Number of algae eaters

[aquaverde]

I've seen more than one species of otocinclus mentioned somewhere on the net. Does it matter which one you get for algae removal or are they all good?
tx-

James

[panda885]

..i've seen some people mention mollies? Are they efficient algae eaters?

[PharCyde]

Otocinclus affinis probably the most common of the otocinclus catfish. Ottos eat diatom/brown algae.
Ancistrus are the Bristlenose catfish, do eat some forms of algae but not sure which ones.
Siamese Algae Eaters or crossocheilus siamensis tend to eat black algae species and I think some red algae species. Either get 1 or 3, but not in a tank smaller than 30 gallons.
Chinese Algae Eaters eat the protein layer off of fish, don't really eat algae. The protein layer helps protect the fish from disease etc.
Flying Foxes are a shark-minnow (epalzeorhyncus species), and aren't a true algae eater. Are related to the Rainbow shark and Red Tailed Black Shark.
Mollies and Platys eat algae but not in large quantities.
Caridina Japonica apparently is the intertebrate for eating algae.
Rosy Barbs are known to eat Hair Algae, but not too sure in quantity...

[digger]

Also American-Flag Fish (Jordanella floridae). They consume a good deal of hair algea and perhaps some staghorn algea.

[aquaverde]

...and Neocaridina denticulata in the shrimp department. So far these guys have the Amanos beat, from my observation.

James

[GDominy]

Originally Posted by aquaverde

...and Neocaridina denticulata in the shrimp department. So far these guys have the Amanos beat, from my observation.

James

I keep about 12 different varieties of Algae eating shrimp and I have found that the Cardina Japonica's are the most effective "only" after they reach full size (2" or so). When they are smaller they are not the most efficient

[aquaverde]

Originally Posted by GDominy

I keep about 12 different varieties of Algae eating shrimp and I have found that the Cardina Japonica's are the most effective "only" after they reach full size (2" or so). When they are smaller they are not the most efficient

Super! Mine are a little more than half that size, I have something to look forward to.
Gareth, you have the Heinz 57 when it comes to shrimp and loaches. I can't even name 12 different types of algae-eating shrimp. Dare ya to list all 12 types (please)

James

[Mori]

I've had excellent luck with Chinese algae eaters, in spite of their reputation.

Alot of people just trade them in for small ones when they get big (~4 inches) because they stop taking care of algae and/or get aggressive. You can get 1 to 2 years before they have to be exchanged.

I have two adults of the golden/yellow/albino? type. In my larger tank (75g) they didn't get aggressive. I kept the two in there and they didn't pick on the slow fish, but kept the tank clean. They had a great deal of space, though. I recently moved one of them to a new smaller tank and he's not very good with the algae, but his former colleague maintains the 75g tank on his own very well. In the small (30g) tank, my CAE is doing a crummy job on the algae, but he's very cute. He's also remarkably peaceful and shares a cave with a female betta and a baby clown pleco.

So, my limited experience with Chinese algae eaters leads me to think that, just like every other fish I've had, there are huge individual differences. Put them in, watch them, and keep watching them! When they're young, they are very good with algae. When they are older, they might be.

[Deuce868]

Does you LFS have 12 differnt kinfs of shrimp?! I had to mail order my Amano's (all they had) much less get 12 different kinds.

[TimWA]

Where did you mail order your amano's from?

[Deuce868]

www.floridadriftwood.com