Catfish recommendation, small and solo

darkfalz · 02-20-2008, 11:48 PM

The pleco I was going to take from work died

I have a hollow ceramic log and the algae is starting to annoy me, mostly the uniform brown algae (not the real dark spot algae I used to get).

I'd like a catfish will stay small, will eat this algae and is happy to be alone. Otos are hard to find at the moment, otherwise a trio of them would be my choice.

Any ideas?

If I got two would they happily share the same log or would there be territoriality issues?

Arcfusion · 02-21-2008, 05:03 AM

First it would be easier if you defined small. Well the Bushynose Pleco is an option (5 inches) or mabye a clown pleco (about 3 inches), another small (but fairly rair) pleco is the Zebra.

nathanbarry · 02-21-2008, 06:12 AM

if it didn't matter you about not having a plec then i would go for a corydoras catfish...they are active and very friendly to watch.

mesapod · 02-21-2008, 08:18 AM

How big is the tank?

trashion · 02-21-2008, 09:02 AM

cories are not a good idea, as they cannot be kept solo (need shoals of 6+) and they do not eat algae.

**JustOneMore20** · 02-21-2008, 11:24 AM

Clown Plecos do not eat algae either.......nor do Zebra plecs (when you can find them).

A bristlenose would probably be the best choice. They stay smallish and can be kept solo....and they eat algae.

I really can't think of a better fish that meets all your criteria.

fishbguy · 02-21-2008, 01:15 PM

I would say bristle nose plec.

jeremy242 · 02-21-2008, 02:09 PM

Everyone always over looks the L168b rubber lip. All i have ever seen mine eat is algee. I have never seen it take the prepared food or the veggies.

Obsidian · 02-21-2008, 10:08 PM

I had a rubber lip (it was a poor victim of my ignorance when I first set up my tank). While they do great with algae my friend who has owned a fish store and kept fish for over 30 years told me that they do not digest the brown algae. When they die they will have a brown spot in their belly from the undigested algae. Mine had this, and of course I got it when the tank was new and in the brown algae phase of cycling.

She is the only person I have come across who has made this statement. I have not done any research to back up the truth of the statement. I only know that mine died, and it had the brown spot she described. I did try to research it once but found nothing detailed enough to answer the question.

Clerk · 02-21-2008, 10:39 PM

I dunno about the accuracy of that one Obby.

darkfalz · 02-22-2008, 04:44 AM

We have a BN at work, to be honest I am not a fan of the whiskers. I don't care what kidn of catfish, as long as he/she is cute, small and will eat that brown crud covering the walls.

I will also supplement with wafers and cucumber. My tank is 42 gallons.

Obsidian · 02-22-2008, 07:13 AM

Clerk: Thats why I added the piece about her being the only one I have heard this from. I take it with a grain of salt (bigger than most grains because of her experience) until I hear more about it.

Darkfalz- I have a female bristlenose: No bristles

She is very cute, but she can get aggressive around her shrimp pellets. Part of that was my fault for not feeding them to her enough, but even with that remedied she is still very protective. She did stop outright attacking fish and went back to just chasing though. I have no idea if this is "normal" bristlenose behavior, or if I have a rogue.

There is a user who breeds them, I THINK it is BV77 (but I am not positive by any means), maybe they can tell you more about their behavior and how to get one with little or no bristles.

jeremy242 · 02-22-2008, 08:20 AM

Sorry the L number for the rubber lip is L187b

Clerk · 02-22-2008, 10:55 AM

I breed them, females either don't have bristles or short ones around the base of the lip. Females are smaller, and better for smaller tanks then the males.

02-20-2008, 11:48 PM	#1
darkfalz Vishy vishies! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Australia Age: 29 Posts: 481	Catfish recommendation, small and solo The pleco I was going to take from work died I have a hollow ceramic log and the algae is starting to annoy me, mostly the uniform brown algae (not the real dark spot algae I used to get). I'd like a catfish will stay small, will eat this algae and is happy to be alone. Otos are hard to find at the moment, otherwise a trio of them would be my choice. Any ideas? If I got two would they happily share the same log or would there be territoriality issues? __________________ 40L - 1 opaline gourami 160L planted - 8 harlequin rasboras, 6 tiger barbs, 2 swordtails, 1 bristlenose pleco

02-21-2008, 05:03 AM	#2
Arcfusion Canadian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 35	First it would be easier if you defined small. Well the Bushynose Pleco is an option (5 inches) or mabye a clown pleco (about 3 inches), another small (but fairly rair) pleco is the Zebra. __________________ Fish: 38 Gallon: 3 Boesmani rainbowfish, 3 Sterbai Cories, 1 Gold Gourami, 2 Powder Blue Gouramis, 1 Dwarf Gourami, 1 Pearl Gourami and 1 BushyNose Pleco. 10: 1 pair of German Blue Rams and 1 Zebra Danio (left from cycle, but I like him) Not fish: 1 Black Labrador Retreiver ~Daisy 2 Domestic Short Hair cats ~Night and Jakey 1 Bearded Dragon ~Spikey

02-21-2008, 08:18 AM	#4
mesapod Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northern BC Posts: 330	How big is the tank? __________________ Vote For Fishforums! Kevin's (My) Tanks *10 gallon tank* - 8x Almost 1 month Guppy fry *10 gallon planted tank-3x guppies 30 gallon- 5x neon tetras-3x peppered cories-4x Otos 53 gallon tank* -5x White Clouds

02-21-2008, 09:02 AM	#5
trashion girl anachronism Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,302	cories are not a good idea, as they cannot be kept solo (need shoals of 6+) and they do not eat algae. __________________ current setup: 5.5 gallon low-light planted tank -nothing....thinking a mini-community. for reference: my name is Julie

02-21-2008, 11:24 AM	#6
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 22 Posts: 3,567	Clown Plecos do not eat algae either.......nor do Zebra plecs (when you can find them). A bristlenose would probably be the best choice. They stay smallish and can be kept solo....and they eat algae. I really can't think of a better fish that meets all your criteria. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 20g, 5.5g

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02-21-2008, 06:12 AM	#3
nathanbarry -~Fish Watcher~- Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Midlands, England Posts: 355	if it didn't matter you about not having a plec then i would go for a corydoras catfish...they are active and very friendly to watch.

