The CAE's are on their way out, what now?

Ok, so since I got the ID and advice on the Chinese Algae Eaters I have managed to find them a new home (thanks Slojo!). Of course, I now feel that I am justified in filling their space in the tank...

It's a 3 foot community tank, with some real plants and generally is healthy and I have no real problems with it. There is algae growing around the base of the plants, but every couple of weeks I spend 30 minutes getting rid of as much as I can, so I don't see that as an issue.

Current residents are: 4 khuli loaches, 2 clown loaches, 1 pleco, 5 sepae tetras, a bunch of neons, a bunch of glowlights. Browsing TASA I found something about dwarf gouramis; doing some more reading I found that they seem quite small, they eat algae (always a plus), they're placid, they're pretty, they're easy to keep. Would people here agree they're a good idea? Would two be ok, or do they prefer bigger groups? Any other suggestions for cool replacement fish?

Something tells me that asking this sort of question may just lead to MTS...

 

Dwarf Gouramis normally make good tankmates for most communities - your tank seems like an ideal place for them as well. They won't eat algae to large extents to large extents like you would with your 'regular' algae eaters, but their efforts are noticeable. Another plus side is that they can breed in community tanks as well, so the resultant fry will help you with your need for more tanks

Another fish you might want to try is the Otocinclus sp. or 'Dwarf Pleco', which is a small, suckermouthed catfish which does a fantastic job of cleaning up. Better yet, they aren't at all aggressive, don't grow big, and can easiliy be put in groups in the tank with no hassle.

 

Agree with Salmon OTO's are a really good choice, They should be the only "algae eater" sold in my opinion

 

With respect, Zafgak, I beg to differ. SAE, if you can differentiate them from CAE and Flying Foxes, are better as they also eat red algae. Otos only eat diatoms and once your tank is past that stage there is very little for them to eat. Also I have found you need 1 oto per 20l to make any significant difference if you have a diatom outbreak.

Snails will clean up diatoms and then also ditritus, dying leaves and other waste.

Most barbs will take care of stringy algae. Also livebearers like guppies eat some soft green algae.

But I think perhaps an important point is that otos are pretty much compatible with any tank mates that are not big enough to eat them. And they are really cool. Don't get me wrong - I do like them. :bigsmile:

Ancistrus are the best I've seen, but unfortunately they can't be trusted in a planted tank.

 

Thanks for the info guys. Of course, now I want some of both!

I've been looking up the otos, it seems they like to be in groups of three or more. They also look pretty damn cute! How readily available are they in the general LFS?

And, if I do go for both, do the dwarf gouramis do ok in pairs, or do they also like more friends?

Thanks for the help!

 

Thanks for your input, Laure. I had a look at Ancistrus - is it a kind of otto that I should therefore stay away from, or is it something else that I am unlikely to confuse with ottos?

 

Laure - point taken, I just have a soft spot for OTO's

Dung - OTO's are generally available in the LFS's (cheap too - or should be) The dwarfs I would keep in a pair - if you have room more pairs, but the males get aggro, one pair is normally good.

 

Good news that, Zafgak. Thanks again for all the help!

 

You are unlikely to confuse Ancistrus with Otocinclus. :bigsmile:

And @Zafgak: Yeah I love my otos too. I just don't find them very useful. But each algae eater has a tradeoff, so in the end one probably would need a crew of different types.

 

Ancistrus are also one of my favourites - I like the starlights. Remember - as a general rule the brown ones like the lower temperatures and the black ones are about the only ones happy with discus temperatures...

 

I have a faily well planted tank and my ancistrus haven't cause too much damage. I have found a few strands of plants floating at the top... but I also make sure I feed them enough with regards to algae tablets, and they also suck a lot on the wood that it in the tank.

My sister has a dwarf guorami in her tank, and he has chowed a lot of her plants leaving only stalks behind.