One of the most popular and best algae eating catfish is called the plecostomus (pleco for short.) When shopping for a pleco you will find them attached to the inside of an aquarium with their sucker mouth, laying on the gravel or a resting on a piece of driftwood. A pleco makes a great addition for most community aquarium but there is one huge drawback.
The plecotomus sold most often in pet and aquarium stores, can grow quite large, over a foot long or more. Although these pleco's are inexpensive they will outgrow most fish tanks. The solution is a cool peaceful fish known as the albino Bristlenose or Bushy Nose plecostomus. This pleco gets its name from bristles, that develop on the head of mature males. The females only have a few small bristles, around the rim of their head. This little guy only grow to four and a half inches long. There small adult size make them a perfect addition form most community aquariums. The bristles are used to detect fish food. Not only are they available in other colors there is even a long fin species.
