Algae Sucker
You can say it is the little fish that cleans up after itself.
Algae sucker. Algae sucker cat fish hypostomus plecostomus and small otocinclus school common algae sucker 817706. The otocinclus is a catfish that is referred to by several names. Sucker fish is a catch all term for a few different species of algae eating freshwater aquarium fish with disk shaped mouths.
The main reason most fish owners keep them is to have them clean. It is worth noting however that otos do have a large appetite so if your aquarium is lacking the algae to keep them happy we recommend adding some aquarium friendly vegetation such as zucchini from time to time. They also become territorial and aggressive.
Plecostomus are the algae eating sucker fish you see clinging to the sides of aquariums. Chinese algae eaters need at least 30 gallons of space with a ph of around 6 5 to 7 5 and a temperature between 74 and 80 degrees. Dwarf suckers will thrive on all types of algae and vegetation but they prefer brown algae and soft green algae.
The term may refer to plecostomus or other members of the catfish family or siamese or chinese algae eaters. Their sucker mouth isn t an adaptation to eating algae it s an adaptation to its native environment of fast moving streams. The size of.
Common algae sucker in aquarium in west dundee illinois 817706 hypostomus plecostomus. Other than the dwarf sucker catfish they are also known as cascudinhos ottos or algae scrappers. Typically chinese algae eaters spend their time at the bottom of the tank searching for algae to eat.
Gyrinocheilus is the single genus in the family gyrinocheilidae a family of small southeast asian cypriniform fishes that live in fast flowing freshwater mountain streams. The species in this genus are commonly called algae eaters they hold on to fixed objects using a sucker like mouth and despite the name feed on a wide range of detritus rather than simply on algae. On top of their impressive algae eating abilities they re capable of being quite the conversation starter.
As a result you need to decorate the bottom of your tank with fine sand lots of plants and more. Their purpose in the home aquarium is to eat excess algae. They can kill fish much larger than themselves by sucking off their slime coating before they feed on the body.
But plecostomus are interesting pets in their own right.