Siamese Algae Eaters??!!??!!

[liamsart]

Today I set out to buy some Siamese Algae Eaters, and returned with 2 "Siamese Flying Foxes", having been told by my LFS that they are the same as Siamese Algae Eaters (SAEs). I've spent hours researching on the net whether they are truely the same, but there are so many conflicting opinions! Some sources say they are the same, others say they are different and that the Siamese Flying Fox is not as good an algae eater as the SAE... others say that there are different types of SAE, and the "real" algae eater is the torpedo shaped one with transparent fins and a black line going all the way along the body to the end of the tail fin (which is sort of what mine looks like). Some sources even say there is a difference between the Flying Fox, Siamese Flying Fox and the Siamese Algae Eater!!!! Arrrrgggghhh.... toooooo confused..... must rest brain.... mental overload.... need rest!!!! (ok... I exaggerate, but it is starting to bug me). Can anyone who really knows about these fish please tell me whether there is a difference? Thanks!

 

[Feline]

U can try this LINK.

HTH!

 

[CFC]

The siamese flying fox and siamese algea eater are the same fish Crossocheilus siamensis and are very good algea eaters (they are the only fish known to eat black hair algea).However they must not be mistaken for the Flying fox Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus which will only eat algea if nothing else is on offer and gets very aggressive when mature.

 

[-=DG=-]

Hello m8,

I had a thread a while back which was about the same thing. Check it out and you'll be sorted out:

linkage

 

[Jamnog]

i thaught they where different because i found a page once and mentioned it in one of my posts about my otto it showed pics of the chinese siamese alge eaters and had a flying fox pic also it said they where different but where allways being mixed up for one another i would more belive cfc tho.

 

[Dubby]

Take a look at this Link. It has excellent closeup pics and good explanation of the differences

 

[liamsart]

Thankyou all very much for your replies... it is much appreciated! It does seem that I am the proud owner of a couple of Siamese Algae Eaters, which are supposedly the same as Siamese Flying Foxes. May they munch algae for years to come... yum!