Chinese Algae Eaters Vs. Siamese Algae Eaters
Cathy Byland
him, I checked out the FAQ and I was left a little confused.
When a friend of mine heard what fish I had just bought,
he told me that in his tanks, they had been very territorial, and that
and that his fish started disappearing. I had thought they were strictly
vegitarian. I'd like to know what experience others have had with
Chinese Algae Eaters.
After he told me about his experience with Chinese Algae Eaters, I went
back and checked the FAQ again, and Axelrods Book Exotic Tropical Fishes,
and I discovered that Chinese Algae Eaters and Siamese Algae Eaters
weren't the same thing. (confusion: Axelrod even said
that Chinese Algae Eaters were actually from Thailand).
Here's what I found out. I'd like to hear other
people's thoughts on the subject, including whether or not you agree with
the sources I've listed below.
Siamese Algae Eater--Epalzeorhynchus Kallopterus
According to Axelrod's book, he's called the Flying Fox (as opposed to
the *Siamese* Flying Fox), and is "peaceful, even toward the smallest
fishes"
According to the FAQ, he's also called the Flying Fox, and can be aggressive.
Siamese Algae Eater--Epalzeorhynchus Siamensis
According to Axelrod's book, he's called the Siamese Flying Fox, and is
"Peaceful, and can be kept with any other fishes".
According to the FAQ, he's simply called the Siamese Algae eater, and
is very peaceful.
Chinese Algae Eater--Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri (This is what I bought)
According to Axelrod, "small specimins are usually peaceful".
Thanks in advance.
Cathy Byland
ccC...@mizzou1.missouri.edu
bo...@lvld.hp.com
> Siamese Algae Eater--Epalzeorhynchus Kallopterus
> According to Axelrod's book, he's called the Flying Fox (as opposed to
> the *Siamese* Flying Fox), and is "peaceful, even toward the smallest
> fishes"
> According to the FAQ, he's also called the Flying Fox, and can be aggressive.
E. kallopterus should be called the Flying Fox and is aggreesive when
larger.
> Siamese Algae Eater--Epalzeorhynchus Siamensis
> According to Axelrod's book, he's called the Siamese Flying Fox, and is
> "Peaceful, and can be kept with any other fishes".
> According to the FAQ, he's simply called the Siamese Algae eater, and
> is very peaceful.
The new name is Crossocheilus siamensis and is the Siamese Algae Eater.
Very peaceful no matter what size. Note: Both get to 5-6" when mature.
> Chinese Algae Eater--Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri (This is what I bought)
> According to Axelrod, "small specimins are usually peaceful".
But they quickly get big and mean.
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George Booth | Specialist in Freshwater Plant Tank Technology
bo...@hplvec.lvld.hp.com | Arrogance, cynicism and sarcasm freely given
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Steve Jankowski
>Cathy Byland (CCC...@mizzou1.missouri.edu) wrote:
>> Chinese Algae Eater--Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri (This is what I bought)
>> According to Axelrod, "small specimins are usually peaceful".
>
>But they quickly get big and mean.
That hasn't been my experience. I've had 3 CAE in a 40gal for
two years. They grew a bunch in the first 6 months, but haven't
gone beyond 4 inches. They competed with each other for food,
but never bothered the other fish (mollies). Since going to
high density planting and adding more fish, they've become good
citizens.
Other factors: we don't feed much, our tank doesn't have much algae,
and there's lots of bottom feeders (2 plecos, 3 kuhli loaches, 3 CAE).
A friend had a CAE in an "American Special" 20 gal which did get big
and mean. Must be the plastic plants.
booga
Davin Milun
>In article <31j7kv$2...@hplvec.lvld.hp.com>, bo...@lvld.hp.com () writes:
>>But they quickly get big and mean.
>
>That hasn't been my experience.
>A friend had a CAE in an "American Special" 20 gal which did get big
>and mean. Must be the plastic plants.
So, you're accusing George of having plastic plants??? :-)
Davin.
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Davin Milun Internet: mi...@cs.Buffalo.EDU
BITNET: milun%cs.buffalo.edu@ubvm
Fax: (716) 645-3464
Cogito cogito, ergo cogito sum.
> According to Axelrod's book, he's called the Flying Fox (as opposed to
> the *Siamese* Flying Fox), and is "peaceful, even toward the smallest
> fishes"
> According to the FAQ, he's also called the Flying Fox, and can be aggressive.
>
>
> Siamese Algae Eater--Epalzeorhynchus Siamensis
> According to Axelrod's book, he's called the Siamese Flying Fox, and is
> "Peaceful, and can be kept with any other fishes".
> According to the FAQ, he's simply called the Siamese Algae eater, and
> is very peaceful.
>
> Chinese Algae Eater--Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri (This is what I bought)
> According to Axelrod, "small specimins are usually peaceful".
Yup, yup, yup! Siamese algae eaters, and ottos are both good algae eaters
and very friendly tankmates. Chinese algae eaters get extremely aggressive
when they reach about 2" long. Mine systematically hunted the smaller
chinese algae eaters and killed them...and then he turned on other fish.
These are definately not good candidates for the community tank. But it
is true that they are very calm when they're young.
Personally, I like the ottos the best. They're so small they can get in
just about any nook and cranny where algae grows.
--Dennis
ELAINE THOMPSON
Check out Liisa's article that she posted here this weekend. It explains
everything you just asked.
--
Elaine Thompson "Two roads diverged in a wood and I,
eet...@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu I took the one less travelled by,
Johns Hopkins Univ. And it has made all the difference."
--Robert Frost
todd lofton
: Yup, yup, yup! Siamese algae eaters, and ottos are both good algae eaters
: and very friendly tankmates. Chinese algae eaters get extremely aggressive
: when they reach about 2" long. Mine systematically hunted the smaller
: chinese algae eaters and killed them...and then he turned on other fish.
: These are definately not good candidates for the community tank. But it
: is true that they are very calm when they're young.
Remember, these are fishes we're talking about, they never *always* do
anything. Of the CAE I had (only one at a time), only one got aggressive.
And it didn't get aggressive until it reached a length of about 5
inches. Granted, I have noticed in the fish store they will hunt down
and kill their own kind once they reach a certain size.
--
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* Todd Lofton *
* University of Nebraska - Lincoln *
* -> These opinions I express are mine and have absolutely <- *
* -> nothing to do with who I work for, with, or against. <- *
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...fabulously exciting occasional table...
Uwe Behle
: > According to Axelrod, "small specimins are usually peaceful".
: But they quickly get big and mean.
I have also heard that they plough through the gravel and uproot plants when
they grow bigger. When I asked the clerk in the aquarium store about them
he responded "You don't want to do that to your aquarium. When they grow
bigger they will take you tank apart". Maybe someone can keep us informed
whether that is really the case.
Otherwise these fish also have a good reputation as algae eaters (while they
are small).
It is probably a good idea not to rely just on one type of algae eaters but to
have three or four types (some Ancistrus spec. have the reputation to be the
best algae eaters that exist - but I have never seen them in the stores).
-----------
sapere aude!
Uwe
NAME Uwe Behle, HP Boeblingen Instruments Division, Germany
EMAIL uw...@hpbbn.bbn.hp.com (internet), df...@db0sao.ampr.org (packet radio)