Betta With Siamese Algae Eater?

Poseidon's tank has had a horrible algae problem. Every form of algae has appeared in his tank and because I have live plants, my options are limited. Do you think a siamese algae eater can live in Poe's tank? He lives in a 20HG aquarium with a penguin filter lots of live plants and I can add a bunch more hiding holes. What do you think?

Are you sure you aren't talking about a chinese algae eater? I've never personally seen a Siamese Algae Eater for sale at an LFS.
IF you are talking about a CAE... I do not reccomend it. I tried this set-up once, and it ended in the betta being injured. In short, Chinese Algae Eaters are a highly agressive, territorial fish - much like a betta. When young, they eat algae and are fairly placid indeed. However, once they become a few inches long and begin to mature, they become very agressive, and will take on more carnivorous tendancies; they latch on to the sides and faces of other fish and will eat thier slime coat and eyes. What's more is they are not very good algae consumers, and even when they do eat algae, they put out a simply massive fecal output. I need to do very large water changes twice a week on my CAE because his water gets so gross, and that's with only moderate feeding, strong filtration and a pretty large tank.
You should also note that CAEs and bettas prefer totally different tank conditions. Temp is about the only thing they share. CAEs like a stream-like set up, with fine substrate littered with large rocks, a fast current, good aeration, and a slightly cooler temperature. Bettas prefer a slightly higher temperature, a fine substrate, plenty of plants, a slow current, and poor aeration. Really they aren't good tankmates at all.

Perhaps you could come to a happy medium; maybe get a small school of ottos? They would take care of your algae, are passive, only get about 2 inches long, and wouldn't soil your tank too much. You could probably find a happy medium with temp, aeration, and filtration as well.

No, I'm talking about siamese algae eaters. They are suposed to be less aggressive than a CAE and are the only fish that eat red algae. I'm open to other algae eating fish, but SAEs sounded ideal from somthing I read.

bettaBetta said:

Poseidon's tank has had a horrible algae problem. Every form of algae has appeared in his tank and because I have live plants, my options are limited. Do you think a siamese algae eater can live in Poe's tank? He lives in a 20HG aquarium with a penguin filter lots of live plants and I can add a bunch more hiding holes. What do you think?

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What's your WPG (Watt Per Gallon)? If you lighting is insufficient, that is one of the reasons why algae blossoms. Plants need light, CO2, and nutrients to thrive. If they are defficient in any of these, the plants will not thrive and the algae will take this opportunity to grow

I have my lights on for 5 hours. I then turn them off for 2 hours and then they're on for another 5. The plants don't notice, but algae can's stand it. I started however with 4 on, 3 off, 4 on, and that really helped the algae die.

I have had good experiences with ottos, but I have read that ottos often suffer internal damage from the stress of being wild caught. The internal damage renders them unable to eat, and they can slowly starve in an aquarium even with algae. That is why some don't last more than a month or even less even with perfect water perameters. When you purchase them, look for the fattest, largest otto. It also helps to look for one with poop. If it's pooping, chances are, his digestive system is working properly and his chances or survival are greatly increased. They also enjoy mature tanks, tanks that have been cycled for at least six months. What else is in the 20h besides little Poe?

lljdma06 said:

bettaBetta said:

Poseidon's tank has had a horrible algae problem. Every form of algae has appeared in his tank and because I have live plants, my options are limited. Do you think a siamese algae eater can live in Poe's tank? He lives in a 20HG aquarium with a penguin filter lots of live plants and I can add a bunch more hiding holes. What do you think?

Click to expand...

What's your WPG (Watt Per Gallon)? If you lighting is insufficient, that is one of the reasons why algae blossoms. Plants need light, CO2, and nutrients to thrive. If they are defficient in any of these, the plants will not thrive and the algae will take this opportunity to grow

I have my lights on for 5 hours. I then turn them off for 2 hours and then they're on for another 5. The plants don't notice, but algae can's stand it. I started however with 4 on, 3 off, 4 on, and that really helped the algae die.

I have had good experiences with ottos, but I have read that ottos often suffer internal damage from the stress of being wild caught. The internal damage renders them unable to eat, and they can slowly starve in an aquarium even with algae. That is why some don't last more than a month or even less even with perfect water perameters. When you purchase them, look for the fattest, largest otto. It also helps to look for one with poop. If it's pooping, chances are, his digestive system is working properly and his chances or survival are greatly increased. They also enjoy mature tanks, tanks that have been cycled for at least six months. What else is in the 20h besides little Poe?

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I only have low light plants so I only have a little over 1 WPG. Thanks for the advice with the lights, I may try that.
I'm deffinately going to look into otos, sounds like they may do the trick if I can get a couple healthy ones.
Poe has the tank all to himslef right now.

