Pleco's that don't crap a lot

flyinfishman

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Feb 8, 2005
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I recently put a Bristlenose Pleco in my 29G with 5 silver hatchets.
This fish is a poop machine.

He's only been in there 36 hrs. and the bottom of my tank is littered with crap.
I don't know what this fish is eating that makes him crap so much, he does not eat algae wafers I put in there- he just sucks on the driftwood.

So far, he's put more crap in the tank than done any good.
He does not touch any food that hits the bottom.
The Pictus cat he replaced was great at finding anything on the bottom, but he was too agressive for a peaceful tank.

Anyone have any ideas for a good bottom dweller that does not cover the bottom with turd?

Cory's do not appeal to me and I only want 1 bottom dweller, not a school as most suggest corys should be kept.

Anyone have any experience with the Blue Seam Pleco?

http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_Ancistrus_blueseam.php

I'm looking for a good clean up critter and algae eater that does not foul the tank as much and won't outgrow a 29G.
thanks in advance for any replies!
 
I think all plecos are poop factories. If it were me I'd get a couple Otocinclus cats. They stay small and are great algea eaters.
 
I had to change my 6" pleco for 2 2" otocinclus cats, since the pleco would keep bothering my rays. They keep eating all day long and the poop is lesser that that of my pleco. However, any "oto" that's getting enough food will be pooping almost all the time.

Also, it seems to me that everybody I know has a pleco, so the oto is a nicer choice if you are looking for something different. The way they eat is also funnier, since they move the entire body while "chewing" and they wiggle their eyes really funny.
:dive2:
 
A bulldog pleco if you could ever find one satys really small, not much bigger than an otto. Cute as well.

A flying fox isn't a bad idea. Doesn;'t linke others of his kind, not a great alage eater (doesn't really do it at all) but sticks to the bottom, gets to be 4-5 inchs long eats sinking and flake food and doesn't make a big mess.
 
Siamese Algae Eaters are probably the best algae eating fish around.....if you can find them....and don't end up with one of the many "Look-a-Likes" ....such as a fly fox....that are no good for algae control.

Some info says they can get up to 6" but most everything I've read about them says they don't go more than 4" in an aquarium. They are a pretty active fish though.....not sure how well they would do in a 29.

Here's some decent sites with info and pics.....

http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/sae.htm

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/saes.htm

http://www.****************/catalog_pages/wild/algae_eater_siamese.htm

http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/
 
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