I wouldn't get a pleco for a tank that small. I own one that's growing slowly, although it's now around 7 years old.

You might try looking for siamese flying foxes instead.

Ianna

10 gallons is way too small for a flying fox. They grow to be about 4 1/2 inches long - and love to swim fast. In a 10 gallon tank, they'd really be cramped.

I have a pair in a 55 gallon tank (with other fish). They zip back and forth.

YOu know what, you are right. I should have rechecked the size they'd get to. I've 3 young Siamese flying foxes in a 55 gallon tank myself. I was thinking it's the Chinsese flying foxes that can grow larger.

I don't know Chinese flying foxes?

There is the Chinese algae eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri), the Siamese algae eater (Crossocheilus siamensis), the "false siamensis" and the Flying fox(Epalzeorhynchus kalopterus)

Here is a link that might be useful: Algae eaters - the Krib

Try looking for Clown Plecos. I think they are peckolita species. That very well could be spelled wrong. But they stay small and are very pretty.

Lisa

Hi,I'm well aware of the confusion over what is the true flying fox as opposed to others. Over here the Chinese algae eater has been referred to as a flying fox hence why I called it as such. They do look quite similar and on one occasion a pet store sales clerk was actually pressuring me to buy one thinking it's a siamese flying fox. ... It was the chinese algae eater and it does pay to know the difference.

http://www.petresources.net/fish/article/sae.html

Ianna

Siamese flying foxes do not eat algae. They are often confused with True Siamese Algae Eaters though, which do eat algae.

Chinese Algae eaters get aggressive with age (and get 4+ inches long)

Siamese Algae Eaters eat algae, but prefer the brush or beard or hair types. Not the best for glass cleaning. They don't have a sucker mouth.

Common Plecos get way too big (up to 18 inches)

Clown Plecos do not eat much algae, though they do stay small. They prefer a meatier diet, and also need wood in the tank to eat.

Your two options are probably these:

Bristlenose/Bushynose pleco. They stay under 6 inches and are great algae eaters.

Or Ottocinclus catfish. They stay small, but prefer to be in a group of at least 3-5. And they prefer hiding places such as on live plants.