Your Chinese Algae Eater

[chibi]

I was curious to all of you who have chinese algae eaters... how old and how big is yours? I've had one for 4 years and he's only 5 inches long. People say they get like 11", but I find that pretty ridiculous. Does anyone have one that big?! I really want to see it if it exists!

And please don't tell me he's going to turn on me and kill all my fish. Yeah, he doesn't eat algae, but he eats the food at the bottom of my tank. He's never killed any of my fish. He has been sleeping next to my pygmy cories for years now. I guess I just have a special one that doesn't kill stuff. I know people just automatically let you know that they will get gigantic and kill everything, but I've never had that with him.

 

[drjulesd]

I was curious to all of you who have chinese algae eaters... how old and how big is yours? I've had one for 4 years and he's only 5 inches long. People say they get like 11", but I find that pretty ridiculous. Does anyone have one that big?! I really want to see it if it exists!

And please don't tell me he's going to turn on me and kill all my fish. Yeah, he doesn't eat algae, but he eats the food at the bottom of my tank. He's never killed any of my fish. He has been sleeping next to my pygmy cories for years now. I guess I just have a special one that doesn't kill stuff. I know people just automatically let you know that they will get gigantic and kill everything, but I've never had that with him.

I have 1 and have had him from when he was just under an inch. He's about 4" now and i've had him about16 months. He bothers with none of my other fish at all and usually hangs out with my clown loach. The only time he showed a bit of aggression is when he's munching on cucumber, and that was to fish smaller than him which he chased for a nanosecond, but he never bit, ever. Overall, a very peaceful fish!

 

[boeingtech]

I have to agree i have one he is about 6-7 inches long he has never bothered any of the other fish. I cant say how old he is because he came with the tank when i bought it just over a year ago and he was that size then.

 

[england]

I rescued one last year and its 8inch+.....beautiful fish swims funny which makes you laugh......Never shown any aggro to any fish in my tank..

 

[chibi]

I rescued one last year and its 8inch+.....beautiful fish swims funny which makes you laugh......Never shown any aggro to any fish in my tank..

Oh wow, he's big! When he swims, does he like, waddle back and forth? Mine does that! It's so silly. He doesn't move much though, he's gotten lazy and knows food will fall in front of him so he doesn't find much need to swim around, hahaha!

 

[Davo86]

Oh wow, he's big! When he swims, does he like, waddle back and forth? Mine does that! It's so silly. He doesn't move much though, he's gotten lazy and knows food will fall in front of him so he doesn't find much need to swim around, hahaha!

from your profile it appears your CAE is in a 29G, which would explain the lack of growth

 

[fishyfreak]

I have one about 5" in my big Cichlid tank and if I didn't know better I'd say he's aggressive. But actually I think he's just defending himself, does an excellent job of it too! Feisty little guy.