CAE

[sweetgurlsparkle]

Yesterday I got a small algae eater which I thought was an oto but now after doing some research it looks like a chinese algae eater. It's in a planted 10 gallon with a male betta and 2 corys. I've read that that they get up to ten inches and become aggressive..so basically its hopeless? How fast do they grow? Am I talking about months or years? He seems happy..eating and schooling with the corys. thanks.

 

[Phantom Thief]

How sure are you about it being a CAE? If you're 100% sure, i think its best you return it to the lfs.

P.T.

 

[sweetgurlsparkle]

I'm pretty sure. It was labled as an algae eater. It's tan with a black stripe running down its side with black spots intersecting it. It likes to hang on the glass.

edit: no spots on any of its fins

 

[Fishy411]

I'm pretty sure. It was labled as an algae eater. It's tan with a black stripe running down its side with black spots intersecting it. It likes to hang on the glass.

edit: no spots on any of its fins

did u look up siamese algae eater? i am not sure of what the differernce is but you could compare the two

 

[sweetgurlsparkle]

I did..but the sae doesnt seem to have any spots, just a clean stripe..

edit: the fish I got is about 2.5 inches long..

 

[Phantom Thief]

Almost definitely a CAE then. Otos are tiny, and SAEs don't have suckermouths. Return it ASAP.

P.T.

 

[sweetgurlsparkle]

damn..ok. No chance of keeping it?

 

[Phantom Thief]

Not in a 10g, no.

P.T.

 

[sweetgurlsparkle]

how fast do they grow?

 

[Phantom Thief]

A 1/2 inch specimen can get to about 4" in a year. And i didn't notice this was in catfish, it should be in cyprinids.

P.T.

 

[sweetgurlsparkle]

damn that sux.. any replacement ideas besides more corys? I didn't see any ottos at the fish store..they dont have much variety..

They aren't catfish?

 

[Fishy411]

damn that sux.. any replacement ideas besides more corys? I didn't see any ottos at the fish store..they dont have much variety..

They aren't catfish?

not techinically although they do pretty much the same job

 

[sweetgurlsparkle]

ok good to know.. any ideas for replacements?

 

[Oddball]

Try bulldog or pitbull mplecos then?

 

[Fishy411]

Maybe a siamese algae eater if u liked the CAE.