Best Algea Eater?

"Paul" wrote in message
...
| Hiya
|
| I am having a problem with my main 55 gallon community tank, and
the
| problem that as summer is coming I am getting a lot more algea in
my
| tanks and on my plants. My catfish cant seem to keep up, so what
are
| the best alea eating fish I can buy? Some people reccomend a
| plecostumus but they sklulk around in they corners and hide a lot,
so
| I don't really want one of those. So what is my next best option in
| buying a good algea eater?
|
| Thanks
|
| Paul

IMO, and IME, Otociclus (oto's) and Siamese Algae Eaters. The former
are renowned for being fragile, when I want some I generally buy
several more than what I need, as invaribly some will die within the
first few weeks. On rare occasion, Oto's will become "attack Oto's",
developing a taste for the slime coat on fish. I have not had this
happen to me...yet. They are, however, efficient little lawnmowers.
SAE's, are excellent algae eaters as well, but are hard to find.
They are VERY frequently misidentified, and other fish are ID'd as
SAE's.
http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/cyprinid.html
Best way is to study the pic on that page, as 'flying fox's' look
very similar, watch to be sure the black stripe goes all the way to
the end of the caudal (tail) fin. They are repoted to have a max size
of six inches, though mine always seem to top out just above four
inches.

Also, this plain-looking little fish,
http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/ameca-splendens.html
is ruputedly a fabulous AE'er, though I've never been able to fine
any. They even eat duckweed.

hth

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