fbn

Well, it doesn't get sunlight the whole day....Do fish eat the brown algae? If so, do SAE and plecos? You all are being very helpful!! thanks!

Toddnbecka

BN's will clean up diatoms (aka brown algae) as well as most of the green types. True SAE are effective algae eaters, but there are multiple species sold under that name. Unless you're certain you're getting the real deal you may get a similar-looking fish that isn't quite as desirable.

fbn

What are you meaning? are there different types of SAE? or do you mean I might get CAE

Lucy

A lot of these fish are mislabled at the fish store. They look so similar and many times I've been to fish stores who had CAE lables as otos or SAE.
This article has a couple of good pics.
Identifying the Siamese Algae Eater

fbn

Do clown plecos eat algae?

midnightwolf

ottos dont need to be kept in large schools only about 4 or 5

Lucy

Clowns get way big, 12". Don't let their size in the stores fool you.
I don't think they eat algea. More like wafers and flakes off the bottom.

Borisbbadd

Clown Plecos are wood eaters.

Some people claim they are pretty good algae eaters, but most people ( me included ) would say they are not.

If you are getting a pleco just for algae control, a clown is probably not the best choice.

A far better choice would be a Bristle Nose Pleco.

fbn

I think I might get a Siamese algae eater and a clown pleco. I got the clown yesterday, but he is eating algae like crazy! I will have to research whether SAEs can be with clowns. Thanks!

mathas

Are you sure about that, Lucy? Or maybe something in your area is called a clown, and isn't the same species as the clown pleco sold around here Common names are often misleading, especially with plecos.

PlanetCatfish has them at 3.9", which matches the adults I've seen locally: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog...species_id=734