Whats A Good Algae Eater To Have With A Red-tailed Black Shark?

[Trax416]

The tank is going to be 30 gallons, as the Red-tailed black shark gets larger he will be moved into a larger tank. I was wondering what would be a good Algae eater to go along with the RTBS that the RTBS would not attack in a 30 gallon.

 

[raptorrex]

The tank is going to be 30 gallons, as the Red-tailed black shark gets larger he will be moved into a larger tank. I was wondering what would be a good Algae eater to go along with the RTBS that the RTBS would not attack in a 30 gallon.

i must admit, i have never seen the RTBS attack anything except another RTBS or Rainbow shark. it does chase my Bala, but then the Bala chases the RTBS. you say you will move the RTBS when it is bigger, who big is it now? these guys only grow to 5 or so inches. my guess is the tank is already too small, 50g tends to be the minimum tank size for them, with 100g being recommended.
as for an algae eater, any, veggie pleco of less than 5 inches fully grown will be ok. not sure but you may be able to use shrimp too, my RTBS never went near mine.

 

[aaronnorth]

PLecs, BN are good <6".
shrimp, only heard of loaches, cichlids and nippy fish damaging them
snails, nerite is best algae eater
otto's, stay @ 2" and are greatalgae eaters, they are miniature plecs.

 

[raptorrex]

PLecs, BN are good <6".
shrimp, only heard of loaches, cichlids and nippy fish damaging them
snails, nerite is best algae eater
otto's, stay @ 2" and are greatalgae eaters, they are miniature plecs.

it must be noted that ottos eat brown algae, not the type normally that grows in your tank, i believe that is green algae.

 

[celaeno]

my otos eat green algae.

 

[aaronnorth]

PLecs, BN are good <6".
shrimp, only heard of loaches, cichlids and nippy fish damaging them
snails, nerite is best algae eater
otto's, stay @ 2" and are greatalgae eaters, they are miniature plecs.

it must be noted that ottos eat brown algae, not the type normally that grows in your tank, i believe that is green algae.

My ottos eat green algae, not sure on hair algae though.

 

[raptorrex]

There is an old saying: "Be careful what you ask for because you might just get it." The biggest problem with trying to grow algae for otos (or any other fish) is that different fish eat different types of algae. Otos love brown algae but it is primarily found in new tanks from the silica. They also are only going to eat what is on the plant leaves and tank walls. You could add more lighting, overfeed, etc. but most likely, you will up with some type algae that the otos won't eat like the dreaded BGA which nothing eat and it's extremely difficult to get rid of. I would definitely not ever attempt to start algae growth in a tank for fear of what I would end up with. Wafers or veggies on a clip are the best way to go.