Algae eater or algivore is a

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often con ...

for any

bottom-dwelling The benthic zone is the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water such as an ocean, lake, or stream, including the sediment surface and some sub-surface layers. The name comes from the Ancient Greek word (), meaning "the depths". ...

filter-feeding Filter feeders are aquatic animals that acquire nutrients by feeding on organic matters, food particles or smaller organisms (bacteria, microalgae and zooplanktons) suspended in water, typically by having the water pass over or through a specia ...

aquatic animal An aquatic animal is any animal, whether vertebrate or invertebrate, that lives in a body of water for all or most of its lifetime. Aquatic animals generally conduct gas exchange in water by extracting dissolved oxygen via specialised respirato ...

species that specialize in feeding on

algae Algae ( , ; : alga ) is an informal term for any organisms of a large and diverse group of photosynthesis, photosynthetic organisms that are not plants, and includes species from multiple distinct clades. Such organisms range from unicellular ...

and

phytoplankton Phytoplankton () are the autotrophic (self-feeding) components of the plankton community and a key part of ocean and freshwater Aquatic ecosystem, ecosystems. The name comes from the Greek language, Greek words (), meaning 'plant', and (), mea ...

s. Algae eaters are important for the

fishkeeping Fishkeeping is a popular hobby, practiced by aquarists, concerned with keeping fish in a home aquarium or garden pond. It is a practice that encompasses the art of maintaining one's own aquatic ecosystem, featuring a lot of variety with various w ...

hobby and many are commonly kept by

aquarium An aquarium (: aquariums or aquaria) is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. fishkeeping, Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aquati ...

hobbyists to improve

water quality Water quality refers to the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water based on the standards of its usage. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which compliance, generally achieved through tr ...

. They are also important primary consumers that relay the

biomass Biomass is a term used in several contexts: in the context of ecology it means living organisms, and in the context of bioenergy it means matter from recently living (but now dead) organisms. In the latter context, there are variations in how ...

and

energy Energy () is the physical quantity, quantitative physical property, property that is transferred to a physical body, body or to a physical system, recognizable in the performance of Work (thermodynamics), work and in the form of heat and l ...

from

photosynthetic Photosynthesis ( ) is a Biological system, system of biological processes by which Photoautotrophism, photosynthetic organisms, such as most plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, convert light energy, typically from sunlight, into the chemical ener ...

autotroph An autotroph is an organism that can convert Abiotic component, abiotic sources of energy into energy stored in organic compounds, which can be used by Heterotroph, other organisms. Autotrophs produce complex organic compounds (such as carbohy ...

es up into the

food web A food web is the natural interconnection of food chains and a graphical representation of what-eats-what in an ecological community. Position in the food web, or trophic level, is used in ecology to broadly classify organisms as autotrophs or he ...

, as well as protecting the

aquatic ecosystem An aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem found in and around a body of water, in contrast to land-based terrestrial ecosystems. Aquatic ecosystems contain communities of organisms—aquatic life—that are dependent on each other and on their environ ...

against

algae bloom An algal bloom or algae bloom is a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in fresh water or marine water systems. It is often recognized by the discoloration in the water from the algae's pigments. The term ''algae'' encompass ...

Freshwater

Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus albino ventral L-001 c

Fish

Some of the common and most popular

freshwater aquarium A freshwater aquarium is a receptacle that holds one or more freshwater aquatic organisms for decorative, pet-keeping, or research purposes. Modern aquariums are most often made from Transparency (optics), transparent glass or acrylic glass. Typi ...

algae eaters include: * Many loricariid

catfish Catfish (or catfishes; order (biology), order Siluriformes or Nematognathi) are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Catfish are common name, named for their prominent barbel (anatomy), barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, though not ...

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...

, such as genera ''

Otocinclus ''Otocinclus'' is a genus of catfish in the family Loricariidae native to South America, commonly known as "dwarf suckers" or "otos". This genus, like other loricariids, is characterized by rows of armour plating covering the body, as well as th ...

'', ''

Ancistrus ''Ancistrus'' is a genus of nocturnal freshwater fish in the family Loricariidae of order Siluriformes, native to freshwater habitats in South America and Panama. Fish of this genus are common in the aquarium trade where they are known as bushy ...

'', and ''

Plecostomus Plecostomus, pleco, or plec is the common name of several species of freshwater loricariid catfish commonly sold as aquarium fish. These include: *''Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps *''Hypostomus plecostomus'' *'' Hypostomus punctatus'' *''Pterygoplic ...

