Sucking Loach?

[sam.stoneley]

I've been informed if this is a sucking loach, then it will grow to 10", too big for my 5G!
If it is, how long will it take to grow to this size?
If it isn't, what is it?

thanks
Sam

 

[Ahmad]

I am pretty Sure you have a Gold weather Loach.....
If not someone correct me.

They grow pretty big too (12 inches) in captivity the grow about 6-10 inches.....so you can keep him as of now but your either going to have to give him a bigger tank or just give him away when he grows big.

 

[1bennet1]

It does look like an albino version of my sucking loach so it could be that...but you would have to ask an expert... If it was albino am I right in thinking that the eyes would be red??

 

[balloon molly]

it is a gold algea eater it will grow big in time it is a golden version of the siamese algae eater,it was never aggresive with my other fish when i had a 20 gal,but keep us posted

 

[Silva_Fishy]

they take agggggggggggges to grow.

 

[ryan]

It is not a Gold Weather Loach, infact it is a gold form of Gyrinocheilus aymonieri, often called a Sucking Loach or Chinese Algae Eater, the common names are misleading as it is not a Loach and nor does it come from China. They can reach sizes of upto 10" and as they grow they become more territorial and aggressive, with age their algae eating generally stops to.

 

[R3GG]

I have one of these in my 39gal, to be honest i didnt think it would get to 10", he's about 2.5 to 3 inches atm and totally harmless

 

[Gill]

I have 3 of these Chinese Gold Algae Eaters in Mine, As Ryan has said (He found out what they were fo me Aswell) they will get very big and aggressive.

They are 1 of the first fish I added to the Tank and they were 2Inches. This was In December.

They are About 5Inches, Longer than my Fully Grown Gold Gourami and The Dominant 1 has Very Bright Orange Horns on his face.

They will get Big and Very Very Very Fast.

They still eat the Algae but not as much as they used to.

 

[jacblades]

they will start to suck on other fish. they can easily kill weak fish when they are large. i dont think pet stores should sell those things. notice you never see one bigger than 3 inches in a lfs...now you know why.

 

[guppygirl]

Definitely not a weather loach! This is what a gold (albino) weather loach looks like~

 

[Ahmad]

Ooops....

Sorry about that! )

Hey..we all make mistakes! )

 

[guppygirl]

Yep, Ahmad, I make 'em too. )

 

[ryan]

Definitely not a weather loach! This is what a gold (albino) weather loach looks like~

The Common Dojo/Weatherfish is drab to light brown naturally, though there are "Golden" Dojos (xanthistic varieties, not albinos) that are human-produced. You may see a few Albino fish but they are not produced like the Common and "Golden" varieties.

 

[Silly me]

I also think its a Sucking Loach or Chinese Algae Eater. I have two of those in my planted tank, they love algae but as they get older the only eat brown algae en get agressive, but more to its own kind or anything that look sorta like it.

Some people say they suck the slime coat of slow swimming fish, bet never notice it. Mine is four years old and still eating green algae from the leaves of my swords, and are slow growing fish, only 3".
I would not recommend them for a beginner or a small tank <20G, and not on its own, as long they chase each other the rest of the tank is left alone

 

[guppygirl]

Ryan~
Yeah I know that they're brown... I have 2 myself!