10 Great Algae Eaters

@Jade

just know that the older the BN pleco gets, the more Lazy it also gets.

 

Correct Zoom, but then there is also on top of that list the False Siamese Algae Eater and False Flying Fox. Then you also get the Siamese Flying fox, which is just another confusing trade name.

So, it goes to show that once more a 'trade name' shoul dbe taken with a pinch of salt, and we should try our best to find the true scientific name!

Cheers
G!

 

I have the following link which tells of how to tell the true SAE's identity....

http://www.fishlore.com/aquariummagazine/may08/siamese-algae-eater-id.htm

 

Yeah I have a friend int he States who is really good with her fish etc and she said most Algae Eaters are lazy. Not very comforting lol

 

I think the best algae eaters are a combination of Otocinclus (a decent shoal of 6+), an SAE or two and a Farlowella or Sturisoma Catfish IMO. This combination has proven very very effective for me, but to be honest. If the algae is getting that bad that you need an arsenal of algae eating fish to control it, then I think our sights need to be focussed on getting to the root cause of the algae?

Once such example, in two of my tanks recently, I had a terrible outbreak of a thread type algae. These threads reached nearly a foot (30cm) long if left unchecked. It got so bad in one neglected tank that it smoothered the plants, filter and surface of the water completely. Thankfully no fish were in this tank. When I transfered plants from the other affected tank to my big 1.5m tank, I got another sudden outbreak of this algae. I kept manually removing what I could during water changes, and it would just grow back, and rapidly. In the end I started dosing with CO2 additive, and added two 'true' SAE's at the same time, and I only have small remnants of it in the odd place.

So, as has been suggested in other threads somewhere, CO2 is required to 'balance' our ferts and lighting to control algae, and not necessarily more fish? Or, we need to reduce lighting?

Hope that helps?

Regards
G!

 

this is my algae "Army"

1X SAE
3X BN PLeco's
10-15 Ramhorn snails, ( i know snails are BL and im not mentioning them further)

 

In brackish tanks, we don't have the luxury of the variety of algae eaters that freshwater fishkeepers have. My dad solved this problem in his latest brackish tank with mollies - they'll browse algae during the day and help keep it in check.

IMO, though, a good old algae scraper and some elbow grease are all that are needed to fend off any unwanted algae.

 

I just recently bought two 'Siamese Flying Fox's' which turned out to be Garra Cambodgiensis. TRUE Siamese algae eaters are Crossocheilus Siamensis. The honest answer is that unless you have a clear pic of the fish you had, we cannot give you a definate answer?

The CAE is Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri which is a actually not that similar to the others when looked at closely, but is often confused at a quick glance, or simply because they are both labelled as 'Algae Eater'.

Regards
G!

 

There is only the Crossocheilus Siamensis and Oblongus that will eat BBA. The others will not touch it, so by that statement alone, I would say you most likely had the Garra Cambodgiensis, but it may have been a flying fox? Again though, with out photo's its near impossible to say.

I would not let that bad experience put you off SAE's for life. Rather source them from a reliable source like one of our sponsors? In the end I got C. Siamensis from Altum.

Cheers
G!

*EDIT: Just read your welcome thread and seen your location... Perhaps our sponsors cannot help you. Hehe!*

 

Dude...lol - arnt you in for a big surprise! CAE's are barly into their teens at 6cm - my 1st one I ever had grew to 27cm in 4 years - was my aquatic societies record ...lol

 

Have to agree with Azurekoi here.... I also owned one years back, and it started giving me trouble shortly after reacjhing around 6-7cm. I would advise you to keep an eye on it over the next few months!

Cheers
G!

 

hey Big G, so then, do i have a true SAE oor not?

 

Looking at that pic I would say yes you do... No 'yellow line above the black lateral line, No colouration in fins, and the black lateral line extends out into the Caudal fin. These are all indicators that this is indeed C. Siamensis. The colouration does however look a little too golden, but it could just be the light or the way the camera has 'white balanced'?

Cheers
G!

 

I also think he/she is on the golden side, even in my tank, wonder why this is?

 

Could just be a 'colour morph' of C. Siamensis? I'm sure they must have developed a 'Gold' morph by now? Otherwise, I guess its just an anomoly?

Regards
G!

 

Yup @Vez - fully agree with Big G - that is most definately a true SAE - nothing wrong with the golden colouration - that is the true colour of a happy and healthy SAE... Always despair when I get a shipment in of them and they look all washed out...

 

Thanks Big G and azurekoi! was sold as a "flying fox",

 

Haha! Go figure! It most certainly is not a Flying fox.

As Azurekoi mentions, the gold colouration is a good sign that (s)he's happy, but I'm just surprised at the 'intensity' for want of a better word, of that Gold, particularly on its under side. Had it just have been the back that was Gold, I'd have been like fair enough, but usually they have a very silver/white belly. That I guess could just be the shadows playing tricks though?

Regards
G!