Name That Fish! Please

[FISH-FRY]

These are the best pictures I could take for now based on the fact that this little guy doesn't like me much and swims away whenever I get close. My battery also ran out and tried the second battery which died as well.

I went looking for a Siamese Algae Eater at a local store and came across a tank with some that looked like them but the label was Flying Fox. I searched some more and couldn't find any so I asked for help. The helpful guy went to the initial tank I found and pointed out the Flying Fox name even though I asked for an SAE.

Unfortunately I didn't think too much of it at the time so I brought it home and since it was lights out for the aquarium I didn't really have time to look at him well in the dark. I did some more research and found out that the FF's are not what I really wanted in my tank and they didn't really like the red beard/brush algae that I wanted him for. At least I think I have that algae coming on. My real concern was the possible hostility towards my Tetras as it grows and an increased appetite for Red Cherry Shrimp which by the way are MIA but they have been since before I got this guy. He's only about 2" now and don't think his mouth is big enough even for the smallest RCS I have.

I've done some research and I think I have what I was looking for and that the local shop has either the tank mislabeled or there could be a mix since the SAEs could school with the FF's. I'm going to be stopping by the shop later to take a look but I'm sure I have an SAE and would like the opinions of others here.

Thanks!

 

[Paradise3]

These are the best pictures I could take for now based on the fact that this little guy doesn't like me much and swims away whenever I get close. My battery also ran out and tried the second battery which died as well.

I went looking for a Siamese Algae Eater at a local store and came across a tank with some that looked like them but the label was Flying Fox. I searched some more and couldn't find any so I asked for help. The helpful guy went to the initial tank I found and pointed out the Flying Fox name even though I asked for an SAE.

Unfortunately I didn't think too much of it at the time so I brought it home and since it was lights out for the aquarium I didn't really have time to look at him well in the dark. I did some more research and found out that the FF's are not what I really wanted in my tank and they didn't really like the red beard/brush algae that I wanted him for. At least I think I have that algae coming on. My real concern was the possible hostility towards my Tetras as it grows and an increased appetite for Red Cherry Shrimp which by the way are MIA but they have been since before I got this guy. He's only about 2" now and don't think his mouth is big enough even for the smallest RCS I have.

I've done some research and I think I have what I was looking for and that the local shop has either the tank mislabeled or there could be a mix since the SAEs could school with the #63###. I'm going to be stopping by the shop later to take a look but I'm sure I have an SAE and would like the opinions of others here.

Thanks!

I'd say the first 1 because it has the same dorsal fin and is more slender than the second 1.

Xxx~misscosmo~xxX

 

[fishyfeet]

These are the best pictures I could take for now based on the fact that this little guy doesn't like me much and swims away whenever I get close. My battery also ran out and tried the second battery which died as well.

I went looking for a Siamese Algae Eater at a local store and came across a tank with some that looked like them but the label was Flying Fox. I searched some more and couldn't find any so I asked for help. The helpful guy went to the initial tank I found and pointed out the Flying Fox name even though I asked for an SAE.

Unfortunately I didn't think too much of it at the time so I brought it home and since it was lights out for the aquarium I didn't really have time to look at him well in the dark. I did some more research and found out that the FF's are not what I really wanted in my tank and they didn't really like the red beard/brush algae that I wanted him for. At least I think I have that algae coming on. My real concern was the possible hostility towards my Tetras as it grows and an increased appetite for Red Cherry Shrimp which by the way are MIA but they have been since before I got this guy. He's only about 2" now and don't think his mouth is big enough even for the smallest RCS I have.

I've done some research and I think I have what I was looking for and that the local shop has either the tank mislabeled or there could be a mix since the SAEs could school with the #63###. I'm going to be stopping by the shop later to take a look but I'm sure I have an SAE and would like the opinions of others here.

Thanks!

I'd say the first 1 because it has the same dorsal fin and is more slender than the second 1.

Xxx~misscosmo~xxX

Id say its an sae, flying foxes and false siamese eaters have a gold stripe with a black stripe with stops before the tail, and they have one set of barbels on the mouth and true sae only have one set and the black stripe continues on to the tail.

 

[Night61]

honestly i have no idea, but he is a cute little guy

 

[FISH-FRY]

Thanks for the responses.

I went to the local shop and they are all SAEs. The actual name by the tank is "True Flying Foxes". There's such a thing as a "False Siamese Algae Eater" but not what they have listed. Or maybe it's something new?! I was going to talk to one of the guys working there but they were pretty busy...maybe next time.

One thing I noticed on some of the bigger ones (when I got mine I asked the guy to grab me a smaller one) was the black at the edge of the scales that mine lacks. I've read that this doesn't start to show up until they are 2"-3" long. The same with the edges of the black line not being straight.

 

[mattlee]

100% SAE you can see the black line continuing into the tail fin and in the first pic you can see the jagged edge to the black stripe. also as stated above flting foxes and false sae have a gold line above the black. my false sae also had a very colourful almost like rainbow striped dorsal fin.

 

[FISH-FRY]

100% SAE you can see the black line continuing into the tail fin and in the first pic you can see the jagged edge to the black stripe. also as stated above flting foxes and false sae have a gold line above the black. my false sae also had a very colourful almost like rainbow striped dorsal fin.

Thanks for your vote of confidence as everything I've read and pictures I've seen point to it being a SAE. The clear fins and tail and the fact that he likes sitting on the fins and tail have me convince. One thing I'm not sure about is that today I opened up a new package of what I thought was small pellets Nutrafin Max (they're for larger fish and all mine can't eat one) and at first shy, the SAE finally approached all the Tetras and Corydoras after they were all munching on the tablet. The SAE wouldn't get too close but then he started nipping at fins...maybe he was really hungry?
I hope this isn't him beginning to become aggressive.

 

[fishyfeet]

The SAE wouldn't get too close but then he started nipping at fins...maybe he was really hungry?
I hope this isn't him beginning to become aggressive.
[/quote]

hmm they can be techy where food is concerned, i'm not sure they actually do any harm, i have three and would say they are better in a group, they tend to chase each other and leave other fish alone what he is doing is trying to protect his food.

 

[grumpysteve]

it looks like an SAE, but there is another fish that looks identical (crossocheilus oblongus) which is commonly called a siamese flying fox. they're pretty much the exact same fish though, they look the same, they're found in the same areas, and they have the same temperament. SAE's really aren't usually aggressive, but he might do well in a group of 4 or more.

the false SAE (flying fox) is different enough in appearance to tell the difference from your pics, but tbh they aren't usually aggressive to most fish either, just anything that looks like a member of the same family

he might have had a nip just because the other fish are new to him. he could be working out who the boss of the tank is, or trying to let the others know he shouldn't be messed with