Is there any plecos that stay small

[user_name]

Nerite snails look cool, are algae eating machines, and don't breed in freshwater. Go with one of these guys, they clean up wicked good in a 10g.

 

[Wycco]

I always thought Otos WERE a genus of Pleco species.


Bulldog Plecos and Bristlenose Plecos stay 4 to 5 inches long. (too big for a 10 gallon).
I think the pitbull Pleco is pretty small- only 2 inches long... although I THINK they like to be in groups just like Otos do! Don't know if Pitbulls eat any algae though.

 

[spypet]

While Otos are possible for a 10gal tank they are quite delicate, prefer to live in a group and do better in a bit bigger tank.

I've kept single male (smaller) $1 Otocinclus Affinis

and he lived a good healthy long 2-3 year life there.
Otos are social, but they can be with other fish too,
as mine was best pals with a single dwarf Corydorus.

I never bothered to ask if he was happy in there
but what tank trapped fish ever is...

if you go the snail route, stick with horned nerites,
they are small, won't breed or leave many calcium
egg deposits behind.

 

[redbullbill]

Thanks for all the help!!
I always thought snails were a pest because i never read up on them thanks for the info.
The locale lfs didn't have any oto's, so i stopped at petsmart they only had a few and were super tiny, so i got just two.They are in my QT tank right now.
Do you think a place like petsmart would have those snails and how would i know i get the right kind.Most of the people that work there don't know much about fish,other animals they do but not fish!!!

 

[redbullbill]

A quick question about the oto's since i have them in my QT tank and no algae will feeding them spirulina flakes do until they get transfered over?I thought i had algae wafers but i'm out.

 

[fshfanatic]

I had kept pitbull plecos forever in planted tanks. Thy stay small, under 3" and would do great. Plus they are cute.

 

[Vince G.]

If the oto's don't work out (I hope they live a long life for you, but honestly, they can be delicate)Pitbull plecos are a good option for you. They are related to otos, but are hardier than them, and in my experience, don't stop eating algae when they get bigger like SAE's (and they don't bother your other fish like SAE's also).

 

[redbullbill]

Thanks for the info.The oto's are cute but they are tiny.If for some reason something happens i will deffinatly check into the pitbull pleco.There is a lfs about 45 min. fom me that has alot of plecos some really strange/rare ones and some very expensive ones too.
Thanks again!!!

 

[Fozzybear]

IMHO fish make terrible cleaners (with the exception of my corys) My clean up crew is made up of shrimp, nerites, rams horns, and bladder snails. My 2 pleco's are kept for simply cosmetic reasons (I love plecos and want to keep them) and actually normally eat fresh vegies, wood or, at worst, algae wafers. In most circumstances the algae eating fish will produce more waste than its really worth (if you're keeping them for your CUC). Check out a nerite or rams horn snails (RHs will breed like holy wildfire so watch out) to eat the algae and some corys to clean up the snail poo, or if you don't have room for a group of corys then keep some shrimp. Regardless, no matter what makes up your CUC they still need to be fed primary food and not left to scavenge off your glass (although they should do a good job cleaning that too)

 

[londonloco]

Oto's are great algae eaters. I have them in all my planted tanks. Nerites too!