10 Great Algae Eaters

Discussion in 'Algae' started by Whipme, Apr 14, 2011.

Page 2 of 4
  1. Big G

    Big G Apisto Nutz!!!

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    2,508
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Hehe! It all becomes confusing with these trade names again! Epalzeorhynchos Kalopterus is the 'true' flying fox. This has Red in its fins. Then there's SAE. This is Crossocheilus siamensis. Then this is where it gets confusing.... There are two species that seem to go either under the False SAE or False Flying Fox, and it varies between the two... Crossocheilus Oblongus and Garra Camodgiensis. There are a couple of other Garra Sp. that are sometimes labelled as such, but these are the main ones!

    So, yes you can call it a 'Flying Fox' if you wish, but technically its not. It would be best described as a Garra, or False Flying fox. Either way, its good at eating algae, but not as good as C. Siamensis.

    Regards
    G!
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2011
    Big G, Aug 2, 2011
    #21

  2. Guest




  3. Big G

    Big G Apisto Nutz!!!

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    2,508
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Ah ok, I remember that thread now. CAE tend to be great at clearing algae when they are small, but then once they get big they become useless and aggro! SAE's stay consistant.

    Also, the only difference (I can tell) between C. Oblongus and C. Siamensis is that on C. Siamensis, the black lateral line continues into the Caudal fin, where as on C. Oblongus it stops at the Caudal Peduncle.

    Cheers
    G!
     
    Big G, Aug 2, 2011
    #22
  4. Jade

    Jade Panda Cory

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2011
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Johannesburg South
    They dont seem to have grown to me lol They did a good job when we first got them but thats about it. They chase each other around but I havent had a problem with them going after other fish.

    Now Im worried. How will I know if theyre hurting the other fish ? One of our Fire Barbs died recently for no known reason. He was fine one day n they next he died.
     
    Jade, Aug 2, 2011
    #23
  5. hein24

    hein24 Betta

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2011
    Messages:
    1,442
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Roodepoort
    Hmm maybe you are overfeeding.. Mine is an adult about 6cm or so... Had no problems he cleans my 5ft in two days and also alot of algae.:weird:
     
    hein24, Aug 2, 2011
    #24
  6. Jade

    Jade Panda Cory

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2011
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Johannesburg South
    Ours are about the same size.

    We have 2 Panda Cory's and 2 Pepper Cory's which we feed bottom feeder tablets every other day but other than the Algae I dont know what else the CAE should or should be eating ?
     
    Jade, Aug 2, 2011
    #25
  7. hein24

    hein24 Betta

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2011
    Messages:
    1,442
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Roodepoort
    What I do is I keep him in a big tank, if it has space it seems less agro, but I also rotate him if I have a huge algae bloom in the tanks, as soon as the tank is clean I remove him to the big tank again. I only have the one.
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2011
    hein24, Aug 2, 2011
    #26
  8. Jade

    Jade Panda Cory

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2011
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Johannesburg South
    Maybe the size of the tank is the problem then coz we have 2 in a 60L ...
     
    Jade, Aug 2, 2011
    #27
  9. hein24

    hein24 Betta

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2011
    Messages:
    1,442
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Roodepoort
    @Jade maybe invest in some Ancistrius, they are super cool and not agressive at all..
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
    hein24, Aug 2, 2011
    #28
  10. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2011
    Messages:
    13,311
    Likes Received:
    3,714
    Location:
    UK
    Of that bunch, I found Chaetostoma Plecs to be the best.
    I had 2 in my tank, cleared the algae in a few weeks. When they were done with that, they moved onto my plants, which I was struggling with as it it. So I took them back to the lfs.

    The man at the lfs convinced me to get some SAE (flying fox). So I got 5. Didn't really like them. But I thought hey, if they keep the algae down, they were worth having.
    Well with the Plecs gone, the algae came back, and the SAE didn't even touch it. So I thought I would get rid of the SAE since I didn't like them really in the first place. Well I can honestly say those were the most difficult fish I have had to catch. Ever. Took me nearly 2 hours to net them. Nearly destroyed all the plants and terrorised all the other fish in the process.