'', constantly graze algae and

biofilm A biofilm is a Syntrophy, syntrophic Microbial consortium, community of microorganisms in which cell (biology), cells cell adhesion, stick to each other and often also to a surface. These adherent cells become embedded within a slimy ext ...

, although many species of "plecos", which attain an adult length of over 10 inches, eat much less frequently as they near adulthood. * The

Siamese algae eater The Siamese algae-eater (''Crossocheilus oblongus'') is a species of freshwater fish in the carp family, Cyprinidae. This bottom-dwelling tropical fish is found in mainland Southeast Asia, including the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins as well as ...

(''Crossocheilus oblongus'') is a more gregarious and tolerant

cyprinid Cyprinidae is a Family (biology), family of freshwater fish commonly called the carp or minnow family, including the carps, the true minnows, and their relatives the barb (fish), barbs and barbel (fish), barbels, among others. Cyprinidae is the ...

that ranges up to . It is one of the only fish that will graze on " black brush algae" (freshwater ''Rhodophyta'', or

red alga Red algae, or Rhodophyta (, ; ), make up one of the oldest groups of eukaryotic algae. The Rhodophyta comprises one of the largest Phylum, phyla of algae, containing over 7,000 recognized species within over 900 Genus, genera amidst ongoing taxon ...

e), but even so will eat anything else in preference. * Fishes of the genus ''

Gyrinocheilus ''Gyrinocheilus'' is the single genus in the family Gyrinocheilidae, a family of small Southeast Asian cypriniform fishes that live in fast-flowing freshwater mountain streams. The species in this genus are commonly called algae eaters. They ho ...

'', family ''

Gyrinocheilidae ''Gyrinocheilus'' is the single genus in the family Gyrinocheilidae, a family of small Southeast Asian cypriniform fishes that live in fast-flowing freshwater mountain streams. The species in this genus are commonly called algae eaters. They ho ...

''. There are three species in this genus with the Chinese algae eater, ''

Gyrinocheilus aymonieri ''Gyrinocheilus'' is the single genus in the family Gyrinocheilidae, a family of small Southeast Asian cypriniform fishes that live in fast-flowing freshwater mountain streams. The species in this genus are commonly called algae eaters. They ho ...

'', the most common. Small specimens make good community fish but may become territorial when older. *American-flag fish, ''

Jordanella floridae The flagfish (''Jordanella floridae''), also known as the American flagfish or Florida flagfish, is a species of pupfish, a type of killifish from the family Cyprinodontidae which is endemic to Florida. It is found in the aquarium trade. Its ...

'', are also dependable algae-eating fish. They are one of the only fish to graze on black brush algae, as with the siamese algae eater, and will also indiscriminately graze on other algae such as

diatom A diatom (Neo-Latin ''diatoma'') is any member of a large group comprising several Genus, genera of algae, specifically microalgae, found in the oceans, waterways and soils of the world. Living diatoms make up a significant portion of Earth's B ...

s and hair algae. However, like all

pupfish Pupfish are a group of small killifish belonging to ten genera of the family Cyprinodontidae of ray-finned fish. Pupfish are especially noted for being found in extreme and isolated situations. They are primarily found in North America, South Am ...

, they can be nippy to fish smaller or slower than them. Males can also be territorial. Common freshwater algivorous fish: * Loricariid ** ''

'', most often the common otocinclus. ** ''

'' ** ''

'' *

Cyprinid Cyprinidae is a Family (biology), family of freshwater fish commonly called the carp or minnow family, including the carps, the true minnows, and their relatives the barb (fish), barbs and barbel (fish), barbels, among others. Cyprinidae is the ...

(''Crossocheilus oblongus'') ** Chinese algae eater (''Gyrinocheilus aymonieri'') **

Japanese white crucian carp The Japanese white crucian carp, also known as Japanese carp, white crucian carp, or gengoro-buna (''Carassius cuvieri''), is a species of freshwater fish in the carp family (family Cyprinidae). It is found in Japan and, as an introduced species, ...

(''Carassius cuvieri'') **

Silver carp The silver carp or silverfin (''Hypophthalmichthys molitrix'') is a species of freshwater cyprinid fish, a variety of Asian carp native to China and eastern Siberia, from the Amur River drainage in the north to the Xi Jiang River drainage in ...

