The Siamese algae eater (Crossocheilus oblongus) is a more gregarious and tolerant cyprinid that ranges up to 15 cm (5.9 in). It is one of the only fish that will graze on "black brush algae" (freshwater Rhodophyta, or red algae), but even so will eat anything else in preference.
American-flag fish, Jordanella floridae, 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 diatoms and hair algae. However, like all pupfish, they can be nippy to fish smaller or slower than them. Males can also be territorial.[2]
Some of them belong to the genus Palaemonetes (grass shrimp)
Snails
Most species of freshwater snails, discounting most adult specimens of species belonging to the family Ampullariidae, 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, cyanobacteria, brown film algae, detritus, and microalgae.[3]
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:
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:
All species of sea urchin eat algae. They eat all sizes of algae, from something as small as macroalgae to something as large as kelp, and have been known to eat Coralline algae.[8] 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.[9]
Snails
Snails are known for eating hair algae, cyanobacteria, diatoms, green film algae, brown film algae, and detritus.[10]
^"Best Algae Eaters For The Freshwater Aquarium". Oceanlifeaquatics.net. 2020-01-24. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
^Huntley, W. (1995). Jordanella floridae The American-Flag Fish. SF Bay Area Killifish Association http://www.sfbaka. net/.
^"saltwater algae eater". Aquariumslife.com. 2010-02-01. Archived from the original on 2010-12-01. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
^"Saltwater Fish That Eat Algae | Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine". Home | TFH Magazine. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
^ a b"Reef Safe Algae Eaters". The Spruce Pets. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
^Chambers, Thomas E. (1949-05-01). "The School Aquarium". The American Biology Teacher. 11 (5): 123–124. doi:10.2307/4438056. ISSN 0002-7685. JSTOR 4438056.