Pleco Question

[bobross]

Hi everybody,

I just inherited a pleco about, oh, 5 minutes ago(a friend stopped by and offered to me as a rescue b/c the other owner was gonna flush it) and I have a couple of questions about this neat little fish.

First of all, I was wondering what type of pleco this is - it's apparently a baby still as it's only about an inch long. This fish's main two colors are a darker brown on the top half and lower half is a lighter brown. The two halves are divided by a horizontal line running down each side of the fish. The horizontal 'line' on each side has little 'squares' that alternate on each side of the horizontal line.

Obviously, i didn't do much research on it and maybe I was posting in the wrong area. I guess I could've posted in the pleco part of this forum and will do so if necessary.

Anybody have any idea what type of pleco it is? I'm assuming it's a common pleco but it doesn't yet have the really cool design on it like the mature ones I've seen at lfs'. Now from my knowledge, plecos can get big over time (not sure if mine will) and for right now, I have this pleco in a 10g tank. I know it maybe too small - I have a 20g as well (both tanks are cycled) - but my 20g has a rainbow 'shark' in it. I thought I read somewhere that these fish are simliar to plecos which is why I hesitated on putting the plec in the 20g. Right now, my rainbow chases all of the barbs if they are caught in his territory - would it be okay to put the plec in the 20g once it got bigger with the rainbow?

I realize also that my tanks may be too small for the fish that I keep - but I perform 20% water changes at least twice a week - but that's not my question. Would the pleco be okay with a rainbow shark down the road?

* Also posted this question on the beginners questions part of the forum as well, but I'd figure I'd post here too being that it's a pleco question *

One of my local fish stores has a very open trade in policy on plecos - they have a 300g? freshwater turtle tank that has several pleco's that are easily over a foot long!! quite a cool site to see!!

Thanks in advance for any feedback!!

BobRoss

 

[LisaLQ]

Does it look like this?

http/filaman.ifm-geomar.de/images/thumbn...tn_Gyaym_u1.jpg

http/www.aquariumlife.net/profile-images/algae-eater.jpg

http/www2.biology.ualberta.ca/jackson.hp...ieri/Images.php

http/www2.biology.ualberta.ca/jackson.hp...aymonieri_2.jpg

From your description, it definitely sounds like a chinese algae eater. It's not a plec, will only eat algae til it hits about 4", then it will turn nasty and harass all your fish (some maybe to the point of death). They can reach 10-12", more average is 8-10" though.

IMO, best returned to the fish shop. Not a good fish for a community - although it might get along with the rainbow shark, I wouldn't bet on it though.

If it's not that, it doesn't sound like a common plec, they come with their colours/markings the same as if they were adults just about, I dont know any with a stripe down the side like that. Might be otocinclus, if so - they wont grow any bigger.

 

[bobross]

Goodness!!!

the frst pic was totally the image I was trying to describe(out of the four). I'm kind of at a loss at what to think ----returning the fish wouldn't be a problem down the road... ...

... For right now, I was thinking that maybe I could just let it stay in my tank for a couple of months(the 10g w/o the shark) until it gets a little bigger. If it starts to get aggresive towards my other fish, again, I can bring it to a lfs. I won't be able to get to a lfs w/i business hours for the next week. Just the thought of having to relocate a fish the next day is kind of a bummer. ...

Thanks so much for the response LisaLQ!! Definitely informative and also impressive pics. Thanks again!

I did a little looking aroung after finding out the name of this fish, and the personal experiences that I read about them weren't very encouraging on my behalf to keep it.

Why are these fish even sold if they can be such a nuisance? Or they better of in a bigger tank?
...just thought of something else. Are there fish compatible with these if they were in a much larger tank? Like maybe other fast moving fish (tiger barbs)?


Anyways, it gives me something to think about for a few days.....maybe I can take down a wall in my pc room for a bigger tank thanks again!



BobRoss

 

[bobross]

Why are these fish even sold if they can be such a nuisance? Or they better of in a bigger tank?
...just thought of something else. Are there fish compatible with these if they were in a much larger tank? Like maybe other fast moving fish (tiger barbs)?



??

 

[lol]

Why are these fish even sold if they can be such a nuisance? Or they better of in a bigger tank?
...just thought of something else. Are there fish compatible with these if they were in a much larger tank? Like maybe other fast moving fish (tiger barbs)?



??

