In response to Michael's ...
>Re: Plecos, what is their common name? Algae-eaters? (those
>catfish-like brown fishes?). Are they usually pretty big? Do they get
>in the plant itself and clean it, or do they mostly clean algae off the
>tank walls and bottom?
Haven't a clue s to common name. Generally, Pleco's are "catfish" like,
seen usually on the tank bottom or glass. The mouth is adapted as a
sucker. The Fish is flattenned on the base, the head being generally
the widest part of the body.
As to size, they grow from about 5 cm long (the pygmy species) up to
Plecostomus plecostomus size, and I've seen one of them tht was as long
as a man's arm!
The fish generally scrape algae off any flat surface. I've not detected
any damage to my Aldrovanda yet so I can't claim that Pleco's (at least
the pygmy species) do any harm to the plant, certainly not ripping it up
or eating it deliberately. There is a possibility they willeat the back
end of Aldrovanda. This would be good as the tail end of the plant dies
off as new growth extends. The dead or dying plant often harbours
algae.
Some expert can comment on Aldrovanda distribution but I do recall it's
actually widespread covering parts of Europe (though not the UK), Africa
and Australasia.
Regards
Paul