Chinese/golden Algae Eater Going Black..!

[sven_sol]

Hiya,

bought a couple of algae eaters on the advice from the lfs (yea.. I know.. should have done my research first!) to clear up my algae and black algae.

I must admit, they've done a great job on the plants and in keeping the glass clean. Unfortunantly one of them is starting to turn darker, almost black in places. It starts just infront of his fin on his back (is that dorsal fin?) and stops just before his back fin on his tail. The other one is fine, a little bigger but still the same colour as when I bought him.

Here is the best picture I've managed to get, tricky to get a picture of him

Any ideas?! Could it be the black algae!?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

How long/large is the CAE? How many of them do you have together? Its probably a stress thing, although hard to say.

 

[Bloo]

They often go through colour changes. My current one was bright yellow when I got it. It's now mostly white with some light yellow blotches. I wouldn't worry about it

 

[sven_sol]

How long/large is the CAE? How many of them do you have together? Its probably a stress thing, although hard to say.

They're about 2.5" long and I've got two of them, doesnt seem stressed at all.. just eating all the time or chasing/being chased by the silver tiped tetras. The normal life of a fish!

They often go through colour changes. My current one was bright yellow when I got it. It's now mostly white with some light yellow blotches. I wouldn't worry about it

Ah, ok. Was wondering if it could have been the diet affecting the colour..

Ok! Thanks a lot!

 

[Bloo]

Just on another note: you are aware how large these fish become and what problems and risks they pose to your other fish as they grow up ? And usually (unless you have a massive tank) two CAE's in one tank become extremely territorial and a menace to tank life.

 

[sven_sol]

Just on another note: you are aware how large these fish become and what problems and risks they pose to your other fish as they grow up ? And usually (unless you have a massive tank) two CAE's in one tank become extremely territorial and a menace to tank life.

on my first post:

(yea.. I know.. should have done my research first!)

They are currently in a 70ltr tank, but in the next couple of weeks they'll be moving to my Juwel Rio 240 and they'll have a fair bit of room for a while anyway. How big can these things get?

 

[donna123]

hi my book says up to 10inch,
mine ive had for 3 months is about 3inch,
i did not know what id been given i asked my lfs for a dwarf loach .
as soon as mine plays up its gone .

 

[sven_sol]

Yea, just found this posting and it says about 6" in a tank - bigger in the wild.

Should be ok, when I move them.