Siamese Algae Eaters

[New Boy]

How big do they get, and do they prefer to be kept on their own, in pairs or small group of them??

Thanks
Andy

 

[ryan]

they can reach up to 5 and half inches, they do not hav to be kept in groups but can be.

 

[CFC]

Actually they are a shoaling species so do need to be kept in groups, a minimum of 3 is best, about 5 1/2" is the maximum they will grow to.

 

[New Boy]

Thanks

CFC,

If I talk my better half into getting a 300 litre (probably Juwel Rio 300, but maybe a rena calvados (380 litres, deeper than Rio but same height and width)) straight after xmas (and fishless cycle it) do you think it would support my current stock plus 3 more tiger barbs, 3 siamese algae eaters, 3 upside down cats (and maybe 5 danios)....or would that be a bit much again?

Thanks
Andy

 

[Alien_spawn]

I've ordered some SAE at my LFS ( will take about 2 weeks or so when hopefully the tank will be okay again)

 

[CFC]

If I talk my better half into getting a 300 litre (probably Juwel Rio 300, but maybe a rena calvados (380 litres, deeper than Rio but same height and width)) straight after xmas (and fishless cycle it) do you think it would support my current stock plus 3 more tiger barbs, 3 siamese algae eaters, 3 upside down cats (and maybe 5 danios)....or would that be a bit much again?

In both the rio and the calvados you can fit up to 90 inches of fish (75g tank with the same footprint as a 90g) provided they are spread between the levels of the tank so it can easily contain all your current stock and the new fish you wish to add.

Why do you want to fishless cycle the tank? If you take the media and some of the gravel from your existing tank and add it to the new one along with the existing fish the tank will just be "cloned" thus avoiding the whole cycle routine, just wait a couple of weeks before adding any new fish to allow the bacteria to spread into the new media and substrate.

 

[New Boy]

Thanks CFC,

I was going to take some of the gravel and filter media across anyway but thought I'd have to cycle too.

I'm going to drop the idea of adding some upside-down-catfish as I've read a lot of stuff that suggests they're a bit too peaceful to go with the fish that I already have. I'll add 3 more barbs, 4 danios and 3 SAE's (not all in one go). Should be ok with the 90 inch thing then but if any fish get too aggressive or large then they'll I'll try and move them on to a fish store or something.

Roll on January

Cheers
Andy