ajbroome Posted January 13, 2003 Report Share Posted January 13, 2003 Folks, I'm looking for suggestions as to an efficient algae eating fish for my un-heated, indoor, LF-WCMM tank. Because of where it's located it gets a bit of excess light and this (combined with the occasional overfeeding of livefood) is causing a bit of algae to grow. It doesn't bother me overly, but I don't want it to get out of hand. I want something that isn't going to harm the plants (Valisneria and Java Moss) and/or fry and ideally something that I could eventually breed. I'm planning on putting in some peppered cats (anybody breeding these at the moment?) as well. I'm wondering about the cold tolerance of Ancistrus spp and/or Otocinclus spp? Any other suggestions? I'm avoiding using snails at this stage. There is a piece of driftwood in the tank so a Loricarid would have something to entertain itself with... I realise that many species may be fine now but may not do so well over the winter although the tank is in the lounge and therefore will be kept a bit warm. I guess I could always drop a heater in there in winter. Anybody breeding anything that may be worth trying? A friend in Auckland is breeding Sturisoma at the moment but I feel they'd be too big for this tank... Your suggestions are welcome. Andrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennis Posted January 13, 2003 Report Share Posted January 13, 2003 i been told befor that bristle-nosed catfish are finein cold water in side and kown one fish shop that sells them as this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aqua Posted January 13, 2003 Report Share Posted January 13, 2003 is that shop in Auckland Dennis?? Please say yes... I've got a WCMM tank as well, and need some more alga-eaters :-D How easy are peppered cats to breed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennis Posted January 13, 2003 Report Share Posted January 13, 2003 no in tauranga living waters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aqua Posted January 13, 2003 Report Share Posted January 13, 2003 Bugger. Ah well - I'm sure hollywood fish farm would have them - I know that's where I got my peppered cat - and where I plan to get more! If you're ever in auckland, take a look! http://hollywoodfishfarm.co.nz is their URL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbroome Posted January 15, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2003 So, No one has heard anything about Otocinclus at low-ish temps? Anybody breeding Ancistrus spp at the moment? What about peppered cats? BTW: Aqua, you know Corydoras (in this case, C. paleatus) are general 'scavengers' and *not* algae eaters, right? Andrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 15, 2003 Report Share Posted January 15, 2003 Bruce had a couple of hundred ancistrus the weekend of the Napier show. Surely he has some left? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kriber Posted January 15, 2003 Report Share Posted January 15, 2003 What about an algae eater a.k.a. sucking loach (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri)? I've seen them in coldwater goldfish tanks in one shop at least (suppose that makes them coldwater goldfish and algae eater tanks then!!). One cleaned up my tank of excess algae that was growing on rocks and plants but it was constantly trying to give my kribs 'the bash' so I got rid of it (at my LFS) today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aqua Posted January 15, 2003 Report Share Posted January 15, 2003 Corydoras (in this case, C. paleatus) are general 'scavengers' and *not* algae eaters, right? Erk. Ummm Yesss.... Of course I knew that! :-? hehehe general scavengers are good, not that the minnows really make that much visible waste! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbroome Posted January 15, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2003 Kriber said... > What about an algae eater a.k.a. sucking loach (Gyrinocheilus > aymonieri)? No, I don't like them. They get nasty as they get older and while I don't expect one would harm my WCMMs I still don't want one. Besides, I want something at least potentially breedable Thanks for the suggestion though. Andrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted January 16, 2003 Report Share Posted January 16, 2003 I'd read that Oto's are ok in low temps (18-22'C) and don't actually like warm temps above 25'C. I bought 2 dozen once for my planted tropical tank running at 27-28'C. They all slowly died over about 2 months. May have been something other than the temp, but I couldn't think what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbroome Posted January 30, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 Folks, Yesterday I found 4 Otocinclus (probably O. affinnis I guess) at Wet Pets for $13 or so each. Bought them and they now live in my LF-WCMM tank and seem quite happy. They've made a small but visible dent in the algae already. Also bought 10 'Harlequin' Rasboras (R. heteromorpha) for my new community tank. $4 ea seemed reasonable. Needed something swimming around in there while I'm finding time (and finances) to finish it Wet Pets also had some almost adult Ancistrus available for $10 each. A bit more than I was hoping to pay but I figure 4 should keep my big tank clean-ish so I'll need to go back at get some at some stage. Thanks to all who offered suggestions and advice. Andrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbroome Posted February 3, 2003 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2003 Folks, Just an update. Over the weekend, the 4 Otocinclus have done a great job of cleaning up much of the algae in my LF-WCMM tank. I expect it to be spotless in a week or so. Hopefully I'll be able to supply enough greenery to keep them happy once they've cleaned up the current lot. BTW: It's quite humourous to see them try and school with the WCMMs Andrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macka Posted February 3, 2003 Report Share Posted February 3, 2003 otocinclus are for sale at redwoods for only 3-4 dollars only :lol: , i have 2 in my discus tank and they do a bloody good job on the algae. I have an article here on the care and breeding of otocinlus and if kept in to smaller groups they will not fare as well as a bigger group together, apparently they will school together, i have seen my 2 follow each other around all over the tank, so a group must look really impressive. Mind you though in some books it says never to keep these with discus for they will feed on the muscus on the discus :-? , but i have never seen them do this . As for temperature 70 - 79(f) and a ph range of 5.5 - 7.5 makes a pretty adaptable fish, just read my notes and they require high oxygen content in there water, but then my next lot of notes never mentioned it. :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbroome Posted February 3, 2003 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2003 Macka said... > otocinclus are for sale at redwoods for only 3-4 dollars Of course! I'd happily buy more at that price. Each day, my tank looks cleaner. Andrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kriber Posted February 4, 2003 Report Share Posted February 4, 2003 Just got back from Redwood After reading Macka's post about the oto's I just had to get some (my tank does have a bit of algae on the glass so I really needed them honest ) Cost me $4.90 each, much better than $14.95 that I've seen them at other stores. I bought 3, the 3rd one came from some random tank with a couple of livebearer young that he didn't know about which I only noticed when wandering about while waiting for the guy to get some frozen food from out back . So there are at still 2 left but they're supposed to be getting some more in about 5 weeks. Later all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennis Posted February 4, 2003 Report Share Posted February 4, 2003 that cheep they 11.95 here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennis Posted February 4, 2003 Report Share Posted February 4, 2003 that cheep they 11.95 here i want some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macka Posted February 4, 2003 Report Share Posted February 4, 2003 I think kriber got the last of them today so i hope he brings in some more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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