Need a Pleco

[NewLoverOfFish]

I am a newbie. My tank is 8 months old and algea is just starting to grow. The tank is 38 gallons and has about 14 fish. What kind of pleco would stay about 4-5" and is easy to take care of. I tried otos but had trouble finding them among the plants to see if they were OK. they died in about 10 days. :sad (know I need to work on not feeding my fish to much) I tried sinking tabletsbut my other fish devored them before the otos could eat.

[Dangerdoll]

there are plenty different plecos you could take a look at, try: Planet Catfish (http://www.planetcatfish.com/core/index.htm) Click on Cat eLog, then common names on the right, then scroll down on the left to the L's. The plecos are L#'s, check them out.
Just curious.......what kind of fish are alreday in the tank? You think the reason the ottos died was because of starvation but then say you have a problem overfeeding, this kind of puzzles me.... have you checked your parameters? How many ottos were there?

[valerie]

I would suggest a bristlenose pleco, they are by far the best algae eaters you can find. They only get about 4-5" and are quite active during the day(compared to most plecos being out at night).

Otos can be quite delicate fish and it is really hard to find good stock. Most people(even advanced aquarists) have had a hard time keeping plecos as they usually come to the stores in pretty bad shape(straving, parasites, bad water conditions). PLus otos only realy eat brown diatom algae, not the best at eating green algae or hair algae.

A bristlenose pleco is your best bet for an algae eater. But if you jstu want a pretty pleco there are many smaller dwarf species.

[NewLoverOfFish]

Thanks Dangerdoll. I've added that website to my favorite list. I have 2 platys (lost 3) 1 swordtail (lost 2) 3 red-eyed tetra (havn't lost any :D ) 6 neons :D 2 Julii cory (they are my favorite to watch togeather). My fish store tell me not feed my fish so much because the nitras are high. That their stomachs are only as big as one of their eyes :confused: I am assuming otos do not eat regular fish food and maybe the algea was not the kind they eat.

Valerie, The bristlenose looks like it's just the fish for me. I looked up info about him and he is very cute. Thanks

[TKOS]

The bristlenose is a good choice. But they do need some driftwood as lignin is important in their diet.

Another choice of fish would be the siamese algae eaters. They do a great job of getting rid of algae and are a little lighter on the bioload.

I would also add a couple more corie sif you can as they like to be in groups and will be more interesting to watch.

Yeah, and don't get too upset about the ottos. They are just not the hardiest of fish.

[Grandmastr]

rubberlip
or was it rubbernose plecos

its either one,but they stay around 5 inches and eat alot of algae

my lfs is selin them for a 1.5in $2.50

[valerie]

Rubbernose plecos are cooler water fish and prefer temps in the lower 70's.They also need lots of current and high oxygen waters. PLus i have some and they aren't the best algae eaters.

If you want a algae eater a BN pleco is what you need.

[valerie]

Rubbernose plecos are cooler water fish and prefer temps in the lower 70's.They also need lots of current and high oxygen waters. PLus i have some and they aren't the best algae eaters.

If you want a algae eater a BN pleco is what you need.

NewLoverOfFish- How much and how often are you feeding? If you are having a problem over feeding then cut back to feeding once per day or every second day, trust me your fish won't starve. I feed all my fish(except fry) once a day and only a little bit.They are all growing and healthy.its better to under feed then over feed.

[TKOS]

Yes, underfeeding is best. Just a pinch of food right after I get home from work. And 1 tablet per 2 cory catfish.

Of course I have been doing an explosion of frozen brine shrimp every so often. But this is followed by a tank cleaning about an hour later. The fish go crazy though.

[NJ Devils Fan]

I would go with either a bristlenose pleco, rubberlip pleco, or a clown pleco. All will grow to around 5" or so.