Captive Bread Algae Eaters?

[DanielBird]

Hi!
I'm looking for recommendations for captive bread algae eating saltwater fish (and ideally also recommendations of where to find them in Europe).

From what I've seen it is possible to find captive bred:
- Yellow Tangs
- Angelfish
- Rainford's Goby (although I've seen debate about whether these really have nay impact on algae)

For me, only the smallest pygmy angelfish could work in my size tank and I'm too nervous about them eating all the corals. I know you can find captive bred blennies but they all seem to be the omnivore kind that, from what I've understood, aren't going to eat up any algae.

I know in the US there are wholesalers Biota and ORA. In Europe I've only found Tropic Marine Center who sells some captive bred fish.

Do you have any recommendations?
Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Tangs are one and obviously snails
I don’t know the European market for fish but will be a challenge finding specific types and at a price

 

[Haydn]

Have you checked the DeJongsmarinelife website they have a list of tank bred fish they supply, TMC do import from ORA, etc. but post BREXIT I assume finding them in Europe is near impossible.

 

[Zionas]

S.Vulpinus had been bred by a research institute in China and I can find captive bred specimens. Wish they did the S. Magnificus too.
Other than that your best bet’s probably a Biota Yellow Tang. Biota also does the Orange Spotted Rabbitfish but I’ve seen them at a public aquarium and they get huge.

 

[Chessmanmark]

ORA Two-Barred Rabbitfish | Siganus virgatus| ORA | Oceans, Reefs & Aquariums

ORA's first Rabbitfish!

www.orafarm.com

 

[happyhourhero]

My rainfords cleans the sand and pebbles but does not harvest any from the rocks. Although I don’t have any and maybe it’s because of the Rainfords!

 

[Danroo]

Does algae eater has to be a fish, Wouldn’t snail and hermit crab do the job?

 

[Mr Cypher]

Lawnmower blenny fairly common but does a great job mowing down algie also fox face another member of rabbit fish fam

 

[Reef AquaCult]

ORA Two-Barred Rabbitfish | Siganus virgatus| ORA | Oceans, Reefs & Aquariums

ORA's first Rabbitfish!

www.orafarm.com

I have one of these but I have not seen them available for a long time from ORA. It eats bubble algae but ignores long hair algae.

 

[Reef AquaCult]

Best bet ORA urchins in my opinion. Pricey but get several and they eat all types of algae and live a long time. They usually have them in stock on LiveAquaria. Not sure if there is a source of captive bred urchins in Europe but if you find them then scoop them up

 

[davidcalgary29]

My first preference would be a nice tuxedo urchin. Exactly what size of tank do you have?

 

[Tamberav]

Hi!
I'm looking for recommendations for captive bread algae eating saltwater fish (and ideally also recommendations of where to find them in Europe).

From what I've seen it is possible to find captive bred:
- Yellow Tangs
- Angelfish
- Rainford's Goby (although I've seen debate about whether these really have nay impact on algae)

For me, only the smallest pygmy angelfish could work in my size tank and I'm too nervous about them eating all the corals. I know you can find captive bred blennies but they all seem to be the omnivore kind that, from what I've understood, aren't going to eat up any algae.

I know in the US there are wholesalers Biota and ORA. In Europe I've only found Tropic Marine Center who sells some captive bred fish.

Do you have any recommendations?
Thanks!

there are captive bred molly Miller blennies which are piglets.

Keep in mind captive bred fish are available sporadically and not always consistently. So it’s something you have to keep an eye out for and sign up in wait lists.

 

[Tamberav]

It looks like Sustainable Aquatics has Molly Miller in stock for captive bred. They do sell online if you go to the online store portion or if you LFS does business with them, they should be able to order them. They also have some other captive fish.

They are like the garbage trucks of fish. Will eat algae, debris, whatever food you offer and even documented eating Aiptasia.

 

[Chessmanmark]

I have one of these but I have not seen them available for a long time from ORA. It eats bubble algae but ignores long hair algae.

I had a wild caught Two Barred years ago, but I didn’t have much algae growing in the tank at the time.

I have a Foxface now and it even eats bryopsis. It’s by far the best algae eater I ever had and I’m in the hobby 18 years.

Hopefully the Foxface will be captive bred soon.

 

[Zionas]

It’s already been captive bred, but by the Hainan Institute of Marine Sciences in China. S.Vulpinus. Captive bred specimens come in large quantities seasonally. Wish they did the Magnificent instead but they’re only native to the waters of the Indian Ocean.

 

[DanielBird]

Tangs are one and obviously snails
I don’t know the European market for fish but will be a challenge finding specific types and at a price

Thanks
I've slowly been adding a variety of more snails but I'm don't find that they are enough for a relatively young tank.
I'm specifically looking for what people do in smaller tanks when they are looking for captive bred.
(My display tank is 55 gallons)

 

[DanielBird]

Lawnmower blenny fairly common but does a great job mowing down algie also fox face another member of rabbit fish fam

Unfortunately, I've never seen captive bred herbivorous blennies in Europe. I can find omnivorous blennies like Kamohara but I don't think they will be of much practical use.
Have you come across captive bred Lawnmowers or Tail spots etc.?

 

[DanielBird]

Best bet ORA urchins in my opinion. Pricey but get several and they eat all types of algae and live a long time. They usually have them in stock on LiveAquaria. Not sure if there is a source of captive bred urchins in Europe but if you find them then scoop them up

Thanks!
In Europe I've seen that Coralaxy will on rare occasions stock captive bred urchins.
At the time I didn't go with urchins because I've never kept them before and worried about their bulldozing potential. But maybe I'll reconsider that.

 

[DanielBird]

My first preference would be a nice tuxedo urchin. Exactly what size of tank do you have?

The display is 55 gallons so this could be a good match.

 

[DanielBird]

Does algae eater has to be a fish, Wouldn’t snail and hermit crab do the job?

I currently have 3 trochus snails, 2 turban snails, 5 cerith snails, 1 hermit crab and 1 fighting conch.
This is for a 55g tank that has a medium amount of rock surface area to cover.

I think I could go with a couple more crabs and snails. My sense is they are great for keeping algae free rocks looking clean but they won't put much of a dent on algae (e.g. green hair algae) when you get it. But maybe that is mistaken?