Best Algae Eaters & Scavengers

Gold Star Algae Eater
Size: 1”-2" 

Location: Flat surfaces/top glass

Society: 3-6+ loves big groups

Eats: Herbivore/omnivore, biofilm, diatom & green algae, zucchini, cucumber
Home: South America
Grow algae before introduction.
Older established tank better.

Gold Star Algae Eater

Size: 5”-6" 

Location: Bottom/mid

Society: 3+, more the merrier
Eats: Omnivore, biofilm, BBA, hair, brown & green algae, zucchini, cucumber
Home: SE Asia

“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, biofilm, diatoms, soft green, green spot, soft film algae.
Home: East Africa/SE Asia
Only breeds with brackish/salt

Leaves tiny white eggs everywhere.

Gold Star Algae Eater
Population may explode
May eat plants

Size: 1”

Location: Bottom

Society: 1+

Eats: Omnivore, algae, biofilm, detritus

Home: North America
Different color morphs

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

Location: Bottom

Society: adding 1 snail can create dozens

Eats: Omnivore, algae, biofilm, detritus

Home: North America

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”

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

Copper Star Algae Eater
Cool side 65–78°F
Size: 2" 

Location: Midwater

Society:  2 ♀ per ♂ 

Can fin-nip/semi-aggressive/fast eater

Eats: Omnivore, biofilm, BBA, green hair, thread, staghorn, green, brown algae, zucchini, cucumber, spinach, peas
Home: Southern USA
Eats aquarium plants

Copper Star Algae Eater
Prefers cool 68–75°F
Size: 2.5”-3" 

Location: Flat surfaces/bottom

Society: 3-5+ 

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

Copper Star Algae Eater
Cool side 68°- 77°F
Size: 2.5-3.5" 

Location: Bottom

Society: Solo or 3+ 

Eats: Omnivore, biofilm, diatom, hair & green algae, zucchini, cucumber, spinach
Home: Myanmar
Loves flat stones & high flow🌊

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

Eats: Carnivore, snails
Home: India
Needs sand to dig around in
Territorial on bottom zone(?)

Size: 4” 

Location: Bottom

Society: 5+ more the merrier

Eats: Omnivore, eats snails
Home: SE Asia
Territorial on bottom zone

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

Size: 1”

Location: Bottom

Society: 5-10+ 

Eats: Omnivore, biofilm, diatom, green, film, spinach, zucchini, and dried leaves
Home: From China/Japan Bred
Easier than other colorful shrimps(?)
Many different color morph$💸

Prefer cooler 65°F to 73°F
Size: 1”

Location: Bottom

Society: 5-10+ 

Eats: Omnivore, biofilm, diatom, green, film, spinach, zucchini, and dried leaves
Home: From China/Japan Bred
Many different color morph$💸

Gold Star Algae Eater
Population may explode
May eat plants

Size: 1”

Location: Bottom

Society: 1+

Eats: Omnivore, algae, biofilm, detritus

Home: North America
Different color morphs

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

Location: Bottom

Society: adding 1 snail can create dozens

Eats: Omnivore, algae, biofilm, detritus

Home: North America

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

Location: Bottom

Society: 1+

Eats: Omnivore, algae, plants, biofilm, detritus

Home: Europe, Asia, North America

Population may explode
Size: 1”

Location: Bottom

Society: 1+

Eats: Omnivore, detritus, algae, biofilm Home: Africa, Asia
Useful for aerating the tank's substrate preventing compacted substrate and stops toxic gas pockets from forming

Size: 2” different colors

Location: Bottom/walls

Society: 1+

Eats: Omnivore, biofilm, diatoms, green alage, zucchini, spinach
Home: South America
Large bio load💩
Lays fertile eggs above water line
Different color morphs

High calcium needs for shell health
Very charming benhavior

Size: 2-5”

Location: Bottom

Society: 3+ 

Eats: Omnivore, biofilm, diatoms, green algae, zucchini, spinach
Home: Indonesia
High calcium needs for shell health
Has one fully formed child at a time

Enjoys sand to dig around in