Algae eater

Algae eateroralgivoreis acommon namefor anybottom-dwellingorfilter-feedingaquatic animalspecies that specialize in feeding onalgaeandphytoplanktons.Algae eaters are important for thefishkeepinghobby and many are commonly kept byaquariumhobbyists to improvewater quality.They are also importantprimary consumersthat relay thebiomassandenergyfromphotosyntheticautotrophesup into thefood web,as well as protecting theaquatic ecosystemagainstalgae blooms.

Freshwater

A Plecostomus uses its mouth, shaped like a suction-cup, to attach itself to surfaces and scrape off algae.

Fish

Some of the common and most popularfreshwater aquariumalgae eaters include:

• ManyloricariidcatfishofSouth America,such as generaOtocinclus,Ancistrus,andPlecostomus,constantly graze algae andbiofilm,although many species of "plecos", which attain an adult length of over 10 inches, eat much less frequently as they near adulthood.
• TheSiamese algae eater(Crossocheilus oblongus) is a more gregarious and tolerantcyprinidthat ranges up to 15 cm (5.9 in). It is one of the only fish that will graze on "black brush algae"(freshwaterRhodophyta,orred algae), but even so will eat anything else in preference.
• Fishes of the genusGyrinocheilus,familyGyrinocheilidae.There are three species in this genus with theChinese algae eater,Gyrinocheilus aymonieri,the most common. Small specimens make goodcommunity fishbut may become territorial when older.
• American-flag fish,Jordanella floridae,are also dependable algae-eating fish. They are one of the only fish to graze on black brush algae, as with the siamese algae eater, and will also indiscriminately graze on other algae such asdiatomsandhair algae.However, like allpupfish,they can be nippy to fish smaller or slower than them. Males can also be territorial.

Common freshwater algivorous fish:

• Loricariid
  • Otocinclus,most often thecommon otocinclus.
  • Ancistrus
  • Plecostomus
• Cyprinid
  • Siamese algae eater(Crossocheilus oblongus)
  • Chinese algae eater(Gyrinocheilus aymonieri)
  • Japanese white crucian carp(Carassius cuvieri)
  • Silver carp(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
  • Bighead carp(Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)
  • Grass carp(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)
  • Pungtungia herzi
• Osmeridae
  • ayu sweetfish (Plecoglossus altivelis)

Shrimp

Some freshwatershrimpare also excellent algae eaters:

• Almost all of them belong to the familyAtyidae(the only family in the superfamily Atyoidea) including many genera

• Caridina:red rhinoceros shrimp,bee shrimp,etc... One shrimp well known for its ability to clean an aquarium is theAmano Shrimp.
• Neocaridina:Neocaridina davidi(cherry shrimp),Neocaridina palmata,etc.

• Some of them belong to the genusPalaemonetes(grass shrimp)

Snails

Most species offreshwater snails,discounting most adult specimens of species belonging to the familyAmpullariidae,which primarily subsist on aquatic plants as adults.

• Bellamyinae
• Lioplacinae
• Viviparinae

Saltwater

Some of the known types of fish to eat algae are blennies and tangs, but along with fish there are snails, crabs, and sea urchins who also eat algae. These species are known to eatred slime algae,green film algae,hair algae,diatoms,cyanobacteria,brown film algae,detritus,andmicroalgae.

Diatoms

Fish

There are several saltwater fish species that eat algae. Two of the major algae eaters are blennies and tangs. These fish eat red slime algae, green film algae, and hair algae. Some of the known species are as follows:

Blennies:

Seaweed Blenny

• Leopard Blenny
• High Fin Blenny
• Linear Blenny
• One Spot Blenny
• Sailfin Blenny
• Segmented Sail Fin Blenny
• Starry Blenny
• Tail Spot Blenny
• Two Spot Benny
• Seaweed Blenny

Tangs:

Regal Blue Tang

• Regal Blue Tang
• Blonde Naso Tang
• Red Sea Sailfin Tang
• Purple Tang
• Cheveron Tang
• Convict Tang
• Kole Tang
• Goldrim Tang
• Orangebar Tang
• Powder Blue Tang
• Yellow Tang

  

  Halloween Hermit Crab

  

  Arrow Crab

Crabs

Hermit crabs and other species of crabs eat algae. Crabs eat green algae, film algae, red slime algae, diatoms, cyanobacteria, and microalgae. Some of the known species are:

Hermit Crabs:

• Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab
• Dwarf Red Tip Hermit Crab
• Electric Blue Hermit Crab
• Halloween Hermit Crab
• Hawaiian Zebra Hermit Crab
• Anemone Carrying Hermit Crab

Other Species:

• Arrow Crab
• Spotted Porcelain Crab
• Decorator Spider Crabs

Sea urchins

All species of sea urchin eat algae. They eat all sizes of algae, from something as small asmacroalgaeto something as large as kelp, and have been known to eatCoralline algae.In cooler waters, sea urchins have even been known to eat enough to control the size and compositions of kelp forests. Sea urchins act as scavengers and will also eat dead algae that they find. Some sea urchins, such as thevariegated sea urchinor thered sea urchin,have become popular as pets for home aquariums because of their ability to proficiently eat algae.

Snails

Snails are known for eating hair algae, cyanobacteria, diatoms, green film algae, brown film algae, and detritus.

• Chestnut Cowrie Snail
• Zebra Turbo Snail
• Trochus Snails
• Mexican Turbo Snail
• Conch Snail
• Cerith Snail
• Orange Spot Butterscotch Nassarius Snail
• Lager Super Longan Nassarius
• Tropical balone
• Bumblebee Snails