Please Help Id This Fish...... Sae Or Not?

[Irf]

Hi all,

I have 3 of these in my tank and all is going well. They keep the algae controlled with constant grazing. The onlt thing is, the lfs said they will eat hair algae as well. But they don't - not at all.

Can any of you experts help me out here? Are these False SAEs? Or what else could they be?

Pics:

[img]http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/1023/img17044xg.jpg

Thanks for any help you can offer. I've been doing lots of reading up and there are several sites offering pictures and advice. It's just that I'd like some genuine aquarist opinions too!!

Irf.

 

[Mad Duff]

They look like Siamese Algae Eaters to me, definatley not False Simese Algae Eaters.

 

[AnneRiceBowl]

They look like Siamese Algae Eaters to me, definatley not False Simese Algae Eaters.

I had bought a flying fox at my LPS. I got home, did a quick recheck, and they actually looked like SAEs. Since it has gotten older, filled out, and grown, it's definately a flying fox.

So, so far, your's look like SAEs. They grow to 6 inches each and are schooling, so you may want to go back and get another. I have also been told that they do well alone. I hope you have them in a big tank!

 

[Irf]

Thanks for the advice.

Looking at this info here, it looks likely that they are SAEs. But they certainly don't eat hair algae!

They are around 2.5" long at the moment, and very very active! When buying them I didn't realise that they might grow that big. However the lfs did know what tank I was going to put them in (they sold it to me).

The tank is 120cm x 40cm x 45cm high. Is that going to be big enough? At the moment I have 5 zebra danios and six neon tetras in there as well. I was hoping to add a few more fish as well. The tank is quite heavily planted.

Thanks again.

Irf.

 

[wesleydnunder]

LOL Irf. I have 8 SAEs in my 125g discus tank. They'd rather eat the fish food than the algae. Yours is a SAE.

Mark

 

[Irf]

OK, thanks Mark. I guess I'll keep removing it mysef then!

Irf.

 

[@ombomb]

They do more to keep algae at bay than most fish, but there is no real alternative to cleaning the tank yourself.

If you are getting excessive algae it's better to stop the source of the problem than the sympton anyway.

 

[Irf]

I kind of realised that, but I was hoping for some help. No problem with the regular algae on the glass, etc. Just the hair/thread-like stuff that grows off the leaves of my plants.

Anyway, the main thing is that the fish are what I expected them to be - thanks to all!

Irf.

 

[max11180]

are you getting any natural sunlight on the tank? either that or your lights could be on for too long in a day.
i suggest you check nitrates, and phosphates, the lower these 2 are in your water (phosphate is better being 0 really) then the less there is for algae to eat of. Either that, or use more real plants, to starve the algae.
Although either or both of these will help, they will not totally eliminate the need for manual cleaning, but, they will make it easier.

 

[Irf]

There is a little natural light at the other end of the room, but oe on the tank itself.

I will be fitting a timer switch for the lights, so maybe that will help?

I've also just added lots more plants (there may be too many now!) so let's see if that works.....

I'll check for nitrates and phosphates and let you know.

Irf.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

SAEs will eat algae even at large size, some of mine are almost 6 inches and they still eat algae, however, they will eat anything else first. They will gobble your hair algae if you stop feeding the tank.