Chinese Algea Eater Questions....

[Genesis]

some questions about my CAE

1.) how big do they get on average?
2.) can they be kept in a coldwater aquarium?
3.) which fish would they normally pick on?
4.) what makes them happy? (live plants, caves ect.)
5.) are they easy to breed?

answers much appreciated

 

[WILDER]

http/www.aquatic-gardeners.org/cyprinid.html

 

[Genesis]

it says it will stop eating algea under 20C but will it actually die?

 

[sylvia]

1.) how big do they get on average?
10" max. in captivity. Most people don't keep them past 4-6" because of their aggression.

2.) can they be kept in a coldwater aquarium?
No.

3.) which fish would they normally pick on?
Eventualy, everything. They'll pick one ach other and get very aggressive towards similar looking fish at first. Later they progress onto slime-coat sucking at which point larger or flat-bodied fish are more at risk. They'll also suck eyes out if they can. Once they are large enough, anything small that they can catch will also become lunch.

4.) what makes them happy? (live plants, caves ect.)
They aren't picky but a good water flow with lots of hiding places in a large tank with no others of their kind and lots of plant and live/frozen food seems to make them feel most at home.

5.) are they easy to breed?
No. I don't think they've ever been bred in a home aquarium (I may be wrong though).

 

[Gimli]

I had some chinese algae eaters but we got rid of them because they were picking on everything and they would eventually outgrow the tank

 

[JDS]

I've now got mine in a tank on his own ... He got a bit frisky with his tankmates, but he is very much a character!
He seems to like having a nice flow of water from the filter and a decent place to hide when he needs to, tho mostly he's pretty happy busying himself on any surface that might bear some food!

 

[eggy]

i have three in my coldwater tank and thay do fight but i made some DIY fake caves so thay do have somewhere to hide so thay don't get hurt by the BIG ONE in the tank, i've had them for over a year now...

i think why mine are so peaceful is becuase i bought them when thay where 4cm long.
thay live with 2 platys, 1 goldfish and 3 danios.
if you get them as babys get some broad leafed plants since when thay where babys thay loved spending there time on the leafs.
if you stick them in a pond thay can get up to 30cm

 

[superman1]

hello from what i found ive had 2 in a community tank from small.

they were around 4 cm when i got them and are now around 7-8 cm

i have tetras silver shark, corys and phantom tetras and the CAE only seem to eachother but they dont seem to be fussed by other as do they..

i find they make a great addition to the tank. if your after one u can have one of mine as im changing tanks and want to change my stock.


there very active aswell which is nice to watch