There's a great article in the Planted tank section about Algae. You may want to read that. Here's a link:
Algae in the Planted Aquarium

Also, if you do want to get an algae eating fish, I'd definitely go for Otos. Siamese Algae Eaters get to 6", and that's going to be crowded in your tank.

And as lljdma06 said, look for the fattest Otos. Another thing I do, is get ones that have been at the LFS for at least a week, and look pretty good. It increases the chances for survival if they aren't moved, then moved again quickly. Otos will also get along great with your Betta.

bettaBetta said:

I only have low light plants so I only have a little over 1 WPG. Thanks for the advice with the lights, I may try that.
I'm deffinately going to look into otos, sounds like they may do the trick if I can get a couple healthy ones.
Poe has the tank all to himslef right now.

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Sweet! 20g all to himself! You can have a nice school of ottos then. Knock yourself out! Just be sure when the ottos have done their job that you provide them with a staple diet or even before. Mine liked munching on algae, but they also got their wafer everyday and the occasional cucumber when they were good boys or girls.

ok, you've conviced me. I may grab2-4 otos today if I get a chance. The only 1/2 decent petstore for buying fish that are non-rescues is a Petmart that is like 20-30 minutes away.

I grabbed 4 otos!
I ask the Petco person (I had to go to Petco because Petsmart was out of otos) to get the big plump ones (which she said it didn't make a difference, danged know nothings) and she tried at first but they were so hard to catch she ignored my request and grabbed a scrawny one that after acclimating them I noticed has some eye problem. He seems unhealthy and I don't think he'll make it. The other three are eating up a storm! Poe's been kinda good, but went after them a few times and I hd to hit the glass and scare him away so not Poe is sulking and will not stay on the side of the tank I am at (sigh) . Hopefully all will go well in the end.

BTW, because I can't tell them apart I'm just calling them Al Gee Ee and Ter.

I love the names! My community tank has developed some green algae and I was wondering what I could get for it--think I'll check out some otos too.

Here's a picture of one I got from my old forum (the old forum was so rude!)

http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_saem.php

The scrawny one died (Ter) so I got an exchange and looks ALOT healthier. The funny thing is I noticed they only charged me for 1 oto when I got the four and I went and got the exchange anyway. So that means (though the one died) I got 5 otos for $1.50. I call this new one Ter2

Ok I am curious, which of these 3 pictures looks like the fish you are calling a SAE?


1.

2.


or 3.




Little trivia on both species

Chinese Algae Eater
Gyrinocheilos aymonieri


Temperature: 24 to 28OC (75 to 82OF)
pH: 6.0 to 7.5 dH to 20O
Distribution: Northern India and Thailand
Diet: Flake, Algae
Egg layer

Good fish for the community aquarium. Helps keep your tank algae under control although as they grow older tend to eat less algae and can become aggressive.

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Siamese Algea Eater
Crossocheilus siamensis

Origin: Thailand

Temperature: 70 - 80°F (21-26°C)

Ease Of Keeping: Easy

Aggressivness: Good Community Fish. Will chase members of their own species (and some other species), but rarely kill them.

Adult Size: Can get up to 6 inches (15cm)

Minimum Tank Size: 30 Gallons

Feeding: Red Algae!, Hair Algae, Flake food

Spawning Method: Very difficult. Not known to spawn in captivity.

Comments: This is the ultimate red/brush algae eater. This is also the ultimate misidentified fish. This fish is not commonly found in North American pet stores, and is more common in Europe. It is in high demand in the states due to its algae appetite, and there are some that will pass off imitations on the novice fish keeper. Want the real deal? First, look at the name. This fish is called the "Siamese Algae Eater" (SAE), and "Siamese Flying Fox". It is a common warning that these fish are jumpers, and I can confirm from personal experience that is true. Only keep these guys in an aquarium with a cover.

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Be wary of the term "Flying Fox", however, - there is another, similar looking barb also called the "Flying Fox". Next, look at the coloration on the fish. All SAEs and their imitations have a black stripe running down the sides of the fish. On the SAE, this line goes all the way to the fork in the tail fin. Also, many imitation SAEs will have black on their anal and pectoral fins. The true SAE does not.

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No one blab if they know which is which ..I want to see the OP's answer first.

eenee, meenee minee, moe, which one's SAE, who knows? If you guess it, then you'll show, how smart you are, and what you know....

Couldn't resist. Lousy song, I won't quit my day job. Wait a minute, music is my bloody day job! Oh well.

Darn, one of the other otos dies with the same symtoms. Well, atleast the other's look healthy.

SRC, Your asking me right?
Lets see I'd say....
#1 is a chinese algae eater, #2 is the Siamese algae eater and #3 is a flying fox.