CAE chinese algae eater

[BigFishSmallPond]

Hi grabbed two CAE for my ten gallon yesterday (its getting rediculously algaeic) only to find out they cant go with my gouramis. Now the CAE arent bothering them at all as of yet. I also have a 40 gallon with a pleco and 3 mbuna cichlid and a 25 with 2 blue ram.
Which tank would the CAE's be best in? I was thinkin if they didnt bother the cichlids I could switch the pleco and the CAE. TIA for any info u may provide. =]

Another option would be to return them if they are no good for any of my tanks as its still only been a day since i grabbed them =]

 

[keane]

Hi ,

To be honest, I don't think a ten gallon tank is suitable for even one CAE never mind two. They can grow up to 12" long.

I have a CAE in with gouramis and blue rams and have had no problems with him and them respectively so far. They all seem to leave each other alone.

He is going back to the LFS soon though because the LFS has just got in some oto's (which I have wanted for ages). Gonna wait for a couple of weeks to see how the oto's go in the LFS (fragile little buggers!) and then exchange.

If you do keep the two CAE's together in any tank you will probably see them end up fighting with each other rather than any other fish. Nasty sods!

I would take one back to the LFS and put the other in the 25 with your blue rams for now. But do bear in mind the size that they can grow to.

Also, as they grow bigger they will tend to forget their algae eating duties and start eating the slimecoats of your other fish, ending in probable death.

sorry to be so negative! )

steve 8)

 

[BigFishSmallPond]

The truth is sometimes negative. Had the lfs told me the truth when i shopped for them we wouldnt need this conversation. Thanks for your info and honesty. my survivng blue ram i think is gonna go back today (dont wanna risk losing two of em) and so are the CAE. Thanks again. =]

 

[keane]

No worries.

why not try a few otos like me.

cheeky little chappies. won't grow very big, love algae and no threat to any other fish.

Just make sure your tank is mature enough. As i mentioned above they are fragile and are unlikely to survive any stress through water problems etc.

steve 8)

 

[BigFishSmallPond]

I wanted ottos but they didnt have any =[ and the lfs told me the flying foxes wouldnt clean the glass just the ornaments (find hard to believe, and since i was told by ff members that flying foxes would be a good alternative i take their word over his.) Then suggested these. To give some insight on what he knows i asked him why there was like 8 FULL size massive african electric yellow in a 20 gallon tank (they looked sickly and very GREY dingy not very yellow) He said they were fine. I replied really i dont think they should be in any less than a 70. He said well maybe a 50 gallon.(which of course is STILL bigger than the 20 gallon he JUST said was fine) So maybe ill retuirn the CAE and get the foxes today =]

I wanna knock out the lfs guy on behalf of the fish. Thanks for listening. =]

 

[aloaring]

Grrr i hate CAEs one of them managed to kill one of my fat sleeper gobies and nearly had a keyhole. Didn't realise until too late that he was manageing to corner them in his tunnel and then attack them until there was a massive hole in their sides. They should never be sold as community fish
if you have algae get a golden apple snail, bristle nose plecs, or Ghost shrimp. i have a medusa and a golden plec and a large snail and 3 shrimp in my 18 gallon and theres no algae anywhere!!

 

[Ferris]

Grrr i hate CAEs   one of them managed to kill one of my fat sleeper gobies and nearly had a keyhole. Didn't realise until too late that he was manageing to corner them in his tunnel and then attack them until there was a massive hole in their sides. They should never be sold as community fish

This might cheer you up aloaring, I put 3 CAE's in my Mbuna tank in its early days (noobie idea) to combat an algae problem i had. Next day, all i could find were 3 heads floating on the surface, I felt really bad at the time but I think they more than met their match, there's always a meaner fish

 

[BigFishSmallPond]

pfff The OWNER of the lfs just told me hes never in 12 years seen one of those cae grow 12 inches. He treated me like a moron but hes gonna take the returns. =]

 

[jflowers]

They probably won't get to thier max size, but by the time they are 6" they would be picking off your other fish. I had an lfs sell me 7 (if you get 6 I will give you one free ) as small algae eaters, not my best purchase

Jon

 

[BigFishSmallPond]

Ya they try to make like people on a forum are idiots too. Lets see:

People on a forum stand NOTHING to gain but the welfare of the fish.

LFS idiot stands EVERYTHING to gain EXCEPT the welfare of the fish.

nuff said. =[