Egg Eating Algae Eaters?

[SINISTER]

So ive got 2 Chinese Algae Eaters and 1 Black and Gold Algae Eater in my Cichlid Tank. Now ive began to notice that my Chinese Algae eaters are getting pretty agressive as I was told when they get to about 4 inches they will start to become Meat eaters. Now I went and got some Feeder goldfish the other day for my turtles and i threw a few in to see if my convicts would tear them up but instead of the convicts doing anything...my largest Chinese Algae eater which is prob about 3 1/2 inches came out of his hideing place and started chasing one of the goldfish. I watched for a while and out of no where the CAE jumped on the goldfish and sucked its eye RIGHT out and took part of its face with it..and all he does now is pick at the gold fish here and there ripping scales off and stuff...

anyway, my question is...

When my Convicts start laying Eggs, should I be worried about the Chinese Algae Eaters and Gold and Black Algae eater eating the eggs or trying to eat babys or will the mom and dad make sure that wont happen for a few weeks or so untill there ready to be separated from the mom and dad?

 

[spectrum]

If it tried to eat a goldfish then it will almost certainly try to eat eggs and fry. The parents probably will guard them but there is a chance the CAE will sneak past them.

 

[Ben M]

hi, if the convicts are anything like my kribs, nothing will get past them. i've heard that some cichlids can kill a fish 4x their size in order to protect eggs/fry.

also, it's not very nice to feed goldfish to other fish. and it's cruel that the goldfish had part of its face ripped off. i feel bad when i'm shooting, if on the very rare occasion i don't make a clean kill, but purposely making a fish suffer doesn't seem right to me. we're supposed to like fish, not kill them.

cheers

 

[Bignose]

also, it's not very nice to feed goldfish to other fish. and it's cruel that the goldfish had part of its face ripped off. i feel bad when i'm shooting, if on the very rare occasion i don't make a clean kill, but purposely making a fish suffer doesn't seem right to me. we're supposed to like fish, not kill them.

Tread lightly here. There are some aquarium fish that are obligate carnivores -- that is, they have to consume other fish to survive. For the most part, these predatory fish would be very hard to train to accept non-living food.

Secondly, how do you think the majority of fish survive and die in the wild? A great deal of fish will consume a smaller fish, and a great deal of fish serve as meals for a larger fish. Fish consuming fish is simply a part of nature. There is no "cruel" about it in that regards.

There are many points of view, so, as I said, let's try to tread lightly here before attempting to dictate morality.

 

[Ben M]

hi, i understand that some fish need to eat other live fish to survive, but in my opinion, convicts and Chinese algae eaters don't. i was just giving my opinion on the matter; i didn't mean to offend anybody, or dictate morality, and if i did so, then i apologise.

cheers

 

[SINISTER]

also, it's not very nice to feed goldfish to other fish. and it's cruel that the goldfish had part of its face ripped off. i feel bad when i'm shooting, if on the very rare occasion i don't make a clean kill, but purposely making a fish suffer doesn't seem right to me. we're supposed to like fish, not kill them.

Tread lightly here. There are some aquarium fish that are obligate carnivores -- that is, they have to consume other fish to survive. For the most part, these predatory fish would be very hard to train to accept non-living food.

Secondly, how do you think the majority of fish survive and die in the wild? A great deal of fish will consume a smaller fish, and a great deal of fish serve as meals for a larger fish. Fish consuming fish is simply a part of nature. There is no "cruel" about it in that regards.

There are many points of view, so, as I said, let's try to tread lightly here before attempting to dictate morality.

Yeah I was told that Large convicts would in fact eat goldfish and the goldfish were originally for my Turtles anyway. I just threw like 2 or 3 in my breeder tank tho and didnt even expect the Algae Eater to go after him...hes dead now tho i fed him to my turtles that way the suffering would stop.


and Yeah ive read that convicts are very good parents but what im worried about are the quickness of the Algae eater...there REALLLLLY Fast and I think if i leave them in there they will just sit and wait till a little baby goes off and boom its gone...