How to Raise Sucker Fish

Many aquarium owners purchase suckerfish (pleco) to clean algae from inside the tank. Suckerfish are brown with spots. The fish eat the algae off the surfaces inside the tank -- even the gravel. Suckerfish can grow quickly, so unless you have a large tank, buy the smallest fish available. These fish don't require any special care, making them an easy first fish for beginners. A small tank only needs one suckerfish.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquamarine rocks, driftwood and accessories
  • Fish tank
  • Filter
  • Thermometer
  • Heater
  • PH tester kit and balancing chemicals
  • Fish food
  • Shrimp and algae pellets
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pour a two- to three-inch layer of aquarium rocks inside a fish tank. Add in any plants or fish tank accessories to the tank. Choose items with large holes for the sucker fish to climb into and hide. Some coral pieces and castles work well. Place driftwood on the bottom of the tank, near a corner. Prop it up so the suckerfish can safely swim around it.

    • 2

      Fill the tank with warm, clean water. Hook up the filter, heater and the thermometer.

    • 3

      Run the filter and heater for 48 hours. Check the thermometer to see when the water reaches 70 to 82 degrees. Test the pH level of the water with the tester kit. Suckerfish need a pH level of 6.5 to 7.5, according to the Badman's Tropical Fish website.

    • 4

      Place the bag containing the suckerfish inside of the tank. Use the tank lid to hold the bag in the tank. This helps the fish adjust to the water temperature. After 15 minutes, open the bag inside the aquarium and allow the suckerfish to swim into the tank. Add in other types of fish the same way.

    • 5

      Feed the fish twice a day with fish food. The suckerfish will eat the flakes until algae starts to grow. Add shrimp and algae pellets to supplement its diet.

    • 6

      Transplant the suckerfish to a bigger tank when it gets too large for the tank. You can tell if the fish is too large by watching its movements. If it can't move easily around the tank, or has to bend its body to move around, it's too big.