New from Washington DC, Seeking Advice

[lhafvens]

Hi, thrilled to find this great site, so much info I'm a bit overwhelmed. Came looking for a recommendation for a small algae eater. My aquarium is being taken over by the green stuff since my beloved Pleco had to go to a new home last month. He had outgrown my tank and I just wasn't in a position to upgrade to a larger one. Sure do miss him and not just because he kept the things so clean. Ironic because when I inherited the tank from a friend I thought he was the ugliest fish in it! He really grew on me though.

Have checked a few local fish stores but they seem only to carry algae eaters that are 6" or larger when fully grown and I think that will be too large. My 25 gallon (94.64 liter) tank has 5 lemon tetras, 3 black phantom tetras and an unidentified cory cat. I am told that ideally the tetras need to be in schools of 6 or more so that would bring me to a dozen tetras when fully stocked. Should the cory also have companions? Can anyone recommend a small algae eater that would be appropriate for this setup? Thanks for any advice you may have to offer and I will keep digging for more info. One last thing ... would prefer not to have fish that are wild caught. How does one get that type of information?

[Richard B]

A common bristlenose should be your answer - nearly always tank bred, stay under 6" (except a few XL males) & eats algae like its goung outta fashion

[Marc van Arc]

This is a common bristlenose:

Ancistrus cf_cirrhosus

Click the link and see for yourself.
And yes, the Cory would like some company.
Welcome to PC btw.

[lhafvens]

Thank you so much for the responses. I believe one of the stores may have had a bristlenose but I was afraid that fully grown at 6" it might still be too large for my 25 gallon tank. If I have only one would it be preferable to have a male or a female?

I checked the cory listings and though a little difficult to be sure mine looks most like this:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/im ... age_id=778

What is the minimum number of tank mates you would recommend for him?

THANKS

[MatsP]

Thank you so much for the responses. I believe one of the stores may have had a bristlenose but I was afraid that fully grown at 6" it might still be too large for my 25 gallon tank. If I have only one would it be preferable to have a male or a female?

Kept on it's own, I wouldn't say it's much of a difference. 6" is the total length, and that size is in my experience fairly rare. Most tend to stay around 4-5" total length. And in a 25g tank, you'd probably be OK with a 6" fish.

I checked the cory listings and though a little difficult to be sure mine looks most like this:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/im ... age_id=778

What is the minimum number of tank mates you would recommend for him?

THANKS

Corys in nature live in huge schools, but in captivity, the recommended number is at least 6. Obviously, when adding to a stocked tank, you should make sure you don't end up with an overstocked tank - it's better with a too small shoal if fish that is slightly unhappy than a bigger shoal of very unhappy fish because the water-quality has gone completely wrong.

--
Mats

[lhafvens]

Obviously, when adding to a stocked tank, you should make sure you don't end up with an overstocked tank - it's better with a too small shoal if fish that is slightly unhappy than a bigger shoal of very unhappy fish because the water-quality has gone completely wrong.

Thanks Mats. This makes perfect sense. I can see already that I need to start planning for a larger tank!

[MatsP]

I can see already that I need to start planning for a larger tank!

Better yet, a second tank... ;) Can't have too many tanks! [I've got 12 + one for my son that I just upgraded to about 25 US Gal from a stupidly small cube tank].

--
Mats

[lhafvens]

Better yet, a second tank... ;) Can't have too many tanks!

Resisting that idea or soon I will end up with 12 just like Mats!!!

I am pleased to share this photo of my newest addition, which I hope is a bristlenose (none of the fish stores had them but I was told this is a bushynose and the same thing. It doesn't matter because I've fallen in love with her -- assuming "she" because not much bristle on the nose but ?. So much personality, beautiful markings on her back, only 2.25 inches long and eats algae like crazy. Thanks so much for the recommendation. Tank and owner very very happy.

Miss-Bristle.jpg (34 KiB) Viewed 1325 times

[andywoolloo]

she is beautiful! you will enjoy her.

[MatsP]

Sorry to perhaps dissapoint, but at 2.25", I'd say it's likely that your fish is male - of course, only time will tell, but it's looking male in body shape as well as the presence of bristles. The only female of common bristlenose that I've seen any bristles on was about 4" long. And that's one out of several dozen mature females that I have kept (although I just got rid of most of them).

--
Mats

[lhafvens]

Thanks for the info. Not a disappointment at all, I was originally looking for a male but then fell in love with this fish and assumed it was female. Will just have to come up with a gender neutral name and wait to see what develops