Can you put algae eaters in with bettas

This member of the catfish family won't fight with a betta. That's because everything the pleco, as it is affectionately called by fish enthusiasts, finds enticing in terms of food interests are exactly opposite of the betta. The pleco is a voracious algae- and waste-eater, hugging the sides of the tank far away from the middle and top swimming zones the betta occupies.

Plecos also enjoy the cellulose from the bark of submerged wood, as it helps their digestive process. Bettas are completely uninterested in what plecos like to eat, so the two species have nothing to fight about. One word of caution: Don't get a common plecostomus, as they grow fairly large in size.

Preferred pleco species include the clown, bristlenose, pit bull and rubber lipped -- all of which grow to smaller sizes. The lazy, sedentary attitude of this bottom-dwelling fish provides little reason for a betta to attack. Snails are really sounding like a good plan here! I took the chance - and Wan Bo Bo has been content living with a couple of ghost shrimp and a yellow snail for a while now.

Hope it continues to go well for you, congrats! Similar Aquarium Threads F. Replies 7 Views Sep 14, BigManAquatics. Need proven algae eater. Replies 10 Views Oct 21, elisa Question Any Algea Eaters for Cichlids??

StanV Jul 15, Cichlid. Jul 16, MacZ. Question Betta Sorority Tank Stocking. EJ Nov 25, Betta Fish. Replies 1 Views Nov 25, jkkgron2. Should I get a male or female Betta fish? ShorKie Aug 27, Betta Fish. Replies 8 Views Sep 10, Skittlesttr New Betta Threads. Betta Fish. Algae blooms often occur when the water is rich with nitrates, which is not a good thing.

If you have a clear understanding of your water parameters, and you are quite confident that algae occurrences are not as a result of unbalanced water conditions, then maybe an algae eater will be a good option.

If you do decide to introduce an algae eater, ensure your aquarium can handle the introduction of another fish. For a single betta and a small algae eater, we recommend a size of 8 US Gallons 30 litres or more.

As far as algae eaters go, a Clown Pleco is a great at getting rid of algae and has a small bioload. Check out some other algae eaters that are suitable to keep with a betta in our tank mates article. If you only have a minor amount of algae, adding an algae-eating tank mate for your betta can help to reduce it. Most people do indeed make sure their aquarium is away from a window or positioned in a room where the light does not strike it directly, but if your aquarium is in a room with several windows, for example, it will be exposed to more sunlight.

The location of your aquarium should alway be considered when setting it up. Direct exposure to sunlight can increase algae growth. We cover this more thoroughly throughout the site, but having a filtered and cycled aquarium is key to any fish keeping.

Having a cycled aquarium and a proper filter is a key part of mitigating algae as it helps to efficiently reduce ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. It is always a good idea to talk to someone at a fish store before adopting an algae eater to ensure that you are providing them with all the food they need. That being said, it is also important to make sure that your local fish store has all the aquatic plants and foods you will need as general pet stores may not actually have the equipment, food or plants necessary to keep certain creatures alive.

Johnny is a twenty-something-year-old pet blogger and the proud pet parent of two cats and a chinchilla. He also writes music directly aimed to help keep cats chilled out and stress free. I am purchasing a 5-gallon fish tank and one betta female fish and snail. What else will I need to ensure a comfortable habitat for the fish? I would appreciate any suggestions you may have regarding food, decor and gravel type for this size tank and one fish. Thank you.

Hey Lupe, I recommend checking out my article about Betta tank setups. Let me know if that gets you started on the right foot! Feel free to let me know if you still have questions. More on that here. Interesting Post. However since you have fish you might know the answers to these questions.