Siamese Algae Eaters

[2excitedkids]

We have been told by the LFS that a siamese algae etaer will be ok in our 260l planted community tank. (see profile for fish). Tropical fish finder suggests however that it is very territorial. We were hoping to get one as our tank has a tendency to grow hair algae which is unsightly and requires lots of removal and plant changes.

Would one be ok? or would it terrorise my other fish.
How would I be able to tell which is a SAE and not a flying fox/siamese flying fox.

Thanks

 

[england]

well they get to about 8 or more inches they can be aggresive with other bottom dwellers however mine never has a problem with his tankmates, they are better suited to temps around 20c,,,,they require space otherwise you will think there aggressive but its a terrortory issue, as alot of people keep them in small community tanks with small fish they seem to think there aggressive but there not if kept with bigger tank mates

you might be better getting a bristlenose plec, these are good algae eaters,,,other than that just good old elbow gresse is your bset friend,,,,

this is my one algae eater roughly 8inches

 

[Spishkey]

wow do they grow so big? i was tempted to buy a few of these for my community they are so tiny in the shops!, thank god ive seen this first!

 

[kenny fish fanatic]

do these come in yellow?if so i have one in my tank hes about 4to5in long and he chaises after my other fish the little sod,anyone want it? come pick it up or i will drop in in within a few miles that is,,kenny

 

[rdd1952]

They have Saimese AEs confused with Chinese AEs. The photo nelly posted is a CAE and they do become very aggressive as they get older and bigger (up to about 6 "). IMO, not realy suitable for a community tank. They also eat very little algae when young and almost none as they get older. They will however suck the slime coat off of slower moving, flat-bodied fish like gouramis and angels.

SAEs on the other hand are very peaceful fush. I have 3 in my 75 gallon tank. They will grow to maybe 4 or 5 inches in an aquarium (can grow to 6"), will eat most all types of algae but will also take flakes or sinking pellets and wafers. Just make sure that the fish they have are true SAEs though as there are 2 very similar look-a-likes that aren't nearly as good. Here is the profile on SAEs and here is a good web page on the differences with drawings.

 

[england]

opps my bad

 

[kenny fish fanatic]

well mine looks like nellys but its bright yellow,my m8 gave me it as it was going after her fish but she had a small tank,so she brought it to mine,mines a big tank,it seemed ok at first but now after months of settleing in the little git goes after anything,he has to go,its a right bully,,kenny

 

[rdd1952]

Those are Chinese algae eaters and you have the golden variety. As mentioned, they will pretty much chase and harass everything in the tank once they get larger. It's a shame that so many fish stores sell them as they really aren't suitable for most community tanks.

 

[2excitedkids]

Looks as though we could have 1 or 2 in our tank then. Thanks for the link-have printed them and shall take them to lfs to ensure true SAE.

 

[bae1994]

i had a flying fox and he was a chaser

 

[rdd1952]

The key is obviously the stripe, where it starts and whether it continues into the tail. On juvies, it's sometimes hard to tell about the part in the tail as it is very faint on true SAEs.

 

[kenny fish fanatic]

thanks rdd1952,hes a one,hes really nice too,really bright yellow,but he constantly chaises my other fish hes a right pain,so if anyone wants him pm me,thanks again,,kenny

 

[doresy]

I have had Sae / flyingfoxes before, they are superb.......for a while. When small thet work tirelessly eating any algae they can find and grow quickly into very handsome fish. Then they discover that left over flake food is much less work and seem to forget about algae. Then horrors! Icaught them 'grazing' on my beloved Corys Back to the LFS double quick

 

[rdd1952]

I have had Sae / flyingfoxes before, they are superb.......for a while. When small thet work tirelessly eating any algae they can find and grow quickly into very handsome fish. Then they discover that left over flake food is much less work and seem to forget about algae. Then horrors! Icaught them 'grazing' on my beloved Corys Back to the LFS double quick

Are you 100% certain they were true SAEs? I've never heard of them being a problem with any fish as they are extremely peaceful. Mine have been in the tank with corys almost from the start with no problems at all. That definitely sounds like CAEs as they will attack corys and suck their eyes out. It could also be an issue with false SAEs or flying foxes. And you mentioned having a sae/flying fox. A flying fox and a true siamese algae eater are 2 completely different fish with totally different behavior habits

 

[doresy]

I have had Sae / flyingfoxes before, they are superb.......for a while. When small thet work tirelessly eating any algae they can find and grow quickly into very handsome fish. Then they discover that left over flake food is much less work and seem to forget about algae. Then horrors! Icaught them 'grazing' on my beloved Corys Back to the LFS double quick

Are you 100% certain they were true SAEs? I've never heard of them being a problem with any fish as they are extremely peaceful. Mine have been in the tank with corys almost from the start with no problems at all. That definitely sounds like CAEs as they will attack corys and suck their eyes out. It could also be an issue with false SAEs or flying foxes. And you mentioned having a sae/flying fox. A flying fox and a true siamese algae eater are 2 completely different fish with totally different behavior habits

We had this conversation a while back and I posted pictures to prove. Just as your picture and if you look very carefully you can see the little blighter in the left tank in my sig. Definately Sae and as you say they are peaceful with just a little squabbling at feeding time but this one was definately doing the odd grazing on just one particular cory which was begining to increase so with a choice to make....he went