Gold Algae Eaters!

[Arashi]

Ok, so I needed something to eat the algae that was starting to take over in my 7.5 gallon divided betta tank, and I remembered that my lfs had two kinds of algae eaters that wern't plecos...Otos and these things simply called Gold Algae Eaters. I had already bought Otos from them before and while I like them, I wanted someting a bit different...so I went with the Gold Algae Eaters. I got four of them, two for one side of the divider, and two for the other.

Now what I need from you guys is to tell me exactly what they are! They look like Otos, but are longer and MUCH more active. They love being seen and to have their pictures taken...quite the little hams.

So, anyone know what their real name is...or at least another name for them?

 

[Arashi]

A few close-ups!

 

[Arashi]

Anf finally, two side shots of the same fish.

 

[Arashi]

Could these guys be Chinese Algae Eaters?! Cause if they are they get pretty big...and aren't they a bit aggresive, especially when they get older? I paid $1.99 each for them...is that a good price? When I asked my lfs about them, they said they are just like the Otos, very placid and small, only just a different color...I'm gonna be really ticked if they lied to me...

Oh boy...I think I should have gone with the Otos!

 

[Sorrell]

Be mad....CAE, not so good

 

[Arashi]

Be mad....CAE, not so good

Crap...I knew it...I knew it! As soon as I saw those pictures I knew they were going to turn out to be CAEs...this sucks. I think I'm going to keep one, and try to take the other three back to the fish store. I cannot have that aggresive of a fish with the ones I have now. I have no where to put it when it gets older. Man...this weekend just keep getting better and better.

This is why you always figure out what kind of fish you are buying before you buy it...I just never thought that my favorite lfs would lie to me...that really makes me mad.

 

[Acrobit]

I have the same problem as you do, Arashi. I bought an oto for one of my tanks but instead they gave me a CAE and I didn't even realize it until I got home.

I'm still a bit ticked that I'm stuck with "Satan"...

 

[Colin_BC]

I wouldn't keep any of the CAE's. I picked up a couple 1" CAE's labeled as plain old 'algae eaters.' At the time I had many beautiful gourami's. The CAE's weren't a problem for about 2 months. One grew quickliy and the other slowly. The fast growing one hit about 2" and it's favourite meal turned into fish slime. The bugger killed my 3 favourite gourami's in les than 2 weeks. I took them back to the giant LFS and had a word with their fish person about perhaps labeling them properly and warning people about those fish, as she told me she knew they were problematic (when I returned them, not bought them). Her response was 'people yell at us if we don't bring them in.' I guess there are some that keep CAE only tanks. Unless doing that, be cautious and don't sacrifice any of your fish to them. The single-employee LFS I deal with now warns everyone about those and he refuses to bring them into his store.

Please be cautious and watch crefully if you decide to keep one or any...

Colin

 

[Arashi]

Acrobit - You do have the same problem I did. I'm very sorry to hear that. They won't take Satan back either? How big has he gotten now?

Colin_BC - Well, I took the CAEs back before I read your post, but I'm glad I did anyways...believe me if I had any want to keep just one of them, your story would have 100% persuaded me otherwise. That is horrible what happened to your poor Gourami's, and I am truely very sorry.


Well after much thought and consideration for my tanks (and my poor fishies), I decided to take a short trip to my lfs. When I got there I explained everything, that I was told that they were going to stay small and peaceful, and that they were really CAEs. The guy said that he knew what they were, but that his daughter had written the name wrong on the tanks, and he hadn't noticed. He was super sympathetic (I think they don't want to lose me as a customer ) and he allowed me to bring the little CAEs back to the store and exchange them for Otos. So, now I don't have to worry about anything getting too big and eating my fish for lunch!

I'm so happy with my four new Otos! They are so cute!

 

[Colin_BC]

Good call on your judgement to bring them all back! The oto's shouldn't give you any prob's at all! Just before writing that last post I had actually called my LFS owner. he brought in a dozen oto's for me to pick from since I mentioned them tohim last week.

As for the gourami's, well, it happens. On the bright side, others can learn from it and my misfortune can save other fish.

Colin

 

[Arashi]

Oh yeah, I have some Otos in my 2.5 gallon as well, and they are such sweet little guys. I have no problem with them at all. Glad to hear you will be getting some Otos as well, Colin!

I hope many others can read this thread and know not to get the CAE, unless they are truely prepared for them.

 

[Acrobit]

They won't take him back, Arashi, so I am stuck with him. He has no fish to suck slime off of and he has not grown at all.

He's a cute little bugger and I act as if I hate the poor thing... it really isn't his fault that he's like that, though, so I have to remember that.

 

[Arashi]

Well, it's too bad that you can't take him back. Hopefully he'll be a nice little CAE. They are cute little guys though...if I ever get a tank big enough to keep a full grown one in by itself I'd like to get another one. And I'll be damned if they ain't good algae eaters!! They cleaned up my tank of algae in the short day and a half I had them!

 

[Colin_BC]

I found they were decent algae eaters when they were small. Once they got a bit bigger, though, they ate less and less algae.

I just got back from the LFS where I bought 5 oto's. Once they take care of the algae on my plants and celan the tank, a2 will be moved to my 10G. As well, he's going to take my female gold angel for a really nice large male angel he got from a breeder.

Colin