L-numbers algae eaters ???

Virginie · Post by **Virginie** » 24 Apr 2005, 20:30

Hi ! (Hi, Yann, I'm "Virgolambre" on FA)

I'm looking for a L-number smaller than 15 cm (5 inches ?), not too agressive, for a 500 liters tank (discus and corydoras), GH 4, pH < 7, tÂ° 29-30Â°C, and whose diet contains algae ? Does it exist, which is not basic ancistrus ?
I thought first at L177, but adult size is over 18 cm ? I thought then at L264, but itl appears that diet AND size aren't OK.

I would like a small group (3-4 fishes). Have you get ideas ?
With thanks from France.

mallemalle · Post by **mallemalle** » 24 Apr 2005, 20:43

you could try to get some Otocinclus types

http://planetcatfish.com/catelog/lorica ... 1083_f.php

Malle

Virginie · Post by **Virginie** » 24 Apr 2005, 20:54

I've tried before : they lived only few months, max a year long ; I wonder if they eat specific algae and nothing else ??? So that they die when they miss these algae ?

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 25 Apr 2005, 11:52

If you want GOOD algae eating, most of the more exotic L-numbers aren't that great. Is there any particular reason it needs to be smaller than 15 cm?

Some that are decent at clearing algae, and stay small, are the Peckoltia species. There's dozens (if not hundreds) of different species in this genus, so there should be at least some that are OK for your taste of colour combinations (although most are sort of brown/grey/black/yellow colours). They eat algae better than say Hypancistrus or Baryancistrus (and the latter grow a bit bigger than you want).

Ancistrinae are another family that may suit you, and stay reasonably small (may grow a bit bigger than 15cm, but shouldn't be too much of a problem).

All herbivore Loricariidae should be given a good set of vegetable diet if there's not a lot of algae for them to eat, no matter if they are Otocinclus or some other species.

You'd also have to consider the temperature of your tank. If you keep Discus in the tank, I suspect that you're close to 30'C (or perhaps even higher), which means that a lot of Loricariidae will be "too hot". Warmer water shortens the life-span on fish that isn't normally in that temperature (they slowly starve to death because of the higher than normal metabolic rate, and they are not be able to sustain that with eating more).

--
Mats

Virginie · Post by **Virginie** » 25 Apr 2005, 13:51

Thanks Mats. Peckoltias are good choice indeed, if I find some that suit me (I'm going to search in this genus).
The temperature of the tank is 29Â°. Max 30Â° even if in summer it may be higher, but few days long. So it one of the reasons why I looked for amazonian catfish.

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 25 Apr 2005, 16:42

Hi Virgine!!

Nice to see you drop by here!!!

Yes Peckoltia spp should be fine in your tank, still maybe not the best algae eater, they ll take their share

Regarding the tÂ°, it is ok, they should be alright...the tÂ° is certainly one of the reason you can't keep Otocinclus any longer than 1 year... 22-24Â° would be far better for them!!!

Cheers
Yann

Virginie · Post by **Virginie** » 26 Apr 2005, 20:31

What about Panaquolus ? colours pattern suits me +++ (L204

), but I fear its size.
Panaquolus maccus is said smaller (10 cm as for the Cat-elog), is it true ?

Tony sells L 374 PANAQUOLUS SP. PANAQUOLUS ANAPU TIGER BRESIL, RIO ANAPU, but in the Cat-elog, L374 isn't the fish of the Catfish Paradise photo ? Do you know its size (the one of Catfish Paradise) ?

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 27 Apr 2005, 10:03

Virginie wrote:What about Panaquolus ? colours pattern suits me +++ (L204 ), but I fear its size.
Panaquolus maccus is said smaller (10 cm as for the Cat-elog), is it true ?

Tony sells L 374 PANAQUOLUS SP. PANAQUOLUS ANAPU TIGER BRESIL, RIO ANAPU, but in the Cat-elog, L374 isn't the fish of the Catfish Paradise photo ? Do you know its size (the one of Catfish Paradise) ?

Panoquolus is now (at least in this site's Cat-eLog) called Panaque. If you want them to eat algae, unfortunately, smaller Panaque aren't particularly efficient algae eaters. They make nice additions to the tank, no doubt about that, but eating algae is not their strong point in life. I've got two , and they are nice, but they barely touch any of the algae in the tank. They do chew the wood in the tank tho'.

If you want good algae eaters, then the Peckoltia is better. If you just want something pretty, and you don't really care what it eats, then there's plenty of choice in the Peckoltia, Panaque (smaller versions), Hypancistrus and Baryancistrus [may grow a bit big for your requirement, but only slowly].

--
Mats