Interesting pleco that is a good algae eater

So there are over 140 different types of pleco - I have a couple of bn - i'm not in love with (but they are plain - not the red with blue eyes). I have a flash pleco which has an interesting personality - not sure how he will change as he ages - also not the best algae eater.
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I know about zebra pleco but they are godly expensive. I've seen pictures of gold nuggets and they are nice looking but don't know much about them.
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Anyway what are some interesting plecos that are typically not more than $25 (my flash pleco was only $8.50); are at least interested in algae and are a bit more colourful than bn (a little smaller would also be nice).
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I think there is a fake zebra that is inexpensive but don't remember it being much of an algae eater (dont' remember the name).

 

I believe they are called green phantoms but they are pretty awsome looking

 

If you're looking for algae control I would actually suggest a nerite snail over fish. They practically inhale it.

 

So there are over 140 different types of pleco - I have a couple of bn - i'm not in love with (but they are plain - not the red with blue eyes). I have a flash pleco which has an interesting personality - not sure how he will change as he ages - also not the best algae eater.
-
I know about zebra pleco but they are godly expensive. I've seen pictures of gold nuggets and they are nice looking but don't know much about them.
-
Anyway what are some interesting plecos that are typically not more than $25 (my flash pleco was only $8.50); are at least interested in algae and are a bit more colourful than bn (a little smaller would also be nice).
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I think there is a fake zebra that is inexpensive but don't remember it being much of an algae eater (dont' remember the name).

Those zebra plecos are so cool looking, but not for the price! I think snowball plecos are small and cheaper, but I could be wrong. I thought I saw one for $60. It's still pricey, but not the zebra pricey.

 

Clown places are small but they need driftwood and like meat. Mine live on/in the driftwood and stays there. I don't think any pleco will just eat algae. Try snails?? This is my Twisty. :3 I got him for like 10$ I think

 

The snowball plecos L201 and L102 are both part of the hypancistrus family which don't have the right mouthparts to eat algae and are poor algae eaters. They prefer meaty foods.

If you want a algae-eating thing go for nerite snails. Like previously said they inhale algae. Unless you have the special case which MissNoodle has where she had to fire one of them

Most of the fancy plecos don't eat much algae.

 

Sure I'll toss in 15 nerite with my 20 loaches. Think they will last a week?

Anyway I have a clown in a 29. He is a bore and not too much of an algae eater. The bn are decent algae eaters at least the female. However I'm not really looking for algae control as much for pleco that do not focus on meat.

 

I did not know you had loaches, sorry. From your profile it says you have kuhlI loaches? Many people on FL have kuhlis with nerites.

 

Clowns, zebra and gold zebra with the kuhli. Anyway this thread was to discover which of the smaller pleco make good pets not how to control algae. I just don't want the pleco to be primarily a meat eater.
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I did not explicitly exclude them but the area to list your fish doesn't allow enough characters to list them all.

 

The snowball plecos L201 and L102 are both part of the hypancistrus family which don't have the right mouthparts to eat algae and are poor algae eaters. They prefer meaty foods.

If you want a algae-eating thing go for nerite snails. Like previously said they inhale algae. Unless you have the special case which MissNoodle has where she had to fire one of them

Most of the fancy plecos don't eat much algae.

Wow, that's crazy. How did I not know this? I thought that's what plecos were known for. I guess I haven't owned a pleco since I was like 8 because I think they're ugly, so I wouldnt know. I would, however, buy a zebra pleco if they weren't so darn expensive because those are purrrrrdy.

 

Rubberlips are good algae eaters and under $10. L200 (green phantoms) are going up in price but L128 (blue phantoms, my favorites) are reasonable at around $35 around me. Both L200 and L128 are good algae eaters. There's not many more I can think of that eat algae and within your price range and size.

I have 2 Rubberlips, 5 L128s and a few other plecos.

 

L128 looks interesting. Wish there were more in the 3-5 inch range.

Rubberlips are good algae eaters and under $10. L200 (green phantoms) are going up in price but L128 (blue phantoms, my favorites) are reasonable at around $35 around me. Both L200 and L128 are good algae eaters. There's not many more I can think of that eat algae and within your price range and size.

I have 2 Rubberlips, 5 L128s and a few other plecos.

 

L128 looks interesting. Wish there were more in the 3-5 inch range.

They'll get to about 6-7" but it'll take years after they hit 4-5". I picked up 5 a couple of months ago and they were 1.5-2". They're about 2.5" now. I had some last year that were 3-3.5" and it took over a year to get to 4.5"

 

I guess they grow slower than bn pleco.

