Algae Eaters
Family: Loricariidae (Armored catfishes), subfamily: Hypostominae
Origins: South America: Guianan coastal drainages from the Oyapock River to the Demerara River.
Scientific Name: Hypostomus plecostomus
Common Name: Pleco
Size: 18"
Preferred pH range: 6.8 – 7.2
Temperature Range: 72-78 F
Temperment: Community / Peaceful
Comments: Coastal species which also occur in brackish waters of the lower reaches of rivers. Can be caught along the banks with muddy bottom occupied by plants. Feeds on algae and small crustaceans.
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Chinese Algae Eaters
Family: Gyrinocheilidae (Algae eaters)
Origins: Asia: Mekong, Chao Phraya and Meklong basins; northern Malay Peninsula.
Scientific Name: Gyrinocheilus aymonieri
Common Name: Chinese Algae Eaters
Size: 10"
Preferred pH range: 6.2 – 7.2
Temperature Range: 72-78 F
Temperment: Community / Peaceful
Comments: Occur in medium to large-sized rivers and enters flooded fields. Found on solid surfaces in flowing waters. Mostly herbivorous, feed largely on algae, periphyton and phytoplankton, but also take insect larvae or zooplankton. In current, they hold onto fixed objects with their sucker-like mouth. For breathing, water is pumped into the gill cavity through a small spiracle and across the gills for gas exchange. Aquarium keeping: needs plant feed; adults territorial; in groups of 5 or more individuals
Plecostomus
Family: Loricariidae (Armored catfishes), subfamily: Hypoptopomatinae
Origins: South America: Amazon and lower Paraná River basins.
Scientific Name: Otocinclus vestitus
Common Name: Otocinclus Cats
Size: 1.25"
Preferred pH range: 6.2 – 7.2
Temperature Range: 72-78 F
Temperment: Community / Peaceful
Comments: Easy but needs to be slowly acclimated and you must keep them in optimum water conditions by performing frequent partial water changes.
Otocinclus Cats
Family: Viviparidae
Origins: Found in multiple places in South America
Scientific Name: Pomacea bridgesii
Common Name: Mystery Snail
Size: 2"
Preferred pH range: 7.0 – 8.0
Temperature Range: 68-78 F
Temperment: Community / Peaceful
Comments: Very peaceful little snail that should not be kept with more aggressive fish species, especially loaches. An algae grazer. They may also sample your aquarium plants. Drop them in an algae wafer when the lights go off for the night. If you have a sand substrate, they may burrow in the sand. Most of the time they can be found attached to a structure or tank wall grazing on algae.
Mystery Snail
Family: Atyidae
Origins: Asia: Japan
Scientific Name: Caridina japonica
Common Name: Japonica Shrimp
Size: 2"
Preferred pH range: 6.0 – 7.2
Temperature Range: 68-76 F
Temperment: Community / Peaceful
Comments: They are very sensitive to ammonia/ammonium and heavy metal concentrations, as are most freshwater shrimp. The real attraction of these shrimp is their success in algae consumption, especially soft algaes. They are also rumored to eat red algaes in the absence of other foods. However, like most captive inverts they will choose fish food over algae any day and often will turn on soft leafed plants (especially soft mosses, i.e. java moss and riccia) in the absence of softer algae types or fish foods.
Japonica Shrimp
