Query for the fish keeper

[Kitah]

I've recently been contemplating getting a few bristlenose catfish for my turtles outdoor tank, to hopefully try and keep some of the algae down (I have a UV filter but still get algae growing over the sides of the tank, and over the drifwood). I was just wondering if you think they'd be suitable, and if I could buy some small ones and just let them grow. I've heard that the smaller ones/juvies eat more algae than the adults? I've also read that some people have had problems before, with the catfish sucking the slime coat of goldfish- is this correct, and if so, is it common/rare?

Info about the tank
- ~800L of water
- 2500-3000lph + 9V filtration
- 1 adult shortneck turtle (which shows no interest in eating fish anymore)
- 3 comet goldfish- two are ~17cm in length, one is about 10cm
- 50%-75% water changed weekly
- I try to keep a few live plants in there, but with the turtle this sometimes disapears
- A few pieces of driftwood, one of which is rather large and has gaps and crevices little fish could hide in
- I'm also considering putting a sparse layer of polished river rocks on the bottom of the tank as well

Thanks a lot

 

[Dannyboi]

Get Phos zorb problem solved.

 

[glassless_mind]

Hey,

Don't know about them sucking the slime coating off goldfish, but I successfully kept a female bristlenose in with my turtle for about a year. They got on well together. Even at 1.5cm long, my little catfish could hold her own against the turtle and bigger fish. She'd just fishslap them with her tail if they got too close.

Never heard of them sucking the slime coating off. We've kept catfish in with other tropical fish for many years now, and I've never seen them suck on a fish, and many of our fish live for years, so I don't think we've had too much of a problem. One angelfish has currently lived with catfish for going on 8 years now, so I'm guessing they're fine.

Good luck with it. Bristlenoses are interesting little fish.

 

[wranga]

waste of time. they wont clean the algae up. try changing your uv globe to a higher wattage. globes also need to be changed very 6 months. a smaller pump with less flow could also help so the water spends more time passing over the uv light so the algae can be killed off

 

[Dark_Morelia]

It's been a few years since I kept fish, but...

It really depends on what sort of algae you have. I know bristlies won't eat beard algae, and possibly others. You're probably best off IDing your problem algae species and finding out on a fish forum if bristlies will eat.

They're tough little buggers, and I imagine they'd be fine with turts provided they have hidey holes. Because they're so tough, I'd be making sure they can't get into any local bodies of water through rain overflow, etc.

I've never known them to eat another fish's slime coat - I think that's more a concern with those loaches that most shops sell as "Sucking Catfish", those can get rather aggressive when they're bigger.

 

[Kitah]

To be honst I'm not all that concerned if they don't actually eat much algae... I just kind of half like the thought of them in the tank. As I said I do a weekly water change, which includes scrubbing down all the walls etc of the tank to get most of the algae off.

The filter; Yes I know about changing the UV bulb every 6 months, and unfortunately I can't change the wattage of the bulb because its incorperated inside the filter, and thats the only bulb it'll take. I'll try to actually measure the output of the pump- I suspect it may actually be less than I think- it can go up to 3000lph but the way I have it set up, its got to pump the water up a distance to get to the gravity filter.

Thanks Dark_Morelia. I'll try to figure out how to ID my algae, though I've included a bit of a description below if you happen to know them There are hidey holes in the tank that they could hide in, and if I decide to get some I'll put a few more spots in for them as well. The tank has a 'cage' over the top of it, with flyscreen over the top and shadecloth over the sides (and part of the top) so theres no way they could get out of the tank even if the area flooded, or the tank overflows.

It kind of seems as though I get three types of algae, but not always at the same time. Usually its a dark green coloured algae, doesn't form very thick layers on the tank, and doesn't seem to attach very firmly- its easy as to wipe off the tank, which is made of fibreglass- its a custom spa bath thing. The second type is a lighter, slightly brighter coloured algae which seems to occur in little spots over the side of the tank, again fairly thin layers on the side, and they are firmly attached! I need a lot of pressure to get those off... Finally, the last one is a pale orangish colour which usually comes off fairly easy. I'm not sure if the algae on the driftwood and rock is different or not, but its a really dark algae, nearly black, and forms thick 'furry' coats over the surface of the rocks and driftwood.

Thanks guys

 

[sesa-sayin]

false flying-foxes certainly eat slime off other fishes, not the genuine flying-fox. all my M. praecox( NG rainbows ) died with my small Fitzroy turtle, because the water became too acidic, PH far too low, but that was in a 2, tank. turtles are very gross water-foulers.

 

[butters]

If the algae is on the sides of the tank then a UV will do little to stop it growing. Uv clarifiers are only good for eliminating algae in the water column. If your water is green a UV will fix the problem. If its over the rocks, turtle and ornaments it will do little to help.

Bristlenose will do little as well. If you really want to use a fish to limit the amount of algae on hard surfaces in a tank get a plecostomus catfish of some description. Far superior to Bristlenose but they do grow considerably larger.

Cheers Andrew

 

[JAS101]

have u tryed water snails to help clean the tank sises up ?

 

[Dannyboi]

There is a turtle in there you thing a snail will live long? Just curious.

 

[Dark_Morelia]

Bristlenose will do little as well. If you really want to use a fish to limit the amount of algae on hard surfaces in a tank get a plecostomus catfish of some description. Far superior to Bristlenose but they do grow considerably larger.

What do you think bristlenose are? They're mini plecos. They're one of the best algae control fish around.

Kitah - if you want to put them in there regardless of whether or not they do much for the algae, then I would. You'll soon find out which algae they'll eat and which they won't. They'll clean up any left over bits of turt food as well, so it should be a win-win.

 

[JAS101]

There is a turtle in there you thing a snail will live long? Just curious.

i have water snails in with my turtles in all 4 ponds , it would just deppend on the turtle . as my turtles dont even chase the gold fish .

 

[butters]

No they are not actually. Bristlenose are Ancistrus sp. and are no where near as good at eating algae. Sure they look similar and they will eat algae but they are not even close to being as efficient at removing it as the various Plecostomus and Glyptoperichthys species commonly available.

In an outside aquarium with turtles and heavy feeding some bristlenose will not be able to keep up with the amount of algae produced.They just don't eat enough algae and would much rather clean up after the turtles as you have suggested. Bristlenose are lazy.

I am speaking from personal experience here as I have tried both with turtles and plecos did a much better job.

Plecos will still have difficulty keeping it under control in an outdoor situation but will go a damn sight closer.

For the black turf algae the best fish control is Siamese Flynig Foxes as someone has already suggested. They are by far the best natural control I have found although the turtle will be more likely to eat these than the catfish.

If you really want to keep the pond/aquarium algae free a very mild chlorine addition will do the trick and keep most surfaces spotless. Contraindicated if you have fish in there but as it will kill them.

Before someone says "you can't use chlorine in an aquarium with reptiles!" Croc farms and various zoos do it all the time ( I even know one wildlife demonstrator that uses this method). In many croc farms its not even a mild solution and I have seen numerous turtles living long term in and around peoples swimming pools which are heavily chlorinated. As a kid we had one that lived in our swimming pool on and off for many years.

As Drew has suggested if you just want some fish in there because you like them by all means chuck them in. Just don't expect them to keep it algae free as they almost certainly won't.

Cheers Andrew

 

[AUSHERP]

If I were you I would get common Plecos or Gibbiceps, they grow larger and are more impressive to look at, also their size should help to protect them from the turtle, depending on the turtle of course. and being larger should eat more algae.....

as butters said, they wont keep it spotless but are a fun addition.