TheJimsterness

This is for all y'all that have those small tanks, and you really want that pleco to complete it. While plecos are great fish and algae eaters, they are unsuitable for small tanks because of their eventual size and messiness. So, here are some good substitutes for them in small tanks.

Good Subs:

1. The smaller plecos
Pros: Some fancy plecos like bristlenoses only grow to about 6", making them suitable for smaller tanks. They can also come in very interesting color patterns, so do your research.
Cons: They can get very expensive and still messy fish.

2. Oto catfish
Pro: They are suckermouth cats, like plecos, but they stay small, 2-3" i believe. They are also very efficient algae eaters. Very peaceful.
Cons: These shouldn't be added to a new aquarium. They are very sensitive to water parameters, so they should only be added to an established tank after being slowly acclimated. Also they like to be in schools, which can be either a pro or a con.

3. Siamese Algae Eater
Pros: My personal favorite. If you can find them, give it some consideration. They are incredibly efficient algae eaters, always grazing on something. They also have a very high metabolism, so if they get fat off fish food and stop eating algae, just don't feed them for a few days and they'll be grazing in no time. They are also one of the few algae eaters to eat red algae such as black beard algae(i think that's what i had). They also bring a great sharky look to the tank, but don't get as big as other sharks.
Cons:The only pain is finding them. If you think you've found some, make sure the black stripe runs all the way to middle of the tail. If it doesn't DON'T buy the fish, it is a different species, regardless of what the store clerk says.



So yeah you can see the favoritism, but i encourage you to give them a try and not trap a poor pleco in a small tank. Oh yeah, and add your own suggestions if i missed anything good.
This is just a compilation of my own painstaking research, so i thought I'd share



PS: IMHO Pros for all: they don't look like dog-ugly common plecos

CHoffman

Funny...I was just at Petco.com looking at fish for my future 55-75 gallon tank (haven't decided). And a Pleco by their standards is ok in a 10+ gallon tank...even though they list their adult size as 24". CRAZY..I saw some kind of Gold spikey sucker fish on a you tube video I would love to find out what is was...I'll have to find it again and find out.

ok found the video..It's right at first.

He said they are Gold Ancistrus is that right? I love them they look so neat. I'll have to research them.

On Wikipedia it says they are Albino Bristle-nose catfish. Which one is it??

Alessa

I think it is an albino bristlenose!

And the Jimsterness, thanks for the info. It is really true that most people should find sbstitutes and not condemn plecos to tiny tanks.

Kayin1470

I have a 29 gallon tank and an albino pleco, am I alright?

Matt

OMG WHAT A COINCEDENCE. When I Had My FW Tank It Looked Just Like That And I Had a black bristlenose. I bought my mate a albino bristlenose for his B-Day.

From Matt

mathas

Both are more or less correct.

Ancistrus is the genus that contains the bristlenose plecos, and they do look more yellow than most albino fish, so Gold Ancistrus would be accurate... but it is an albino, and it is a bristlenose, so albino bristlenose is also accurate.

J J Indy

There are several species of pleco that stay 6" or less but are usually a little pricey but are very cool to look at I have a bristle nose they are pretty wild looking. A rubber lip pleco is another one that is pretty cool. I would say that an albino pleco in a 29 gallon would be temporary at best as they grow to around 24" at adult size from what I have read here on fishlore a pleco needs a 100 gallon or bigger to be happy.

CHoffman

So, if I were to get a 55 or 75 the albino bristlenose would NOT be ok??..Darn...They are so pretty. I don't think I want to go as big a 100 gallons.

mrsmuffin

I THINK you would be fine with the albino bristlenose. I believe JJ was talking about an albino common pleco. When in doubt check out planetcatfish.com.

Barbrella

Yes - more than ok! The Bristlenose (or Ancistrus Sp.3) only grows to 6" at the very maximum. Give it lots of hiding places like driftwood, caves etc.

There is also a long-finned variety that is very lovely, but considerably more expensive.

Only males have the bristles on top of their snouts.

CHoffman

Thanks guys...I think they are soooo pretty. Thanks for the link too. I really like the bristlenose and the gold color so I think it will go good in my new tank and 6" is perfect..He'll have lots of swimming room..=-). Thanks again

J J Indy

yes a bristle nose would be fine in a 55 gallon i was talking about regular plecos. sorry for any confusion.

Allie

They are the same thing.

Plecolover12

Well, I would have to agree with everyone else that it is a albino bristlenose pleco.

dancerhas

The Chines Algae Eater is sometimes (I believe commonly) labeled a Siamese Algae Eater. In fact I believe that's listed as an alternate name on the CAE profile here on Fish Lore. Though they are somewhat similar in looks, the Chinese Algae Eater grows MUCH larger and is not suitable for smaller aquariums except as a juvenile and when kept temporarily.

The easy ways to tell the difference are (as Jimsterness said) the stripe, which is more spotted on a Chinese, and the Chinese also has a Very prominent Suckermouth.

musicman4567

One con about SAE's is that once full grown they can become territorial with each other. Just have to make sure that they have plenty of room for themselves. I have 4 in a 55 gal and they do fine, but they were from the same batch and added together.

As a side note on BN's, I breed them and sell them for pretty cheap... Shipping is what gets expensive though. If you're in the UT area, you could definitely stop by and get some.

TheJimsterness

they do get territorial but all they can do is wiggle at one another
so its not even a problem, more like a game they play