They'll get to about 6-7" but it'll take years after they hit 4-5". I picked up 5 a couple of months ago and they were 1.5-2". They're about 2.5" now. I had some last year that were 3-3.5" and it took over a year to get to 4.5"

 

I believe they are called green phantoms but they are pretty awsome looking

Green Phantoms start at around 50.00. I paid 48.00 about 3 years ago

Those zebra plecos are so cool looking, but not for the price! I think snowball plecos are small and cheaper, but I could be wrong. I thought I saw one for $60. It's still pricey, but not the zebra pricey.

You can get a small snowball for around 35.00

Wow, that's crazy. How did I not know this? I thought that's what plecos were known for. I guess I haven't owned a pleco since I was like 8 because I think they're ugly, so I wouldnt know. I would, however, buy a zebra pleco if they weren't so darn expensive because those are purrrrrdy.

Hmm I am offended you think plecos are ugly? ( LOL ) I have 8 different types of plecos. I am now looking for a zebra

L128 looks interesting. Wish there were more in the 3-5 inch range.

Clown Plecos grow to about 3-1/2"

 

I guess they grow slower than bn pleco.

Are you planning on putting this pleco in your 120 gallon or do you have a different tank?

I've had my 3 BNs since they were about 1" and they were full size (5") in just over a year. L128s will grow a bit slower.

 

I'm actually planning for a new tank that I will get in approx 16 months. I plan ahead. I have plain bn pleco and find them unappealing. The female I grew from 1 inch; the male I purchase full grown about 3 months ago to see if she would breed (she is approx 14 months old). They rarely hang out together and i'm not sure I she is old enough to breed but she shows no interest him. She hangs out in front the male hangs out in the back opposite corner.

 

Hmm I am offended you think plecos are ugly? ( LOL ) I have 8 different types of plecos. I am now looking for a zebra

You're a pleco hoarder! Hah The zebras are so cute though.

 

Tank sizes?

All 3 of my BNs are in separate tanks because I don't want them to breed. I got 5 L128s so I can try to breed them in a few years. Same with the L134s. I have a L075 Para that just looks awesome as well as 2 L014 Sunshines I picked up last weekend. The L075 should get to about 10" and the L014 should reach around 12". My biggest tank is a 75 gallon so I'll have to rehome some of them in a few years.

 

A farlowella catfish...

Its a cousin to the pleco family and is vegetarian. But very reclusive and they like to hide away on tall spindly branches during the day. Theyre soft-algae eaters. Wont touch hard algae.

They get up to 9 inches, but average out between 6-8. Mostly just length, very slender fish. Doesnt need a lot of space.

 

I'm actually a fan of its cousin the whiptail cat fish (well I think the farlowella is a type of whiptail catfish); actually I think there are more types of whiptail catfish than fingers and toes.

A farlowella catfish...

Its a cousin to the pleco family and is vegetarian. But very reclusive and they like to hide away on tall spindly branches during the day. Theyre soft-algae eaters. Wont touch hard algae.

They get up to 9 inches, but average out between 6-8. Mostly just length, very slender fish. Doesnt need a lot of space.
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I'm actually a fan of its cousin the whiptail cat fish (well I think the farlowella is a type of whiptail catfish); actually I think there are more types of whiptail catfish than fingers and toes.

Yeah theyre relatives, but the farlowella family are different than the whiptails still. Farlowella is its own family branch, consisting of a handful of very similar looking fish.

Mine are both farlowella vittata.

Many whiptails are sturistoma family and other. Theyre more sturdy than farlowella, from what I know.

 

Somewhere between 300 and 500 gallon. It will have approx 7 to 10 clown loaches; 7 to 14 gold zebra loaches 20 kuhlI loaches; 3 acara; 6 to 12 angelfishes; 20 to 40 white fin rosy tetra; 20 to 40 some other tetra; 10 to 20 serbaI cory and whatever. This is all subject to change but the direction i'm considering. I don't want anything larger than the acara (I might drop them) 'cept the clowns which will be the largest inhabitants. The tank would support larger pleco and something like a gold nugget is always tempting but i'm not sure. My current 120 is a forest because the landscaping wasn't planned right (didn't realize how large some plants would grow); for this tank I will put the large plants every 3 feet to break the tank into territories and then put small stuff between the markers - leaving the front 8-12 inches free for swimmers.

Tank sizes?

All 3 of my BNs are in separate tanks because I don't want them to breed. I got 5 L128s so I can try to breed them in a few years. Same with the L134s. I have a L075 Para that just looks awesome as well as 2 L014 Sunshines I picked up last weekend. The L075 should get to about 10" and the L014 should reach around 12". My biggest tank is a 75 gallon so I'll have to rehome some of them in a few years.