Goldfish tend to be messy eaters, causing an abundance of algae in their tanks. If the tank’s temperature and type of water allow for it, you could potentially pair an algae eater with your goldfish for optimal care.
Nerite snails make ideal additions to goldfish tanks, helping keep the water clean and clear. They’re also suitable for outdoor ponds or tanks with vegetation included.
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Rubber-lipped pleco
Rubber-lipped plecos are peaceful, hardy fish that require little attention and make excellent pets for beginners. To maintain their health and well-being, these hardy creatures need plenty of room in an aquarium with rocks and small plants to hide in.
Bottom-feeding scavengers, they thrive in highly oxygenated waters (fine sand substrate with smooth pebbles is ideal) that are spacious and slightly warm (70-80 degF). Medium to high water flow is beneficial too as it replicates their natural habitat.
Their diet in the wild consists largely of algae. Unfortunately, this can’t be replicated in a home aquarium setting, so they need to be fed a variety of safe foods.
Apart from algae, plecos also enjoy frozen brine shrimp nauplii and other smaller live foods. They should be fed two to three times a day, with any uneaten food removed after each feeding.
Longfin bristlenose pleco
Longfin bristlenose plecos (Plectrosoma longipes) are algae feeders that add an eye-catching element to many fish tanks. Their long, flowing fins create an enchanting motion as they swim around inside the tank.
Noisy creatures, they typically stay at the bottom of an aquarium during daytime to sift through substrate for food. Sometimes, they attach themselves to leaves submerged in water to feed on algae growth.
Beginner aquarists will find these fish an ideal choice as they require minimal care and help improve the clarity of your aquarium water. However, it’s important that they get properly fed in order to prevent excessive algae growth that deprives them of essential food sources.
They thrive best in tanks with other peaceful fish, such as Neon Tetras and Platyfish. Males tend to be territorial and may become aggressive if they feel their territory is being threatened.
Hillstream loach
Hillstream loaches are eye-catching fish that make an eye-catching addition to any aquarium. They require minimal care and come in a range of colors and sizes.
They can be hardy creatures and avid algae eaters. To ensure they remain contented, provide them with a varied diet that they will enjoy.
It’s essential to guarantee the water parameters in your fish tank are ideal. These fish can be highly sensitive to changes in pH, temperature and nitrates, so using a test kit regularly for water analysis is recommended.
These fish tend to be territorial, so it’s best to keep them in small groups (three or fewer). Goldfish, livebearers, shrimp, snails, tetras and other similar sized fish make excellent community members and get along well together.
Large snails
If your fish tank has algae problems, there are several species of snails that can help. These creatures eat algae and can live alongside goldfish.
These snails require a secure aquarium with a screen top so they cannot climb out. Furthermore, the tank should be kept in indirect sunlight and misted regularly to prevent dehydration.
This species is a nuisance in tropical and subtropical areas, spreading a parasite that could cause meningitis to humans. They have the potential to damage important agricultural crops as well as natural resources if preferred vegetation is unavailable.
These enormous land snails can grow to be up to eight inches in length and feature a cone-shaped shell with distinctive cream or chocolate colored stripes on the upper whorls. They possess both male and female reproductive organs, laying between 100 and 400 eggs annually per mated adult.
