When people say they own an algae eater what do they mean?

Question

pleco

chinese algae eater

sciamese algae eater

or

hillstreem loach

Answer 1

It means they own an algae eater such as a pleco.

Answer 2

They help keep your fish tank clean:

That is a common name for any bottom dwelling fish that live off algae.

Chinese is several different ones, normally smaller. Siamese are large ones that will eat any algae and I've never heard of the last one. Sorry

Answer 3

its a type of fish.

Answer 4

They mean that they have a fish that eats algae. They are not being specific. Its like saying "I have a dog" as oppose to "I have a black lab".

Answer 5

any fish that eats algae. generally atleast one is kept in aquariums to ward off algae and keep the tanks clean,

Answer 6

any

Answer 7

its a fish that eats algae and any other thing in the bottom of the tank.

Answer 8

It's when they own a fish that feeds on the algae of the tank.

Answer 9

I have 3 pleco's considered algae eaters. And eat algae they do. Most of their schedule is during lights out...my smallest is about 10inches, the longest is about 13inches

Answer 10

Usually, they're talking about one of any number of pleco species. Otocinclus cats are pretty popular due to their very small size and unassuming behavior... and their ability to get along very well with any number of other fish. The common pleco is pretty common, but really isn't good for the beginning aquarist, unfortunately... Those who have been in the hobby for a while have found Bristlenose Plecos to be about the best there is.

chinese and siamese algae eaters are often difficult to tell apart from each other, and I believe it's the siamese one that will get very aggressive when it gets big and harass your other fish in the tank, completely stopping eating any kind of algae.

I've never heard of anyone getting a hillstream loach for the purposes of eating algae. They're more into leftovers (fish food that hits the tank bottom)

Answer 11

This is a collective name for fish that are supposed to eat algae, moat do but some as they get larger will eat other things besides algae. The Chinese algae eater is one of those that people buy at 2 to 3 inches long and when they get to be over 6 inches long they prefer to eat the slime off of other fishes sides. The common plecos will do the same thing but they can get to be over 18 inches long. There are Siamese algae eaters and flying foxes which look very much alike , the Siamese algae eaters are the better of them.If you have plenty of true and healthy aquatic plants, you should not get algae unless you overfeed or keep the light on too long (or in direct sunlight). Regular partial water changes will also help to keep algae down.

Answer 12

it can be any one of those actually,  algae eater is basically just an overall name for any fish that eats algae.   the list goes on, it could also be otos, certain shrimps, and certain snails.

Answer 13

Generally they are talking about a chineese algae eater...

they eat far more algae than all of the others..I tried all of them and they are the ones that really do the trick