If you already have a turtle, you might consider spicing up your tank by adding some fish. While I totally support this initiative, its important to have a grasp on the types of fish that are and are not compatible with turtles. In today’s article, we are going to discuss whether algae eaters can be in a fish tank.
What are algae eaters?
As the name suggests, algae eaters are a species of fish that are known for eating algae. They usually dwell at the bottom of the turtle tank, and get a large source of food from the algae that naturally grows in your tank.
Algae eaters are usually pretty hardy fish and can live in a wide variety of environmental conditions. Some algae eaters are only a couple inches long, while larger species can reach up to 20 inches in length. Algae eaters are commonly found in both fish tank turtle tanks.
Can algae eaters live with turtles?
Yes, algae eaters can definitely live with turtles. That being said, there are some strings attached.
First off, you should find an algae eater fish that is at least a couple inches in size. Ideally, you would want a algae eater that is at least similar to the length of your turtle. This is important so that your turtle doesn’t try to hunt the fish.
When you buy an algae eater, you should ask someone at the store how big the species typically gets. I once bought an algae eater that was 3 inches long, and 1 year late it was already 8 inches long. In order to accommodate the fish to have enough space, I had to buy a bigger turtle tank.
Alternative to algae eaters
While algae eaters are a great solution to fixing and algae problem, there are other solutions. I personally use this algae cleaner for my turtles.
Best algae eaters for turtle tank
As I mentioned above, it is important that you get an algae eater that is at least the same size as your turtle. If you get an algae eater that is only an inch or 2, it will likely spend the majority of its live trying to escape the turtle.
The best and most common algae eaters for a turtle tank are Plecos. They can consume large amount of algae, which can help keep your tank clean. They grow very long, and therefore are usually not threatened by turtles. Even the smaller plecos are able to avoid turtles due to their fast speed and scaly armor.
Plecos are great because they can sometimes form friendships with a turtle. In some cases, a comfortable Pleco will even clean the algae off of a turtle’s shell.
Some other suggestions for algae eaters for a turtle tank include Gold algae eaters, Chinese algae eaters, and Odessa barbs.
Algae eaters can be put inside both glass and plastic tub turtle tanks.
Aside from fish, there are also some species of snails that are great algae eaters. The most common snail found in turtle tanks are Nerite snails. They have a very unique color with multiple patters, and they eat just about every type of algae that grows in a fish tank.
Why are algae eaters good for a turtle tank?
Algae eaters can be a perfect addition to a turtle tank since they help manage the level of algae in a turtle tank. While most algae eaters will not be able to wipe out 100% of the algae, they will eat the majority of it and prevent it from getting out of control.
An abundance of algae in a turtle tank can cause the water to be murky, and also affect the level of dissolved oxygen in the turtle tank.