02-21-2008, 01:15 PM	#7
fishbguy I'm watching you Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: michigan Age: 17 Posts: 1,888	I would say bristle nose plec. __________________ I think about you in the summertime And all the good times we had, baby It’s been a few years and I can’t deny The thought of you still makes me crazy I think about you in the summertime Summertime - New Kids On The Block

02-21-2008, 02:09 PM	#8
jeremy242 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oviedo, Fl Age: 26 Posts: 44	Everyone always over looks the L168b rubber lip. All i have ever seen mine eat is algee. I have never seen it take the prepared food or the veggies. __________________ 29 gallon 1 L190 5 L104 75 gallon 8 panda corys 13 lemon tetras 1 L187b 1 L128 1 L270 1 L182 1 L81 2 L200 1 L134 1 L264 1 L129 1 Ant spc 3

02-21-2008, 10:08 PM	#9
Obsidian Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Arizona Age: 37 Posts: 1,039	I had a rubber lip (it was a poor victim of my ignorance when I first set up my tank). While they do great with algae my friend who has owned a fish store and kept fish for over 30 years told me that they do not digest the brown algae. When they die they will have a brown spot in their belly from the undigested algae. Mine had this, and of course I got it when the tank was new and in the brown algae phase of cycling. She is the only person I have come across who has made this statement. I have not done any research to back up the truth of the statement. I only know that mine died, and it had the brown spot she described. I did try to research it once but found nothing detailed enough to answer the question. __________________ Obsidian 20 gallon 1 Dwarf Gourami; 5 Cherry Barbs; 7 Black Neon Tetras; 3 Peppered Cory's; 1 Albino Bristlenose Pleco (Old Blondie) 10 gallon Breaking it down for storage. 5.5 gallon Betta 100 gallon 7 giant danios; 4 Rosy Barbs, 1 German Blue Ram, 7 Julie Cory cats, 2 Burmese Loaches; 5 Zebra Daios

02-21-2008, 10:39 PM	#10
Clerk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 462	I dunno about the accuracy of that one Obby. __________________ Four Tanks 55 Gallon - Planted Display Tank 50 Gallon Nursery 20 Gallon - High-Light Planted Breeder 20 L Gallon - Newt Paludarium

02-22-2008, 04:44 AM	#11
darkfalz Vishy vishies! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Australia Age: 29 Posts: 481	We have a BN at work, to be honest I am not a fan of the whiskers. I don't care what kidn of catfish, as long as he/she is cute, small and will eat that brown crud covering the walls. I will also supplement with wafers and cucumber. My tank is 42 gallons. __________________ 40L - 1 opaline gourami 160L planted - 8 harlequin rasboras, 6 tiger barbs, 2 swordtails, 1 bristlenose pleco

02-22-2008, 07:13 AM	#12
Obsidian Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Arizona Age: 37 Posts: 1,039	Clerk: Thats why I added the piece about her being the only one I have heard this from. I take it with a grain of salt (bigger than most grains because of her experience) until I hear more about it. Darkfalz- I have a female bristlenose: No bristles She is very cute, but she can get aggressive around her shrimp pellets. Part of that was my fault for not feeding them to her enough, but even with that remedied she is still very protective. She did stop outright attacking fish and went back to just chasing though. I have no idea if this is "normal" bristlenose behavior, or if I have a rogue. There is a user who breeds them, I THINK it is BV77 (but I am not positive by any means), maybe they can tell you more about their behavior and how to get one with little or no bristles. __________________ Obsidian 20 gallon 1 Dwarf Gourami; 5 Cherry Barbs; 7 Black Neon Tetras; 3 Peppered Cory's; 1 Albino Bristlenose Pleco (Old Blondie) 10 gallon Breaking it down for storage. 5.5 gallon Betta 100 gallon 7 giant danios; 4 Rosy Barbs, 1 German Blue Ram, 7 Julie Cory cats, 2 Burmese Loaches; 5 Zebra Daios

02-22-2008, 08:20 AM	#13
jeremy242 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oviedo, Fl Age: 26 Posts: 44	Sorry the L number for the rubber lip is L187b __________________ 29 gallon 1 L190 5 L104 75 gallon 8 panda corys 13 lemon tetras 1 L187b 1 L128 1 L270 1 L182 1 L81 2 L200 1 L134 1 L264 1 L129 1 Ant spc 3

02-22-2008, 10:55 AM	#14
Clerk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 462	I breed them, females either don't have bristles or short ones around the base of the lip. Females are smaller, and better for smaller tanks then the males. __________________ Four Tanks 55 Gallon - Planted Display Tank 50 Gallon Nursery 20 Gallon - High-Light Planted Breeder 20 L Gallon - Newt Paludarium

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