Plecos in the pond for algae control, your thoughts

[MikeM]

Plecostomus are fascinating creatures in their own right. I used to keep some of the smaller ones (and the related Ancistrus), but gave them up when I converted to plant tanks. (Still keep a Zebra Pleco, but not what we're talking about here.) A few years ago a local aquarium shop closed down, driven out of business by the internet discounters and the discount 'Marts', and gave away the large Plecos on hand. I gave a home to one in my lily pond. For 5 years it never bothered the waterlillies, but certainly cleaned up any algae growing on the pond walls. The goldfish and guppies were never bothered, but it did have plenty to eat. I'd toss in some sinking algae wafers from time to time. The 800 gallon pond just did not produce enough algae to satisfy its appetite. It died this past Spring from unknown causes.

I miss it, although seldom seen, and I had to be careful not to step on it when I got in to clean up the lily leaves and scopp out debris... the spines are painfully sharp! But, I am actually happier having a healthy growth of algae returning to the pond walls. I'll not be getting a replacement... unless, maybe, another of the few remaining owner-operated aquarium shops folds.