So your tank is looking a little dirty, eh? Too much algae growth on the glass, plants and substrate? Don’t worry. This article is just for you! Today, we explore some of the best algae eaters to keep your tank free from nuisance algae.
Aside from making sure you have a good balance of aquarium lighting and nutrient load, these 10 amazing algae eating fish, algae eating shrimp and algae eating invertebrates will make your life much easier when it comes to eliminating disgusting algae.
10. Twig Catfish
Twig catfish are becoming readily available in the aquarium hobby and growing in popularity. These catfish will snack on all types of algae, but require additional dietary supplementation to remain healthy and thriving. Due to being primarily a herbivore, Twig catfish love a quality algae wafer like Hikari Algae Wafers, but also readily accept lightly blanched vegetables like broccoli, cucumber, lettuce, spinach and zucchini.
Beginners should steer clear of these fish as they require an intermediate level of care that includes higher water current, higher oxygen levels and excellent water quality. They only grow to about four inches in length and due to their shy nature, do best in community tanks with plenty of places to hide.
9. Chinese Algae Eater
The Chinese Algae Eater from the family Gyrinocheilidae can be a great addition to your tank, as they spend most of their time searching for food. These fish live for about 10 years, so make sure you are willing to make the time commitment.
Chinese Algae Eaters do best on their own and are basically non-social loners. They will feast on a variety of algae, but will need nutritional supplementation. Frozen foods like bloodworms as well as Daphnia and Brine Shrimp are readily accepted. Typical adult size reaches five inches, so a larger aquarium is preferred.
8. Florida Flagfish
The Florida Flagfish (Cyprindon Floridae) is another fish that prefers a heavily planted tank. Native to the rivers and ponds of Florida, this colorful fish has stripes that resemble Old Glory, the flag of the United States.
At only two inches in length as an adult, the Florida Flagfish has a voracious appetite for algae. It has a propensity to rip at hair algae, often uprooting small plants that are not firmly anchored to the substrate. This fish is a must have in an unheated tank with other fast moving fish.
7. Siamese Algae Eater
The Siamese Algae Eater is formally known as Crossocheilus oblongus and come from the family Cyprinidae. They are commonly known as SAE’s for short. They can grow to a length of six inches and are well-suited for larger aquarium setups. They will thrive as a single individual or in a group of SAE’s. They have gained a lot of popularity in the aquarium trade for their voracious appetite for algae and their ability to quickly cover the entire tank.
SAE’s tend to eat more algae as juvenile fish. As they grow into larger adults, Siamese Algae Eaters are more capable of fighting for larger food items that are introduced into the tank and tend to consume less algae.
6. Cherry Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi are better known as Red Cherry Shrimp. These delightful invertebrates are very efficient at eliminating algae, picking food and debris from the many nooks and crannies around your tank, as well as feasting on algae that grows on plants. There is another shrimp that is even more efficient at munching away at unsightly algae (that shows up on our list in third spot), but what the Red Cherry Shrimp lacks in efficiency, it makes up for in how easily it breeds in the home aquarium. What starts out as just a small group of shrimp can quickly turn into an super colony of algae destroying shrimp.
Red Cherry Shrimp reach an adult length of 1.5 inches and selectively bred adults purchased at your local fish store can be bright red, although Cherry Shrimp in general can come in a variety of different colors. Red Cherry Shrimp are subject to predation, so be careful about larger tank mates who might mistake these invertebrates as food items.
5. Nerite Snails
Nerite Snails are a variety of ornamental snails that come from the Neritidae family. These fascinating snails, that roam about your aquarium devouring algae and other debris, are especially adept at scraping off and eliminating green spot algae deposits on plants, substrate, driftwood and glass.
Nerite Snails come in several different varieties such as Zebra, Tiger, Olive and Red Racer to name a few. You’ll need to supplement your tank with additional calcium in the water in the form of natural crushed coral or a similar product like Wonder Shell (we like the natural crushed coral) and fortify their diet with Nano Banquet Food Blocks for excellent shell development.
4. Otocinclus Catfish
The Otocinclus Catfish hails from the genus Otocinclus and is an excellent addition to any tank that is suffering from a bloom diatom algae. Like another fish in the second spot on our list, the Otocinclus Catfish reaches approximately two inches in length and has a mouth that’s perfectly designed for scraping diatom algae from flat surfaces around the tank. For this reason, they are often referred to as suckermouths, which is quite evident when you see them suctioned to the glass.
Otocinclus Catfish will have a difficult time surviving on only algae, so be sure to supplement their diet with blanched vegetables like zucchini slices and green beans. Additionally, a quality herbivore food such as Rapashy Superfoods Soilent Green.
3. Amano Shrimp
The Amano Shrimp is perhaps the most efficient invertebrate on our list when it comes to devouring bothersome and unsightly algae, and one of only a few creatures that will feast on Black Beard Algae. They grow to about two inches in length and are most effective in groups of four or more if you want to make significant headway on your algae problem.
These shrimp are super hardy and forgiving of less than ideal water and temperature parameters. Amano Shrimp need specialized conditions to breed and the fry can be difficult to raise for the average aquarium enthusiast. Our best recommendation is just to ante up and buy the desired amount of Amano Shrimp you need for your aquarium. At around $3 dollars per shrimp, you won’t break the bank and your tank will thank you for it!
2. Reticulated Hillstream Loach
Of all the loaches, perhaps the Reticulated Hillstream Loach is the most beautiful. Growing up to three inches in length, these pint-sized fish look like dotted and striped miniature stingrays. They are experts at cleaning algae from glass, rocks and plants or any flat surface throughout the tank.
Due to aggression, it is best to keep them as a single fish or in groups of three loaches or more to distribute any aggression among more individuals. They prefer a stable pH and cooler tank water temps. They will not be able to survive on algae alone, so be sure to feed an excellent quality sinking food like Repashy Superfoods Soilent Green.
1. Bristlenose Plecotomus
The Bristlenose Plecostomus is one of the most popular of all the Plecos. This is due to their smaller size and ability to keep algae levels in check in the home aquarium. Aside from that, they have a very unique appearance that many hobbyists find appealing. Adult size is approximately three to five inches and they are best suited for larger tanks of 29 gallons and greater. They have a lifespan of 5+ years under ideal tank conditions. The males have flattened bodies and very distinctive fleshy tentacles or “bristles” that grow from their head. The females bristles are much less prominent than the males.
Bristlenose Plecos are masters of camouflage and are better observed at night due to their nocturnal nature. They prefer a tank with a modest current and plenty of oxygenation They are primarily herbivores feeding on plant matter 85% of the time along with the occasional shrimp pellet or freeze dried bloodworms. A great food recommendation for the Bristlenose Pleco is Hikari Algae Wafer discs. They will also readily accept fresh cucumber bits, blanched zucchini slices or canned green beans.
That concludes our list of 10 great algae eaters for your freshwater tank. How did we do? Which fish or invertebrate was your favorite and why? Would you choose something different that didn’t make our list? Post your comments below and let’s have a discussion. Thanks for stopping by and I will see you in the comments!