Preferred Supplemental Diet for algae eaters ???

[Professor Myers]

What does everyone recommend as a Supplemental diet for their algae eaters ? These poor devils are going to starve to death if I don't resort to heroic measures.

Can I simply increase the light cycle or phosphates temporarily ? I gotta do something... Anyone ?

 

[Tom Barr]

What species?

Spinach
Dehulled peas
Most gords, pumpkin etc

You can also grow specific species fo algae in tanks with plants, namely Pithophora, which is actually a nice looking algae that is considered desirable by many.

Few know how to grow it but I do.
I use to feed it to my Sturisoma and Labiobarbus festiva.

They loved it.

I grew it on rocks that had very high aeration and surface moeve runnign across them, basically right under the surface, maybe 1/4" depth at most, lots of current, light etc.

I also use this species in a algae turf scrubber.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Professor Myers]

What Species ?

??? All of them...SAE's, Otocinclus, Neocaridina, Farlowella etc...

Should'a never got that Farlow ! Gluttonous Swine !!!

Seriously I'd like to keep them healthy and robust, and don't want them eating Junk Food (Absolutely No Anacharis) I may need them some day.

Should I just pick up some Nori at the health food Store ?

 

[turbomkt]

squash, zucchini, about any food meant for snails!

 

[nursie]

The term algae eater covers a lot of territory. If you are talking about plecos in addition, they need to have driftwood, they need it in their diet too.
Mine are particular to zucchini, and I have otos that will eat algae wafers.

 

[dschmeh]

i feed hikara algae wafers they are cheap and all my fish and shrimp eat them . or you can give vegtables like peas or squash my pleco likes zucini i put a slice in the microwave for about 20 seconds to soften it up . I dont feed my tank very often . I always see the fish picking at something also if you feed to much your algae eaters will get lazy and not eat algae.

 

[Patrice]

You can also grow specific species fo algae in tanks with plants, namely Pithophora, which is actually a nice looking algae that is considered desirable by many.

Few know how to grow it but I do.

can you tell us more about this?