Bottom Feeders

[Thranta]

Hi, I am still fairly new to all the aquarium stuff.

My first attempt at keeping fish started last November, and I got a couple of fish that I should not have, including a plec. At the time it was barely an inch long, but has now grown to about 5". In a few months it would be entirely too large for my little 10 gallon tank.

The sturdy little plec will now be moving to a new home in about a week, which will leave me with no bottom feeders. I quite like my plec and would like to bring in a similar algae nommer. Are there any dwarf varieties of plecs or smaller cousins that may fit in well with my tanks

I have a 10 gallon and a 13 gallon tank. They had entirely fake decor until I added a java fern to each about a week ago. There is also a small fry tank, which is circa 7.5 gallons, which I think is entirely too small for a nommer.

A bit of research has said that otos or butterfly plecs (which are not really plecs) may be decent choices.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[SKB]

Look at bubblesaquarium.com, they have a huge variety of pleco's, otto's and whiptails. Just make sure to research them before buying. A lot of these still may outgrow your 10 gallon but if you cannot upgrade, I would suggest snails.

 

[Fishbay]

The butterfly pleco is some loach and would probably work

 

[shellyx]

I have a butterfly plec and I'm sure it gets to 6 inches?

 

[spiketooth]

I would not recommend a butterfly loach, they like to live in a faster current well oxygenated, good lighting environment, as well as cooler temp.

 

[spiketooth]

I have a 15 gal tank just for these guys, i have two powerhead filter to simulate a stream current. Alot of flat rocks, good strong light to allow algae growth. When i get home, i will post a pic

 

[shellyx]

Mine is the L-168 butterfly pleco sorry thought that's what you were wanting lol

 

[spiketooth]

Look into bristlenose pleco there are some that only gets 3cm long

 

[blueramboy87]

Otos would work and they are pretty cool

 

[Thranta]

After some research, I think that I will be going with otos. They seem to be the best fit for smaller tanks. Thank you! I will update later.

 

[blueramboy87]

I've found that they do better when there are more than one so try and get a little group if you can

 

[spiketooth]

Here is a pic of my hillstream loach tank

 

[Fishbay]

I was thinking andvmabye a few Otto catfish would work

 

[Thranta]

Otos update...

My small, but quickly growing plecs are moving in about a week. Then there shall be multiple otos. I am thinking a pair for each larger tank, and the little one can do without. Thoughts?

 

[spiketooth]

If your talking about otos they should be kept as a min 3 in a group some people will say 4

 

[Corydoras92299]

Your Pleco is the type that gets big if I were you i would get a bristolnose Pleco there maximum size is around 5 inches or you can get a oto

 

[Corydoras92299]

A oto is the right way to go

 

[Thranta]

I have had my bristlenose for about 7 months and he's already past five inches .