A Bit Of Assistance Please

[jess6905]

alrighty so im doing this for a friend of mine who has 2 chinese algae eaters(cae) and 2 goldfish. in one 10 gallon they have 1 cae measuring out around 3 inches with 2 common goldfish that measure out around 4-5 inches(im not exactly sure). in a second 10 gallon tank are housed 1 white skirted tetra, 1 black skirted tetra, and 1 serpae tetra with a 5-6 inch cae. i have said what i have had the ability thus far to say so now i turn to the forum with the request of a bit of your knowledge when dealing with chinese algae eaters, and goldfish. i have already stated that the goldfish need a much larger tank around the 30 gallon area or else they will be stunted and what not. i have also stated that the two cae should be removed from the tanks because to my limited knowledge they become rather agressive especially as they grow older and larger. if you could please state what you know about these fish especially if it is coming from experience that would be much apreciated. thank you very much for your time and the information you are able to provide.

ps- a link to this post is being sent to my friend, and her family so that they can read for them selves what you all have to say, so please be nice when responding. i dont mean to offend anyone by saying this, but would like to avoid having my friend feel like she is being attacked when reading this at the same time. i am sorry if you feel offended by this request you can pm me to explain why you are offended, or to request a further explanation as to why this requested has been stated if you feel the need to do so.

 

[nivisec]

I have extreme mixed results with chinese algae eaters. I think you really just need to watch them and see how they behave as they age. Here are two cases I've had recently with them. In both cases, the fish are between 1 and two years old now, so they are mature.

Case #1:
In one tank I put two small (close to babies) in. One became more aggressive as time went on blocking the other from food and constantly attacking it. It eventually killed it. After that, it started chasing every fish it could find. I was secretly hoping my tiger barbs would kill it, honestly.

To this same tank I added a CAE I got for free (the golden looking breed ones) that was twice as big as the aggressive one. It actually attempted to pick on the new one, but being twice as big, the new one wasn't having that. The bigger one has showed no aggression ever other than defending itself against the other one. The smaller one is now a good fish also I'd assume the smaller one would go back to hounding every fish in sight if the bigger one died or something. He'll go into the turtle tank if he does...

Case #2:
I added two smaller CAEs to a betta tank, 5 gal, before I knew of their nature or I wouldn't have done it. They are the only other fish in there besides the betta, so they get plenty of food I assume that the betta doesn't want to eat. I haven't noticed any aggression between them or the betta, or the ghost shrimp in the tank as well.

So, basically, I'd say just watch them as they grow up if you like them. It's very noticeable when they are getting aggressive. They try to latch onto every fish in sight and will chase each other. The single CAE in the tetra tank would make me nervous though as it gets even bigger, so make sure they watch it.

EDIT: Oh yea, as for the goldfish, a bigger tank should definitely be used since they produce a lot of waste. I've also found that goldfish continue to grow even in the worst water conditions (I had a small pond in the past with about 30 of them, being 25 too many, before I knew anything about fish keeping). They grew as long as I fed them and somehow lived in those conditions. I donated most all of them to the pet shop to sell as pond fish once I started getting into fish keeping for real and realized I was being cruel btw

 

[cuticom]

Just curious what you mean by the golden CAE's? around here we have sucking catfish that look like CAE's and golden sucking catfish.. are they the same thing? LOl I've always admired the golden ones, but since I couldnt find any info bout them never bought one.

If she's careful with the goldfish as in lots and lots of big water changes she might be able to get away with keeping the goldfish in a 30g. It really depends on how big they are and whether or not their stunted from being in a 10g. I have two rescued goldfish who are severely stunted and although filled out quite a bit after I got them, never really grew. They live in a 15g no probs, but their only 10cm long...

 

[nivisec]

Just curious what you mean by the golden CAE's? around here we have sucking catfish that look like CAE's and golden sucking catfish.. are they the same thing? LOl I've always admired the golden ones, but since I couldnt find any info bout them never bought one.

Well, from what I know after researching the CAEs (and seeing them at the pet store) there are three color varieties that all have the same physical appearance, other than color:

1. Normal colored (greyish, spotted)
2. Marble colored (light yellowish at the head fading quickly to a greyish lasting all the way to the tail)
3. Golden (light yellowish all the way over, but not albino...I've seen the vary from light to a darker)

The marble ones are generally sold with the normal colored ones, as it is much less noticeable when they are younger. I've also seen the marbled ones turn a lighter full gold after they become adults somehow.

I also googled "Sucking Catfish" and it would appear, to me anyway, that they are the same thing as CAEs on some websites...But of course everything from plecos to ottos came up on that google search...One site showed a otto as the sucking catfish, then a CAE as the golden sucking catfish even...

 

[jess6905]

anyone else have an opinion they would like to add