Bottom feeders

[LePoissonRouge]

When I first got my tank I made the mistake of buying 2 "Chinese" algae eaters. Oh man, what a nightmare. They were super territorial and would spend all day chasing and attacking eachother and even though they were well fed they still sought after my goldfish to suck on their tails and bodies constantly. Towards the end I was calling them "the pitbulls". It took me forever to find them a new home with help from craigslist. Now I keep peaceful, beautiful, perfectly perfect bristlenose plecos and I love them! I only wish the petshop would have warned me about the CAE's.

I'm curious to know everyone else's favorite types of bottom feeders. Are there any that are especially compatible with goldfish? Or any that prefer cool water temps as I am concerned my plecos might be too cold.

[thomasn]

I like cory cats especially pygmaeus because they are so teeny n cute and are sooo cute when they swim in a school ... but they're not goldfish compatible.

[joe]

I have even heard that plecos go after the slime coat of goldfish. I think that most will agree that no bottom feeders should be allowed with the goldfish. The coreys are placid but too small and choke a large goldfish. Ottos are sweet but then again a large goldfish can choke on one of them. I really of no bottom feeder appropriate for goldfish for reasons of aggression, size, or temperature requirements.

[Sabine]

I found that even the bristlenoses can become quite aggressive towards goldies and injure them with their spikes on the cheeks. They seem to loose patience with the goldies when it is hard for them to get to the food before the goldies do.
You've got to make sure the little plecos get their bellies filled.
I just bought a little bristlenose again this week, to clean up my platie tank. I used to breed them, and the store that I sold hundreds of little BPs to will take a big guy back and exchange him for a little one should it be necessary.
For now he has plenty of algae to feast on.

[Fishdork]

Goldfish are my favorite bottom feeders. :)

[jinyu_fan]

Goldfish are my favorite bottom feeders. :)

Yes, I second that! For a goldie tank, I do not keep any other fish. I have corys and shrimp in my tropical tank and they keep the tank well cleaned.

[Cincy Ranchu]

I am keeping l-76,L316, LF Albinos and L-75 all with goldfish. The high temperature has the goldfsih growing like weeds.

No significant issues over the last 6 months


GH

[cowiche ponder]

I have a high fin pleco in my tank (75 gallon) and we watch him to make sure he is not going after the goldies. So far he behaves. He's about 7" now. He does try and get his share of the food, but he does keep tha algae down

[Arhoolie]

I have a bristlenose and some corys and find them fascinating fish, but they do not live with my goldfish. They are in my trop tank. Even then, I think one of the cories has a bristlenose mark on his flank!

If you want to keep algae down then get a magnet cleaner for the front of your tank so you can see in. Any other algae, well the goldies themselves will love to snack on it. I like a natural looking tank rather than a pristine looking thing. Algae is GOOOOD, not bad. A healthy fresh food that also takes nutrients out of the water.

Dojos or weather loaches are supposed to be good to keep with goldfish and they are great fish for sure. But I had a problem even with one of them in the past, and it started chasing and nibbling my goldies' tails.

These days I would keep danios or whiteclouds with my goldies, accepting a few might get eaten.

Other than that there is not much I would trust in. The arguemetn "there has been no problems yet," well thats just a ticking clock for me. And if something does happen, do you have a plan?