| Hypostomus plecostomus | | | | Neocaridina heteropoda, also known as the red |
| The Hypostomus plecostomus, or pleco for short, | | | | cherry shrimp (or RCS for short). RCS can be |
| is one of the most common algae eaters found | | | | difficult to find in local fish stores but are readily |
| today in freshwater tanks. These fish are easy to | | | | available for sale online at great prices. These |
| find in fish and pet stores, relatively inexpensive, | | | | shrimp can adapt to a wide range of water |
| and effective at eating many types of algae. | | | | temperatures and conditions, so they tend to |
| They are nocturnal in nature but can be fairly | | | | survive the shipping process if bought online. |
| active under aquarium lighting as well. | | | | RCS are easy to care for, don't require much |
| Unfortunately, plecos may become territorial with | | | | food (given the size of a colony), and will breed |
| age and grow to a size unsuitable for most of the | | | | non-stop. They are also far more interesting to |
| tanks they're placed in. Even though fish can | | | | watch than any fish in my opinion. They tend to |
| adapt somewhat to the size of a tank and stay | | | | swim slowly around from place to place until they |
| smaller than they would have grown to in their | | | | find a suitable feeding site, and they feed by |
| natural habitat, this has a negative impact on the | | | | grabbing food with their tiny pincers and placing it |
| health of a fish. Fish that are forced to stay small | | | | in their mouths. Pregnant females carry their eggs |
| due to the size of their living space are more | | | | around with them, and it's very to cool to witness |
| prone to diseases and live shorter lives. It is for | | | | their maternal behavior first-hand. |
| this reason that I very rarely recommend plecos. | | | | RCS are very small and they don't eat much, so |
| Otocinclus affinis | | | | their algae eating ability comes from strength in |
| I prefer and often recommend another popular | | | | numbers. A colony of RCS can be very effective |
| freshwater algae eater known as Otocinclus | | | | at controlling soft green algae, which is why their |
| affinis. Affectionately referred to as the oto, | | | | ability to reproduce quickly and easily makes them |
| these fish will never grow to more than 2 inches | | | | ideal for algae control. |
| in length, are inexpensive, and have a lot of | | | | The pleco, oto, and RCS are just a few of the |
| character. They do well in schools and are known | | | | common freshwater algae eaters. While they're all |
| to be very effective at eating brown algae. | | | | very effective, some may not be appropriate for |
| Otos are my favorite algae eating fish because | | | | your tank. As I mentioned, the pleco can grow to |
| they are more suitable to small tanks and I like | | | | be very large and they also tend to produce a lot |
| watching them dart around to new places to | | | | of waste, so they aren't suitable for smaller tanks. |
| graze on. You can see their bellies bulge when | | | | Both otos and RCS are great at clearing algae |
| they are well-fed, and many people (including | | | | from aquatic plants without harming them, but |
| myself ) find this endearing. I feed my otos algae | | | | these algae eaters are small and can get harassed |
| discs and the occasional blanched zucchini when | | | | or eaten by larger fish. |
| they have no algae to feed on. | | | | Just as with any fish or invertebrate, please |
| Neocaridina heteropoda | | | | consider an algae eater's needs and well-being |
| Freshwater shrimp are also great algae eaters, | | | | before adding one to your aquarium. The question |
| and they are really fun to watch in an aquarium. | | | | of what eats algae should really be, "What eats |
| The most common freshwater shrimp is the | | | | algae that'd also work well in my tank? |