Chinese Algea Eaters

[mhancock]

Following on from the problems with dwarf gourami in this thread, now my betta has died.

ph=7.0
Ammonia=0
Nitrite=0.1
Nitrate=between 5 and 10

Is there anything else that could be going on? I know that Betta's do not last for a very long time but I had only had this one for 6 weeks.

Other fish in tank = 2 chinese algea eaters, 2 female dwarf gourami, 1 male dwarf gourami, 2 honey gourami, 2 female sword tails, 1 male sword tail, 1 baby female guppy.

Could it be the chinese algea eaters? I've heard that they can become a problem for other fish as they get bigger. If this is the case, I am very annoyed with the LFS for selling them as community fish.

Thanks,


M

 

[JohnDyer]

How big is your tank? How big are the algae eaters?
Mine was very docile when it was young, but has become a total monster now that it has grown a bit.
If you have 2 large ones in a smaller tank, they would cause a lot of damage. They suck the slime off other fish, making them more vulnerable to infection, and bettas aren't particularly healthy fish.

 

[mhancock]

How big is your tank? How big are the algae eaters?
Mine was very docile when it was young, but has become a total monster now that it has grown a bit.
If you have 2 large ones in a smaller tank, they would cause a lot of damage. They suck the slime off other fish, making them more vulnerable to infection, and bettas aren't particularly healthy fish.

The algea eaters were about 3 inches long and the tank is 55 litres.

Today I went to the LFS (Pets at home), and swapped both chinese algea eaters and the two remaining dwarf gourami for another betta, two lovely rams, and two baby corys. All of the dwarf gourami at the shop looked sick, they had swapped supplier recently and the whole tank needs isolating and treating. In lieu of the fish that had died, and that they introduced dwarf gourami disease to my tank, there was no charge for the new fish at all which was very good of them.

 

[Flubberlump]

I suspect it was the Chinese algae eaters, as I had exactly the same problem with mine, and my betta died. I also got the CAE from pets at home, where they sold them as 'sucking loaches', and they're not even loaches according to what I've read. Having learnt from that experience, I'd probably never buy any again for a community tank, although I have heard of them being ok in a larger group in a big tank. It also depends on what other fish are in the tank, as they do bother the slow moving or weaker fish more.

P.S. I also returned mine to pets at home and brought home some otos instead.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

My money would be on the either the CAE or the gouramis. Gouramis are not known to be the best tankmates for bettas, as they are from the same family and can be seen as a threat to each other. Was there any aggression between the betta and the gouramis?

 

[mhancock]

I suspect it was the Chinese algae eaters, as I had exactly the same problem with mine, and my betta died. I also got the CAE from pets at home, where they sold them as 'sucking loaches', and they're not even loaches according to what I've read. Having learnt from that experience, I'd probably never buy any again for a community tank, although I have heard of them being ok in a larger group in a big tank. It also depends on what other fish are in the tank, as they do bother the slow moving or weaker fish more.

P.S. I also returned mine to pets at home and brought home some otos instead.

I quite agree, they should not have been sold as community fish in the first place!

My money would be on the either the CAE or the gouramis. Gouramis are not known to be the best tankmates for bettas, as they are from the same family and can be seen as a threat to each other. Was there any aggression between the betta and the gouramis?

There was no aggression at all from the gourami other than when the male chases the female! My new betta seems very happy and the others are leaving him alone. Am delighted with the rams, very pretty and very peaceful