(''Hypophthalmichthys molitrix'') **

Bighead carp The bighead carp (''Hypophthalmichthys nobilis'') is a species of cyprinid freshwater fish native to East Asia, and is one of several Asian carps introduced into North America. It is one of the most intensively exploited fishes in fish farming ...

(''Hypophthalmichthys nobilis'') **

Grass carp The grass carp (''Ctenopharyngodon idella'') is a species of large herbivorous freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae, native to the Pacific Far East, with a native range stretching from northern Vietnam to the Amur River on the Sino-Russian ...

''(Ctenopharyngodon idellus'') ** Pungtungia herzi *

Osmeridae Smelts are a family of small fish, the Osmeridae, found in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans, as well as rivers, streams and lakes in Europe, North America and Northeast Asia. They are also known as freshwater smelts or typical smelts ...

** ayu sweetfish (

Plecoglossus altivelis Ayu or AYU may refer to: * Ayu (given name) * Ayu sweetfish (''Plecoglossus altivelis''), a species of smelt * ''Ayu'', a local name for the African manatee * Ayu (singer) or Ayumi Hamasaki, Japanese singer * Ayu Islands, a small archipelago in In ...

)

Shrimp

Some freshwater

shrimp A shrimp (: shrimp (American English, US) or shrimps (British English, UK)) is a crustacean with an elongated body and a primarily Aquatic locomotion, swimming mode of locomotion – typically Decapods belonging to the Caridea or Dendrobranchi ...

are also excellent algae eaters: * Almost all of them belong to the family

Atyidae Atyidae is a family of shrimp, present in all tropical and most temperate waters of the world. Adults of this family are almost always confined to fresh water Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water conta ...

(the only family in the superfamily Atyoidea) including many genera :* ''

Caridina ''Caridina'' is a genus of freshwater atyid shrimp. They are widely found in tropical or subtropical water in Asia, Oceania and Africa. They are filter-feeders and omnivorous scavengers. They range from 0.9 to 9.8 mm ('' C. cantonensis'') ...

'': '' red rhinoceros shrimp'', '' bee shrimp'', etc... One shrimp well known for its ability to clean an aquarium is the '' Amano Shrimp''. :* ''

Neocaridina ''Neocaridina'' is a genus of atyid shrimp A shrimp (: shrimp (American English, US) or shrimps (British English, UK)) is a crustacean with an elongated body and a primarily Aquatic locomotion, swimming mode of locomotion – typically De ...

'': ''

Neocaridina davidi ''Neocaridina davidi'', also known as the cherry shrimp, is a freshwater shrimp native to Taiwan, east of China, the Korea, Korean Peninsula, and Vietnam, that is sold globally in the Aquarium, aquatic pet trade. They are omnivores, and their n ...

'' (cherry shrimp), ''

Neocaridina palmata ''Neocaridina palmata'' is a freshwater shrimp found in China and Vietnam. It is found in rivers, streams and ponds. Their preferred habitat is heavily planted, slow flowing water. Subspecies There are 4 subspecies: *''Neocaridina palmata bosens ...

'', etc. * Some of them belong to the genus '' Palaemonetes'' (grass shrimp)

Snails

Most species of

freshwater snail Freshwater snails are gastropod mollusks that live in fresh water. There are many different families. They are found throughout the world in various habitats, ranging from ephemeral pools to the largest lakes, and from small seeps and springs t ...

s, discounting most adult specimens of species belonging to the family ''

Ampullariidae Ampullariidae, whose members are commonly known as apple snails, is a family of large freshwater snails that includes the mystery snail species. They are aquatic gastropod mollusks with a gill and an operculum. These snails simultaneously h ...

'', which primarily subsist on aquatic plants as adults. * Bellamyinae * Lioplacinae * Viviparinae

Saltwater

Some of the known types of fish to eat algae are blennies and tangs, but along with fish there are snails, crabs, and sea urchins who also eat algae. These species are known to eat red slime algae, green film algae, hair algae,

diatoms A diatom (Neo-Latin ''diatoma'') is any member of a large group comprising several Genus, genera of algae, specifically microalgae, found in the oceans, waterways and soils of the world. Living diatoms make up a significant portion of Earth's B ...

cyanobacteria Cyanobacteria ( ) are a group of autotrophic gram-negative bacteria that can obtain biological energy via oxygenic photosynthesis. The name "cyanobacteria" () refers to their bluish green (cyan) color, which forms the basis of cyanobacteri ...

