Best Algae Eaters & Scavengers

Gold Star Algae Eater
Size: 1”-2" 

Temp: 75-79F🌴

Location: Flat surfaces/top glass

Society: 6+ loves big groups

Eats: Herbivore/grazer, biofilm, diatom & green algae, zucchini, cucumber, algae wafers
Home: South America
Likes heavily planted tank🌱
Grow algae before introduction.
Older established tank better.

Gold Star Algae Eater

Size: 5”-6" 

Temp: 75-80F🌴

Location: Bottom/mid

Society: 3+, large tank
Eats: Omnivore/Algivore, biofilm, BBA, hair, brown & green algae, zucchini, cucumber
Home: SE Asia
Adaptable fish💪

“Flying foxes” similar look-not as good 
DO NOT BUY “Chinese” algae eaters - aggressive, eats slime off other fish-yuck!

Gold Star Algae Eater
Size: .5-1.5” Species variety

Location: Bottom/walls

Society: 1+

Eats: Herbivore/grazer, biofilm, diatoms, soft green, green spot, soft film algae.
Home: East Africa/SE Asia
Adaptable💪
Beginner friendly🔰
Only breeds with brackish/salt

Leaves tiny white eggs everywhere.
Grow algae before introduction.

Gold Star Algae Eater
Population may explode
May eat plants

Size: 1”

Location: Bottom/walls

Society: 1+

Eats: Omnivore/grazer, algae, biofilm, detritus

Home: North America
Adaptable💪
Beginner friendly🔰
Different color morphs

Gold Star Algae Eater
Population will explode
May eat plants
Size: 0.5”

Location: Bottom/walls

Society: adding 1 snail can create dozens

Eats: Omnivore/grazer, algae, biofilm, detritus

Home: North America/World
Wide temp range 64-84F
Adaptable💪💪💪
Beginner friendly🔰

Gold Star Algae Eater
Population will explode
Will eat plants
Size: 2-2.5”

Location: Bottom

Society: 1+

Eats: Omnivore, algae, plants, biofilm, detritus

Home: Europe, Asia, North America

Gold Star Algae Eater
Size: 4–6”

Temp: 75-80F🌴

Location: Bottom

Society: Solo

Eats: Herbivore/omnivore, must have wood🪾, biofilm, diatom & green algae, zucchini, cucumber

Home: South America
Adaptable fish💪
Beginner friendly fish🔰
Large bio load💩

Territorial if crowded -needs a cave
Many different color morph$💸

Size: 2" 

Temp 65-78°F❄️🌴

Location: Midwater

Society:  2 ♀ per ♂ 

Eats: Omnivore/Algavore, biofilm, BBA, green hair, thread, staghorn, green, brown algae, zucchini, cucumber, spinach, peas
Home: Florida,😎 USA
Pugnacious: fin-nipper/semi-aggressive/fast eater
Eats soft leaves & attacks plants🌱

Size: 2.5-3"
Cool 68-75°F❄️

Location: Bottom/flat surfaces

Society: 3-5+ 

Eats: Omnivore/grazer , biofilm, diatom, hair & green algae, zucchini, cucumber
Home: Vietnam and Laos
Grow algae before introduction
Loves flat stones & high flow🌊

Size: 2.5-3.5" 

Temp 68-77F❄️🌴

Location: Bottom

Society: Solo or 3+ 

Eats: Omnivore/aufwuchs grazer, biofilm, diatom, hair & green algae, zucchini, cucumber, spinach
Home: Myanmar
Adaptable fish💪
Beginner friendly fish🔰
Charming behavior
Loves flat stones & high flow🌊
Grow algae before introduction
May land on your hand. Related to "doctor fish."

Size: 1-3” Huge variety of species

Location: Bottom

Society: 3+ more the merrier

Eats: Omnivore, scavenger
Home: South America
Charming behavior
Loves heavily planted tank🌱
Needs sand to dig around in

Size: 4.5” 

Location: Bottom

Society: 5+ 

Eats: Omnivore, scavenger
Home: South America
Charming behavior
Needs sand to dig around in

Gold Star Algae Eater
Size: 4–6”

Location: Bottom

Society: solo

Eats: Herbivore/omnivore, must have wood, biofilm, diatom & green algae, zucchini, cucumber

Home: South America
Large bio load💩

Territorial -needs a cave
Many different color morph$💸
Beginner friendly fish

Size: 3-4” 

Location: Bottom

Society: 3+ more the merrier

Eats: Omnivore, scavenger
Home: SE Asia

Charming behavior
small 2" & big 5" species
Loves leaf litter/tubes
Loves heavily planted tank🌱
Needs sand to dig around in
Nocturnal🌜
Beginner friendly fish

Size: 3-5" 

Location: Bottom

Society: 5+

Eats: Omnivore, snails
Home: India

Needs sand to dig around in

Size: 2-2.5" 

Location: Bottom/mid

Society: 6-10+

Eats: Omnivore, snails
Home: Thailand

Needs sand to dig around in

Size: 4-6" 

Location: Bottom

Society: 4-6, large tank

Eats: Carnivore, eats snails
Home: India
Adaptable fish💪
Needs sand to dig around in
Territorial & pushy on bottom zone
Fast!💨💨💨
Can make a clicking sound🎶

Size: 4” 

Location: Bottom

Society: 5+, large tank

Eats: Omnivore, eats snails
Home: SE Asia
Adaptable fish💪
Territorial & pushy on bottom zone
Can make a clicking sound🎶

Gold Star Algae Eater
Size: 1.5-2.5” 

Location: Bottom

Society: 5+

Eats: Herbivore, biofilm, diatoms, soft green, hair, thread, string and red algae.
Home: Japan, Taiwan
Only breeds with brackish/salt

Prefers hardwater- High pH
Size: 1”

Location: Bottom

Society: 5-10+ 

Eats: Omnivore, biofilm, diatom, green, film, spinach, zucchini, and dried leaves
Home: East Asia
Adaptable💪
More beginner friendly than other🦐🔰
Many different color morph$💸

Gold Star Algae Eater
Population may explode
May eat plants

Size: 1”

Location: Bottom/walls

Society: 1+

Eats: Omnivore/grazer, algae, biofilm, detritus

Home: North America
Adaptable💪
Beginner friendly🔰
Different color morphs

Gold Star Algae Eater
Population will explode
May eat plants
Size: 0.5”

Location: Bottom/walls

Society: adding 1 snail can create dozens

Eats: Omnivore/grazer, algae, biofilm, detritus

Home: North America/World
Wide temp range 64-84F
Adaptable💪💪💪
Beginner friendly🔰

Gold Star Algae Eater
Population will explode
May eat plants
Size: 2”

Location: Bottom/walls

Society: 1+

Eats: Herbivore/grazer, algae, plants, biofilm, detritus

Home: Europe, Asia, North America
Adaptable💪
Beginner friendly🔰

Population may explode
Size: 1”

Location: Bottom/substrate

Society: 1+

Eats: Omnivore, detritus, algae, biofilm
Home: Africa, Asia
Adaptable💪
Beginner friendly🔰
Aerates the tank's substrate a little bit through digging around

Size: 2” different colors

Location: Bottom/walls

Society: 1+

Eats: Omnivore, biofilm, diatoms, green algae, zucchini, spinach
Home: South America
Adaptable💪
Beginner friendly🔰
Moderate bio load💩
Lays fertile eggs above water line
Different color morphs

High calcium needs for shell health
Very charming behavior