Got algae?
Here is my top 5 list of efficient freshwater algae eaters you can add to your aquarium:
Otocinclus catfish (otocinclus vestitus)
Common name: Otos
Max size: 2”
Temperament: Peaceful
How many: 1-2 per 10 Gal
Temperature: 72-82 degrees
pH: 6.0-7.5
Otos are a great substitute when your aquarium is not large enough for a plecostomus. They are voracious sucker mouth algae eaters that love to munch on soft green and brown diatom algae. They can be supplemented with algae wafers and fresh vegetables. Otos are a schooling fish and require at least 3-6 to stay in a group.
2. Siamese Algae Eater (crossochelius oblongus)
Common name: SAE
Max size: 6”
Temperament: semi-aggressive to other SAE’s
How many: 1 per 40 Gal (recommended 5-6 to minimize aggression)
Temperature: 68-80 degrees
pH: 6.0-8.0
SAE’s are notorious for having a favorite taste for BBA (black beard algae). Also enjoys hair algae, food scraps. They are a very active fish and have a shark-like appearance and temperament. Having only 2-3 SAE’s induces fin nipping and territorial behavior, so having a large group in a large established aquarium is best. A tight fitting lid is recommended as these guys are jumpers! Another perk for SAE’s is their ability to handle wide water parameters like cooler waters and high pH. Juveniles eat more algae and as they age, they will happily graze on veggies and algae wafers.
3. Amano Shrimp (caridina multidenata/japonica)
Common name: amano
Max size: 2”
Temperament: peaceful
How many: 1 per 5 Gal
Temperature: 65-82 degrees
pH: 6.5-8.0
These are my favorite shrimp! Amanos don’t school so you can have just one in a pretty small aquarium. They are on of the best algae eaters out of the caridinia family. Amano shrimp originally came from Japan and became popular in the US in the ‘90s. Since then, they are readily available in most LFS and are not expensive. The females will lay eggs when fertilized, but will not survive unless the eggs are raised in saltwater so no worries of overpopulation in common freshwater aquariums. Amanos are great for eating decaying plants and biofilm that occurs on new driftwood and even at the surface of the water.
4. Bristlenose “bushynose” Plecostomus (ancistrus cirrhosus)
Common name: pleco
Max size: 5-6”
Temperament: peaceful
How many: 1 per 20 Gal
Temperature: 70-74 degrees
pH: 7.2-7.5
Of all the plecos out there, bristlenose are on the smaller side making them great for aquariums under 30 gallons. The original “sucker mouth” is known for eating algae off of glass and other flat surfaces. Mostly active at night, the bristlenose thrives in heavily planted aquariums with driftwood and ample rock work for hiding places. They also have an apetite for biofilm, soft algae, diatoms, uneaten food, veggies, and occasionally driftwood. Males grow long, prominent “bristles” on the end of their noses that serve many purposes but most importantly are used for breeding and sensing water movement and finding food.
5. Molly fish (poecilia sphenops, p. velifera, and many others)
Common name: molly, mollies
Max size: 3-6” depending on species
Temperament: generally peaceful, can be aggressive with multiple males
How many: 1-2 per 20 Gal
Temperature: 78-82 degrees
pH: 7.5-8.5
Mollies are technically a saltwater or even brackish (half salt, half fresh) fish, but more commonly sold as a freshwater species. They are part of the live-bearer group along with guppies, platys, and swordtails meaning they are incredibly easy to breed in home aquariums with little to no effort, giving live birth instead of laying eggs. Mollies are almost exclusively algae eaters but benefit from some protein in their diet. These beautiful fish will continually graze on many types of algae, picking at the glass, surfaces, plants, and substrate. As far as their behavior goes, they are pretty peaceful but males will get into scraps with each other to fight for females. Generally 2-3 females should be kept with 1 male to lessen aggression. Being naturally bred in saltwater and brackish environments, they require harder water with a high pH, GH, and KH. Salt is recommended for optimal health with a specific gravity of 1.023-1.025.
And there it is! I hope this helps if you’re having any algae problems. Once the algae is under control, provide them with fresh vegetables like lettuce, spinach and zucchini to keep them happy and healthy.
Good luck and don’t give up!
-Jess
