent algae eater, once there at adult size they do tend to get lazy but still will graze.

I personally would source the algae problem, it's a far better solution rather than masking it by getting fish to eat it. The problem with plecs are they produce more waste than they consume so combating an algae problem is gonna result in a waste problem, so no real winner tbh.

To be fair I dont have an algae problem, now and again I get some small patches on the glass, but other than this im pretty much algae free. I've necer kept a pleco before and fancy having one in my tank so Im thinking either a clown or a couple of pitbull plecs.

 

[JenCliBee]

To be fair I dont have an algae problem, now and again I get some small patches on the glass, but other than this im pretty much algae free. I've necer kept a pleco before and fancy having one in my tank so Im thinking either a clown or a couple of pitbull plecs.

Then to be fair a plec will be a nice addition .

Unfortunately the clown really wouldn't be the plec to meet your criteria, you will basically never see it lol. It tends to be one of the most elusive plecs about.

Pitbulls are a nice plec, stay small and prefer to be in groups so i would opt for 3 minimum, good algae eaters and even though small will quite often be out in the open.


Any plec will thrive as long as it has a good quality varied diet, as long as this is met you have the recipe for a nice pleasurable species which IMO never disappoints .

 

[carp]

To be fair I dont have an algae problem, now and again I get some small patches on the glass, but other than this im pretty much algae free. I've necer kept a pleco before and fancy having one in my tank so Im thinking either a clown or a couple of pitbull plecs.

Then to be fair a plec will be a nice addition .

Unfortunately the clown really wouldn't be the plec to meet your criteria, you will basically never see it lol. It tends to be one of the most elusive plecs about.

Pitbulls are a nice plec, stay small and prefer to be in groups so i would opt for 3 minimum, good algae eaters and even though small will quite often be out in the open.


Any plec will thrive as long as it has a good quality varied diet, as long as this is met you have the recipe for a nice pleasurable species which IMO never disappoints .

I agree I have 2 clown plecos in my tank I think I have seen them for 10 minutes in the last 6 months.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Its not something I've read much about, but aren't there several species of catfish that tend to get labelled as "Clown Plecs," including the Clown Peckoltia and Panaque maccus? Are they all as secretive as each other?

 

[Carlovel1]

Its not something I've read much about, but aren't there several species of catfish that tend to get labelled as "Clown Plecs," including the Clown Peckoltia and Panaque maccus? Are they all as secretive as each other?

Yes, some species labelled as Clown Pleco are:
Peckoltia pulcher
Peckoltia vittata
LDA019
And most commonly, Panaque maccus

The Panaque maccus is the most secretive of them all but all are secretive. Panaque maccus tends to stay near bogwood/driftwood most of the time

 

[Sausage]

I went for the Bristlenose and bought one at the weekend. What a cool fish She wasted no time at all in clearing what small algae I had overnight. It was weird to switch on the light this morning to see it all gone! Whats the best food to feed these, algae wafers?