Hi, I'm new to this forum, just signed up today to ask about my new tank, which is second hand, bought about 2 weeks ago. Clicked this thread by chance and it's answered my question! I was wondering what the 'catfish' I got with the tank was, and why it's getting aggressive towards the other fish, when the previous owner said he just spent time chilling on the bottom. The pictures from Lisa are perfect, that is most definitely him!

Wonder what to do... He's with 2 deep angels, 3 glowlight tetras and a goldfish (all came with the tank!). Looks like he'll be a bit too feisty now that he's reached 8-9cm

Just found this online: http/www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/article_detail.asp?id=39 - lokks like he'll have to go, what a shame

 

[G.A]

An inch seems small for a CAE, the smallest I've seen for sale were about twice that.
The reason they are sold is because people buy them as "equipment" to keep the tank clean of algae. Its also possible they are sold in such numbers (both my local fish shops always has several tanks of them) that aggression is rarer than the number of people having problems would suggest.



Chinese Algae Eaters from experience-

They are almost indestructable. My CAE got to 5" in a 30 litre which was cleaned out once every few months by removing the fish, draining the tank, changing the gravel and washing the filter in hot tap water, then filling with untreated tap water, sounds terrible now , and is probably the reason why its the oldest fish I own. When it was moved to an 80 l (soon to be upgraded to 200 l) with regular water changes it started to grow again.

Aggression. Depends on the individual fish. Some become aggressive when little, some when mature and some never do. However keeping them in a suitable tank might help (see below.)

Needs. A cave of some form is a good idea. From experience they prefer it to be only a little higher than they are. Without a cave they tend to be stressed (rapid breathing, shooting around the tank and up the glass, loss of colour) and will dig up the gravel and move decorations is search of a place to hide. They also need feeding pellets since its unlikely they will get to any flake. Doing both of these may or may not help with aggression.

Tankmates. Any fish are a risk, however especially avoid other bottom dwellers and fish that resemble the CAE, also platies and anything with a flat body. Slim, fast moving fish like danios are probably best.

Tank size- 80l is probably an absolute minimum for an adult so long as water quality is maintained. However its possible that it will outgrow this (they can get to a foot long though this probably requires a very large tank or pond.) and need upgrading. Bigger than this is better.

 

[lol]

An inch seems small for a CAE, the smallest I've seen for sale were about twice that.
The reason they are sold is because people buy them as "equipment" to keep the tank clean of algae. Its also possible they are sold in such numbers (both my local fish shops always has several tanks of them) that aggression is rarer than the number of people having problems would suggest.



Chinese Algae Eaters from experience-

They are almost indestructable. My CAE got to 5" in a 30 litre which was cleaned out once every few months by removing the fish, draining the tank, changing the gravel and washing the filter in hot tap water, then filling with untreated tap water, sounds terrible now , and is probably the reason why its the oldest fish I own. When it was moved to an 80 l (soon to be upgraded to 200 l) with regular water changes it started to grow again.

Aggression. Depends on the individual fish. Some become aggressive when little, some when mature and some never do. However keeping them in a suitable tank might help (see below.)

Needs. A cave of some form is a good idea. From experience they prefer it to be only a little higher than they are. Without a cave they tend to be stressed (rapid breathing, shooting around the tank and up the glass, loss of colour) and will dig up the gravel and move decorations is search of a place to hide. They also need feeding pellets since its unlikely they will get to any flake. Doing both of these may or may not help with aggression.

Tankmates. Any fish are a risk, however especially avoid other bottom dwellers and fish that resemble the CAE, also platies and anything with a flat body. Slim, fast moving fish like danios are probably best.

Tank size- 80l is probably an absolute minimum for an adult so long as water quality is maintained. However its possible that it will outgrow this (they can get to a foot long though this probably requires a very large tank or pond.) and need upgrading. Bigger than this is better.

That's really helpful, thanks. I've been watching him and one of the things I had noticed was that he was breathing rapidly, which I forgot to mention in my 1st post (don't think it's live yet, I only joined today), and I was worried the water may be too warm, but all seemed well according to my research. So I guess he must be stressed, and he is shooting all around the tank, up and down the glass. I'm off now to buy a cave of some kind, and some pellets, anything that might help. If he doesn't calm back down and keeps chasing the others I'll have to consider re-housing.

The tank is about 120l...

Thanks again!

 

[bobross]

I'm still unsure as to what I should do with this fish. I don't have problems with algae in my tanks - I just took this fish b/c I didnt want to flush it. all of the fish stores are about 1.5 hours away from me. I've read a lot of info on these since I fould what they were and a lot of personal experiences make me want to go and bring this fish to an lfs ASAP. But, seeing that I have a little cave and a very long cave in the tank that he's in, I might try and house him(her?) for a little while and sit back and see what happens.

