Dean

I'm looking to get an algae eater for a 55 gal tank. I 'm planning on getting a gold nugget pleco so I'm looking for something compatible with that that is a better algea the the gold nugget. I'd perfer a good looking fish with personality. Any suggestions?

Jonah

4 - 6 Otos would look good, small but nice looking fish and in groups they are very entertaining.

Dean

I've heard they get pretty aggresive. Is that true?

cerianthus

Different algae eater may/will dine on different algae. I guess it would depends on tankmates but golden Nuggets can be kept with other algae eating fish, Just dont get the ones which will grow to foot or more in no time although Golden Nugget (L-018)can acieve close to that size but grows slowly.
Peckoltia Vittata (L-015from Xingu to 4" or L-134 to 6")) , P. angelicus (L-004, to 3"), P. oligospila (L-006, to 4" or L-049 to 5"), P. platyhyncha (L-037, to 5"), P. Sp (L-066 to 6"; king tiger Pleco), P. pulcher (L-168 to 6").
You can also try Rineloricaria (L-010) or its cousins.
Lithoxus Sp (L-052 to 3"), Ancistrus Sp (L-059a to 3"), A Sp (L-107to 4"). List can go on . Google for more info.
Hope i did not make it more confusing, lol!

Jonah

Never, I have never heard of an agressive Oto!

They are very small and playful as puppies when they are not hiding on the plants just make sure you have lots of plants real or imitation for them to browse on.

http://www.fishlore.com/profiles_otocinclus.htm the picture here does not do them justice really

The BN plec (Ancistrus) is another good option as mentioned above, the only problem buying any other plec is I have never yet found a store that actually sold the fish that was named on the label when they grew up.

agabr123

i'm with Jonah on the otos, and i've never heard of them being aggressive either! it's the chinese algae eaters that you want to stay away from, they will latch onto the sides of other fish and suck away the slime coat and they also get pretty big.

Dean

Is it safe to have another pleco with the Gold Nugget? I've hear they can be agressive towards other pleco's?

cerianthus

They all are to some degree. Have few different pieces of drfitwoods. Yes, have kept few different species of Pleco in same tank w/o mishap, well most of times. It seems similar sized plecos quarrel more but not to kill each other, just for more space (maybe learned from us,lol!). Just monitor the plecos as would with any other fish.

Dean

SAE, Oto's or BN pleco's? Which is best for 55gal community?

agabr123

i'd say one BN pleco and three or five otos (for some reason the otos like to be in odd numbers, couldnt tell you why )

Dean

and they will all be compatible with my furture gold nugget?

agabr123

oh my bad, if you're still planning on getting the gold nugget then i would just go with the 3 or 5 otos and not include the BN pleco

Dean

are Oto's more effective/better tank mates then SAE?

krismoore888

SAEs can get pretty big very quickly and are often CAEs mislabeled. Otos are the safer bet and are just as effective

Jonah

Otos are in my opinion better, they are small playful fish, good at cleaning diatoms and most algaes and they have a very small bioload.

But there are folks who will tell you that SAE's are fun too. The only word of caution I would add here is I have seen CAE's so often labelled as SAE's, or just Algae Eaters in stores that I would need to be sure what I was buying when I went to the store. At least you can always identify an Oto.

Even Kriss is Nija'ing me now

krismoore888

in regards to tank mate suitablility they are both peaceful (so long as the are SAEs, not CAEs as i and Jonah said above)

krismoore888

lol

Attached Images

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Shawnie

wondering why you would want another bottom feeder in a 55 gal with the nugget?(the nugget is an amazing looking fish btw!!!)

Jonah

Just one further thing to help with your decision.

You could put 4 or 5 Oto's in the tank or 1 SAE based on the bio-load they would put in the tank.

Lol Now that should be your avatar Kriss

krismoore888

i think im now gona change it lol

Dean

I've read that Gold Nuggets aren't very good algae eaters and they won't clean the glass at all. Is that info correct?

Jonah

That would to a degree depend on how and what you feed it, if he is well fed he has no need to find food for hmself.

I dont really see my plec as a part of the clean up crew he is more part of the problem

All Plecs whatever their size are large waste producers and put more waste into the tank then they can ever hope to remove by way of cleaning it.

The CUC in my tanks are the Corys and Otos. Corys to scavange left over food on the bottom of the tank and Oto's to attack the algae. The Plecs, well The BN's do a fair job but the Sailfin is more a family pet that we are resigned to re-homing in a year or so's time when he out grows the tank.

cerianthus

If expecting to GN to eat all types algae, maybe expecting too much. Since you have your mind set at GN, how about as needed base. SAE can be easily distinguished from CAE but not from its cousin Siames Flying fox (wont touch algae, at least from my experiences). SAE on the other hand are used or kept not just for its beauty but its ability to control Beard/Brush algae.
Thus sorting out and adding specific algae eater can be determine as algae appears in the tank. I would not expect them to keep the tank free of algae though (wishful thinking lol).
As Ive mentioned, can keep few different varieties of pleco w/o mishaps (though possible with any animals) when proper layout are provided.. Look into it for future addtion.

When kept zebra, GN, Mago, sunshine, king tiger plecos in same tank, had to feed them Romaine and other veggie to ensure that they are not starving (could not exactly tell wether they ate enough from the varieties of algae present in tank).

krismoore888

in my experience siamese flying foxs eating hair algae but no other, also CAEs and SAEs when young look quite similar so if your not familiar with them they can be easily confused, especially with LFSs mislabeling them

cerianthus

I have not come across any LFS to mislabel SAE($5?) for CAE($1) since cost are definitely higher for SAE. Maybe CAE for SAE trying to make an extra bucks? which I doubt! Do agree though that most lfs may not know of SAE.
It is Repalzeorhynchus (or Crossocheilus) siamensis (commomly SAE) which will eat Beard/brush alage not the other way around as I have not seen Epalzeorhynchus kallopterus (commonly FF) go after the beard/brush algae, even with few different batches. I have not seen SAE at age (even small 1-1-1/2")that it can NOT be distinguished from CAE as you never will see SAE nor FF stuck on the glass.
It maybe difficult to distinguish SAE from FF but what I used to do was look at their dorsal fin and anal fin and pecvic fin where FF will have black tip/patches along with black lateral line/stripe will extend to end of its tail. SAE do not have this black patches and SAE's black stripe will stop at caudal peduncle, not extended to end of tail. Hope this helps clear up some confusion!

Jonah

You have infinately more faith in your LFS than I then. I HAVE seen CAE's labeled as SAE's and pointed it out to the store, went back the next week and they were ;labelled Algae Eaters plan and simpple.

They have the stock and they need to move it to make a buck, and a lot of folks will not buy CAE's because of their reps (me for one) so if that means passing a CAE off as and SAE to some unsuspecting beginner then they will

krismoore888

thanks Jonah, got there before me
also thanks cerianthus for the detailed description as like I said some people do not have as much experience/knowledge as others

cerianthus

That's terrible, mislabeling and misinforming which can lead to unnecessaary fish loss. What can we do but to be better informed (reading and research, bringing laptop/iphone to lfs,lol as ive carried books to lfs when young)and alert.

cerianthus

Plz dont metion it! If i can make one fish do better, pleasure is mine in sharing info among other fish loving members.

krismoore888

no the less it was a great description which hopefully people will use a reference