    I have since discovered a product called Easycarb which is in effect liquid CO2. It has done wonders. All the ugly black hair algae has gone. Sometimes I get some green algae on the glass, but the magnet on my weekly clean takes care of that.
     
    Reedfish, Aug 2, 2011
    #29
  11. Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2009
    Messages:
    8,469
    Likes Received:
    119
    Location:
    Jhb- Fourways
    Aren't SAE and flying fox 2 different fish often mistaken for the same?

    (@Altum @slagter)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
    Zoom, Aug 2, 2011
    #30
  12. Jade

    Jade Panda Cory

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2011
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Johannesburg South
    Thanks, I'll look into it ! Will have to see if I can trade the CAE for them lol
     
    Jade, Aug 2, 2011
    #31
  13. Vez

    Vez

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2011
    Messages:
    2,076
    Likes Received:
    19
    Location:
    Krugersdorp Jhb
    Vez, Aug 2, 2011
    #32
  14. hein24

    hein24 Betta

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2011
    Messages:
    1,442
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Roodepoort
    @Zoom as far as my knowledge goes yes. People do mistake them for one and the same but as Big G said:


     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 2, 2016
    hein24, Aug 2, 2011
    #33
  15. Jade

    Jade Panda Cory

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2011
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Johannesburg South
    It's a type of Pleco ?

    We had a Pleco but he grew too big too quickly so we had to trade him.
     
    Jade, Aug 2, 2011
    #34
  16. Big G

    Big G Apisto Nutz!!!

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    2,508
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Yes Zoom, They are... As I have stated above. There are 4 or 5 fish which all look similar, and are often confused as the same fish. Two are Garra sp., two are Crossocheilus and the other is Epalzeorhynchos Kalopterus (the true flying fox)

    All too often, the CAE is also sold as an SAE or Flying fox, just to add to the confusion!

    Cheers
    G!
     
    Big G, Aug 2, 2011
    #35
  17. hein24

    hein24 Betta

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2011
    Messages:
    1,442
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Roodepoort
    Nice link @Vez
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2011
    hein24, Aug 2, 2011
    #36
  18. hein24

    hein24 Betta

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2011
    Messages:
    1,442
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Roodepoort
    Its common name is bristle nose pleco, but stays small in comparison with normal plecos
     
    hein24, Aug 2, 2011
    #37
  19. Zoom

    Zoom Retired Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2009
    Messages:
    8,469
    Likes Received:
    119
    Location:
    Jhb- Fourways
    Flying Fox- Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus
    Scientific classification
    Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
    Class: Actinopterygii
    Order: Cypriniformes
    Family: Cyprinidae
    Genus: Epalzeorhynchos
    Species: E. kalopterus

    Siamese algae eater- Crossocheilus Siamensis
    Scientific classification
    Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
    Class: Actinopterygii
    Order: Cypriniformes
    Family: Cyprinidae
    Genus: Crossocheilus
    Species: C. siamensis
     
    Zoom, Aug 2, 2011
    #38
  20. Vez

    Vez

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2011
    Messages:
    2,076
    Likes Received:
    19
    Location:
    Krugersdorp Jhb
    Vez, Aug 2, 2011
    #39
  21. Jade

    Jade Panda Cory

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2011
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Johannesburg South
    Cool thanks !
     
    Jade, Aug 2, 2011
    #40
Page 2 of 4

Recent Posts

Loading...
Similar Threads - Great Algae Eaters Forum Date
Massive plant shipment with great prices Art of Aqua Apr 17, 2022
Great video on big cichlids General Discussions Aug 5, 2020
Inquisitive to see if any enthusiasts are based in greater milnerton area Cape Town Fish Keepers Jun 22, 2018
back to a great hobby New members May 4, 2018
Great Video on Optimising your Filters Filtration Dec 21, 2017
Zetlight UFO - Great for Tropical Planted Aquariums Jungle Aquatics Mar 7, 2017
Hi and thanks for this great site need a little help New members Feb 3, 2017

Share This Page