So far, so good. He's seeming to like both caves right now, which kind of scary. I hope since he's so young now and all ready establishing the bottom of tank as 'his', hope this isn't a sign of whats ahead. I've never had luck with any kind of 'algae eater' in the past, so why not at least try?

So far, it's been a few days now and no signs of aggression or stress (yet).


I do have a question on a potential future tankmate. One of my friends just setup a 29g recently and he is the proud owner of a 4" red devil... Now, I know these fish can be rather aggressive and territorial but do think my SAE would be safe in his aquarium in the future? or would he just end up being a snack for the red devil?

I'm super impressed with all the feedback I've gotten on SAE's from everybody so far, this definitely seems to be the forum to go to for answers for ANYthing aquarium related!!!

Thanks again for any feedback, EVERYBODY have a nice day!


BobRoss

 

[lol]

I just wanted to say that, after adding a rather nice ship wreck (we own a dive centre, and that's where the tank is, so it seemed kind of appropriate) that's low level, split in 2, and stuffing it with a cople of algae flakes, he's just gone in! He seems to like it! So pleased! Been watching the tank for about 2 hours now and I've seen him chasing the goldfish again, just a little though, not so bad as at the weekend. The girl angel has a mark on her side though, the size of his mouth... She's also bulging, I'm sure she's about to lay eggs! Will have to go to another section of the forum to ask questions about her!

Thanks so much, once again, for the advice. I'm new to this website too and, like bobross, think it's great! Will keep you updated on CAE's behaviour...

 

[bobross]

Just another question. If the CAE started becoming aggressive, would I be able to rehouse it w/ three tinfoil barbs & a crayfish?
I don't want to get rid of it since it's such a neat looking fish, just want to know if this is possible if any signs of aggression appear.
The barbs are about seven inches long each and the cray fish is about 4 inches long, if that matters. I haven't had any problems with the CAE as of yet, he(she) mainly sticks to the glass or the plants in my tank. Haven't seen any aggression or indications that the cae is stressed.

 

[LisaLQ]

Temperament wise he'll be fine for now, it's once they hit about 4" they turn into evil gits lol. At that point it's recommended you keep them in a species tank, ie on his own or with same species company. We were sold four by the LFS as a "peaceful" clean up crew, made the mistake of not researching before we bought - within a short while (they grow fast!) they reached 4", and just as most info says - turned into horrible vicious fish that attacked anything that got in their way. Latched onto the sides of fish, chewed up a couple of my cories, the works. IMO, he'll be ok for a month or two, but then it might be worth looking into rehoming him. But - all fish are different, and I guess there'd be no harm in trying. Although I dont know how a crayfish would take to him (no experience with crayfish I'm afraid!).

 

[bobross]

Well... if the cae gets nasty, it gives me a couple of months(hopefully) to call the lfs. They're definitely a cool looking fish, but ... there's other fish I'd rather setup a species tank for.

Thanks for all the info so far!

 

[bobross]

Just a quick followup ? on this fish....


I've been doing a little research on it and some of the info contradicts what I've been told/heard. What I've recently found on the net is that CAE that I have is actually an oto(?) and that the gold/albino CAE is the cae that gets nasty with age while the oto I supposedly have remains peacful? Anybody have any idea if this is true or not?



Thanks in advance

 

[LisaLQ]

There's a vast difference in size TBH, if it stays around an inch, it might be an oto, if it grows any bigger - it's definitely not.

But you can see the difference very easily - they have a totally different body shape. CAEs are long and straight, otos are tiny and nearly all head lol. The pics I showed you above are all CAEs, and if it looks like one - it probably is one. But for reference, here's oto piccies:
http/www.acuariosleuka.com/otocinclus.jpg
http/www.holendry.republika.pl/img/otocinclus_2_1_m.jpg
http/www.otocinclus.com/images/fatoto1.jpg
http/www.zooclub.ru/aqua/36/Otocinclus_arnoldi.jpg
http/www.worldfish.fr/cbx/otocinclus.jpg

 

[dwarfgourami]

The gold/albino CAE and the standard CAE are the same fish and behave in the same way. Apart from the body shape, there is a difference in pattern between CAEs and otos: CAEs are the ones that have a pattern like the most boring kind of gentleman's suit, with little brown squares, whereas otos tend to have more like a splodgy line of pattern. An oto would be fine and stay small.