Chinese Algae Eaters

[cleekdaFish]

i bought 2 of them , r they gd to keep? wont eat my other fish when they get bigger?

i hope its not territorial

 

[DiscusAngel]

is this the fish? (two diff colour forms..)

if so ... they reach arund 6-8" but can reach 10", they will become aggressive, they may eat your other fish..

 

[cheesy feet]

I have both colour morphs.Worst freshwater fish ever imo.Aggressive terretorial,shy,boring pretty ugly...lol

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

They are highly territorial towards each other, they will kill each other eventually if you keep two or more in the same tank together. They can also become increasingly territorial/agressive towards all kinds of other fish kept in the same tank as them as they mature/grow as well, and can pick up nasty habits like sucking the protective slime coat off other fish and their sucking their eyeballs out as well.

 

[rdd1952]

Very bad fish. They don't really eat algae, become very aggressive as the get older and will try to eat the slime coat off flat-bodied fish like gouramis and angel fish and will attack corys and eat their eyes. Take them back ASAP. It's a shame that so many LFS sell them to unsuspecting people.

 

[samyboy]

ive got the golden form had it about 6months was agressive for a while but very shy and timid now hardly ever see it

can become agressive at feeding time

 

[DevUK]

I have one. Caused me problems initially, but he now lives on his own. I actually like him, he's got a bit of character (when he's not hiding). He's in a tank in my bedroom, so I tend to lie in bed with enough light to see him. He'll come out when he thinks I'm not looking

Sadly I'm trying to re-home him as he'll outgrow his current tank soon

Do a search on the forum, CAE's have been covered quite well and there's some good links floating about. You can keep them with other fish, but they need to be fairly quick moving and possibly slightly aggressive species, or small and fast (mine didn't bother my danios or minnows). Not a peaceful community inhabitant I'm afraid.

If you only just got them, I'd personally take them back to the shop you got them at. It will save you possible hassle. Research other algae eaters as these guys prefer wafers when they mature generally

 

[cleekdaFish]

dam I meant to say siemese algea eaters but my mouth said chinese instead. That sux im very pissed off...If they give 1 sign of trouble im gonna send them back asap

 

[rdd1952]

Siamese algae eaters are fine but hard to find sometimes. Make sure you get the true SAEs as there are 2 look-alike fish that you don't want, Here is a link that shows the difference.

 

[chibi]

Whoa whoa whoa. I really don't like how people give Chinese Algae Eaters bad raps. I've had two living in a 29-gallon for two years. They're about 4 inches long. They don't eat a whole lot of algae, but they're absolutely fine with each other and my other fish (tetras, guppies and balloon mollies... he even gets along with the corys and inch-long guppies). The only problem I've had with one is when he ate the slime coat off a dying fish that was laying on the bottom. That's it. They aren't the greatest looking fish nor the best algae controller, but they're not horrible. Geez. Everyone acts like they are demon fish. :\

 

[rdd1952]

but they're absolutely fine with each other and my other fish (tetras, guppies and balloon mollies... he even gets along with the corys and inch-long guppies).

The fish you have outside of possibly the corys are usually fine with CAEs. It's the flatbodied, slow moving fish like gouramis and angl fish that are most at risk. Also, the ones you have may not be quite old enough yet to start harassing the corys or maybe there are enough hiding places that the corys have been on. It only takes one time and the can really mess up your tank. They just aren't good fish for a community tank.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Whoa whoa whoa. I really don't like how people give Chinese Algae Eaters bad raps. I've had two living in a 29-gallon for two years. They're about 4 inches long. They don't eat a whole lot of algae, but they're absolutely fine with each other and my other fish (tetras, guppies and balloon mollies... he even gets along with the corys and inch-long guppies). The only problem I've had with one is when he ate the slime coat off a dying fish that was laying on the bottom. That's it. They aren't the greatest looking fish nor the best algae controller, but they're not horrible. Geez. Everyone acts like they are demon fish. :\

If they are only 4inches long after 2years then something is wrong, When i had a CAE it grew 1inch every about every 1-2months. Are you positive you actually have two CAE's? It is in their nature to be territorial and agressive towards each other, in the wild they avoid each other at all costs, you can't change the nature of a fish so i'm wondering whether you actually have another type of fish.

The problem with CAE's is that too many people put them in the wrong type of tank set ups- people aren't demonising CAE's, people are just informing others about what they are like just like how you would tell someone that a green terror or piranha is not the most peaceful fish in the world.

 

[chibi]

Whoa whoa whoa. I really don't like how people give Chinese Algae Eaters bad raps. I've had two living in a 29-gallon for two years. They're about 4 inches long. They don't eat a whole lot of algae, but they're absolutely fine with each other and my other fish (tetras, guppies and balloon mollies... he even gets along with the corys and inch-long guppies). The only problem I've had with one is when he ate the slime coat off a dying fish that was laying on the bottom. That's it. They aren't the greatest looking fish nor the best algae controller, but they're not horrible. Geez. Everyone acts like they are demon fish. :\

If they are only 4inches long after 2years then something is wrong, When i had a CAE it grew 1inch every about every 1-2months. Are you positive you actually have two CAE's? It is in their nature to be territorial and agressive towards each other, in the wild they avoid each other at all costs, you can't change the nature of a fish so i'm wondering whether you actually have another type of fish.

The problem with CAE's is that too many people put them in the wrong type of tank set ups- people aren't demonising CAE's, people are just informing others about what they are like just like how you would tell someone that a green terror or piranha is not the most peaceful fish in the world.

Yep, I have 2. I used to have three, but the other got parsites... but okay, I hear where you're coming from. It is good to warn of potential dangers. I just have never had a problem with mine and am shocked from so many negative things said about them .

 

[DevUK]

Heres a pic of mine:

I've grown more attached to him in recent months, trying to re-home but I want to keep him really





(he might be my excuse reason for buying another tank...)

 

[dwarfgourami]

The thing is there are quite a few of us on the forum who have had very negative experiences of CAE's. It's not about trying to demonise them, any more than people try to demonise tank puffers by saying they don't make good community fish. Very occasionally, you will get a puffer that does ok in a community tank at least for a while (though even then, you may wake up to a nasty surprise one day...), but if a substantial number of people have had problems, then it seems to show that problems are quite likely to happen.