The Puffer Forum

whats better as an algue eater for a dwarf puffer tank?

a trio of ottos or one bristle nose pleco?

im having a single dp in a 10g which is moderatly planted.

3 amazon swords.

but im sure if it gets out of hand i have about 5 more fake plants.

im just thinking about the otos and the bristle nose pleco, but maybe theres another type?

can someone please tell em quick.

im going to get the dwarf puffer tonight and i figure ill get the algue eaters at the same time, i think petsmart is a good lfs.

so what should i get for my DP?

I wouldn't get otos until your tank has been set up for awhile. They can be pretty sensitive to newer tank setups and they need a good supply of algae. I have otos in my 46 and they seem to prefer the algae over the wafers.

i have had my tank up and running for about 4 months.

the tank is fully cycled, and i just got rid of the stock today to save room for the puffer.

but since i didnt get the puffer like the lfs said i would i will have to house a shubunky in my 10g until i get the puffer, where as the shubunky will go back into the pond with his friends.

BTW, plecos tend to grow pretty fast and even a bristle nose gets too large (4"-8" I believe) to comfortably house in a 10-gallon tank. They eat a lot, so they tend to poop quite a bit as well. I would not recommend a pleco of any type for a 10-gallon tank.

On the boards Otos are plecos in the common usage these days of any Loricariid, aka sucker-mouth catfish family, being labelled "pleco". But the Otos are as big as I would use also. A ten is too small for a bristlenose or even a Peckoltia and/or dwarf Panaque.

I'd agree, a 10 is too small for a bristlenose. I'd go with otos or shrimp myself.