, brown film algae,

detritus In biology, detritus ( or ) is organic matter made up of the decomposition, decomposing remains of organisms and plants, and also of feces. Detritus usually hosts communities of microorganisms that colonize and decomposition, decompose (Reminera ...

, and

microalgae Microalgae or microphytes are microscopic scale, microscopic algae invisible to the naked eye. They are phytoplankton typically found in freshwater and marine life, marine systems, living in both the water column and sediment. They are unicellul ...

Fish

There are several saltwater fish species that eat algae. Two of the major algae eaters are blennies and tangs. These fish eat red slime algae, green film algae, and hair algae. Some of the known species are as follows: Blennies: * Leopard Blenny * High Fin Blenny * Linear Blenny * One Spot Blenny * Sailfin Blenny * Segmented Sail Fin Blenny * Starry Blenny * Tail Spot Blenny * Two Spot Benny * Seaweed Blenny Tangs: *

Regal Blue Tang ''Paracanthurus hepatus'' is a species of Indo-Pacific surgeonfish. A popular fish in marine aquaria, it is the only member of the genus ''Paracanthurus''. A number of common names are attributed to the species, including regal tang, palette ...

* Blonde Naso Tang * Red Sea Sailfin Tang * Purple Tang * Cheveron Tang *

Convict Tang ''Acanthurus triostegus'', commonly known as convict tang, manini, convict surgeonfish, convict surgeon, or fiveband surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the Family (biology), family Acanthuridae which includes the ...

* Kole Tang * Goldrim Tang * Orangebar Tang * Powder Blue Tang *

Yellow Tang The yellow tang (''Zebrasoma flavescens''), also known as the lemon sailfin, yellow sailfin tang or somber surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae which includes the surgeonfishes, unicornfish ...

Ciliopagurus strigatus cropped highlight legs

Crabs

Hermit crabs and other species of crabs eat algae. Crabs eat green algae, film algae, red slime algae, diatoms, cyanobacteria, and microalgae. Some of the known species are: Hermit Crabs: * Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab * Dwarf Red Tip Hermit Crab * Electric Blue Hermit Crab * Halloween Hermit Crab * Hawaiian Zebra Hermit Crab * Anemone Carrying Hermit Crab Other Species: * Arrow Crab * Spotted Porcelain Crab * Decorator Spider Crabs

Sea urchin Sea urchins or urchins () are echinoderms in the class (biology), class Echinoidea. About 950 species live on the seabed, inhabiting all oceans and depth zones from the intertidal zone to deep seas of . They typically have a globular body cove ...
s

All species of sea urchin eat algae. They eat all sizes of algae, from something as small as

macroalgae Seaweed, or macroalgae, refers to thousands of species of Macroscopic scale, macroscopic, Multicellular organism, multicellular, ocean, marine algae. The term includes some types of ''Rhodophyta'' (red), ''Brown algae, Phaeophyta'' (brown) and ...

to something as large as kelp, and have been known to eat

Coralline algae Coralline algae are red algae in the order Corallinales. They are characterized by a thallus that is hard because of calcareous deposits contained within the cell walls. The colors of these algae are most typically pink, or some other shade of re ...

. In cooler waters, sea urchins have even been known to eat enough to control the size and compositions of kelp forests. Sea urchins act as scavengers and will also eat dead algae that they find. Some sea urchins, such as the variegated sea urchin or the red sea urchin, have become popular as pets for home aquariums because of their ability to proficiently eat algae.

Snails

Snails are known for eating hair algae, cyanobacteria, diatoms, green film algae, brown film algae, and detritus. * Chestnut Cowrie Snail * Zebra Turbo Snail * Trochus Snails * Mexican Turbo Snail * Conch Snail * Cerith Snail * Orange Spot Butterscotch Nassarius Snail * Lager Super Longan Nassarius * Tropical balone * Bumblebee Snails

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Algae Eater *

Freshwater

Fish

Shrimp

Snails

Saltwater

Fish

Crabs

Sea urchin Sea urchins or urchins () are echinoderms in the class (biology), class Echinoidea. About 950 species live on the seabed, inhabiting all oceans and depth zones from the intertidal zone to deep seas of . They typically have a globular body cove ...s

Snails

References

Sea urchin Sea urchins or urchins () are echinoderms in the class (biology), class Echinoidea. About 950 species live on the seabed, inhabiting all oceans and depth zones from the intertidal zone to deep seas of . They typically have a globular body cove ...
s