Interesting Algea Eater

Hi

I'm looking for some ideas for a algea eater in my community tank.

i'm looking for something interesting, no pleco's.

 

How about some flying foxes,they seem peaceful and are great algae eaters but they have to be in a school of about 5

 

Flying foxes are really great algae eater, I have 5 in my community tank and I must admit they are really getting the job done.. you could also go with otocinclus but I hear they are very hard to find.

 

Hey Dontknow...
I'm not 100% sure about the whiptail catfish, but it sure is an interesting species.
I see they are algae eaters, but as you know, fish can be fussy.

 

Actually, the flying foxes aren't the algae eaters...
That's the Siamese Algae Eater. It's been discussed quite a bit in the forum lately, just search for it and you'll get lots of info on how to identify them.
Otherwise you could get some Otocinclus, or maybe some fancy Plec's? I think Dolphin got some very rare ones in recently.

 

Now I can be the know it all with my encyclopedia of fish I recently aquired---

Common name "Flying Fox"
Siamase Algae Eaters (AKA SAE) and Chinese Algae Eaters (AKA CAE) are both part of the flying fox group.

Both are very goood alga eaters... BUT the CAE in adulthood is not as effective. It will start sucking on the fish in your tank, and removing the protective mucouse membrane on the fish's scales. Stay away from the CAE. The SAE however are effective fish against most algae through their life.

Otocinclus (AKA Ottos at most LPS stores) are also very effective, but not on all algae. I know for one they do not eat the long green hair algae.

If you can source SAE, they will be your most effective.

Apparently Microbelift Algaway will also be a good remedy... I am going to be giving it a try when I get my hands on it!

 

Garra flavatra, I have read these are really awesome algae eaters.

 

Yer, the Flying Fox does eat algae, but not to the same extent as the SAE!

Another thing to consider is that when Flying Foxes get older they become more solitary, and will fight with their own kind!! So unless you have a huge tank for them to all stake their own territories in, then be weary!! SAE's on the other hand enjoy being in their own company, and will live peacefully with each other!!

As ever, there is always someone who has successfully kept flying foxes together and had no problems, but that is an exception!!

If you have a good current and well oxygenated water, you could try Chinese Hillstream loaches (usually sold as Butterfly Plecos), but just like Oto's they like to be in a group, and can be hard to acclimatise!!

I also have a Sturisoma Cat (exspensive but fantastic!!), and he chows algae like theres no tomorrow when it gets thick on the glass!! I can go to bed with a thick green Algae on the glass, and when I get up the next day there will be huge areas that have been harvested!!

But out of all these, only the SAE or Flying Fox eats the beard or thread type Algaes!! All the others will eat most of the other types though!! My best advice would be to buy around 10 Otos, and a group or 4 to 6 SAE's! Just bare in mind SAE's can grow as big as 15cm's or so!!

Cheers
Big G!

 

Also remember that after your Chosen One/algae eating-group has eaten all the algae, they will need feeding with other vegetable matter such as nori (the algae used in sushi) or blanched veggies, especially Otos which need to be feeding near constantly but can be a great addition to a tank.

 

Thats a good point Nirv!! I tend to add a few Omega One Algae wafers at least twice a week!! Usually, I have to put 3 or 4 wafers in at a time because most my other fish will chow on them too!

Cheers
G!

 

the SAE is a flying fox!

Epalzeorhynchus siamensis = SAE = Siamese Algae Eater = Siamese Flying fox

Epalzeorhynchus Kalopteru = CAE = Chinese Algae Eater = Flying fox.

 

Sorry Zoom, They are not the same fish!

I'll try and find the correct name for Flying fox!! Actually, looking at your scientific names, maybe its the CAE that you are mistaken on?? That as far as I know is the ACTUAL Flying Fox...

The CAE that I know that sucks on the side of fish is Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri!

The Flying Fox (E. Kallopteru) is almost identical to a SAE (sometimes known as a Siamese Flying Fox), but has a yellowish tinge under the black lateral line and doesn't like to be in a group when adult! It also doesn't suck on the side of fish, as it has no sucker mouth like the G. Aymonieri does!!

Hope that helps??

Cheers
G!

 

Bristlenose catfish - Ancistrus spp.

Ok, they're not the most keen algae eaters within the hobby, but a definite bonus is that they can quite easily be spawned in the aquarium, which to me adds so much more to their appeal. The fry can be sold on to further supply funds to your aquarium plans

They also look very interesting - while having the basic 'pleco' shape, the males grow bristles on their face (hence the common names of Bushynose or Bristlenose plecos). Another great thing is that there are a number of species avaliable from this genus, allowing for a good choice among colours, patterns and sizes.

 

Big G...

Could you possibly provide the latin name for the Flying Fox, as well as the CAE? I might possibly be confusing them. According to my Encylopedia, as well as my other "keeping fish" book the

* Epalzeorhynchus siamensis is commonly known as Siamese Flying fox (Which I interpret as the SAE) and the
* Epalzeorhynchus Kalopteru is commonly known as the Flying fox (which I interpretted as the CAE).

My "keeping fish book" gives a warning of the Epalzeorhynchus Kalopteru being not suitable for community tanks, as it can become very aggressive after "adolesence".

They are LOVELY fish, and one of my favourite. But my 5 Ancistrus are not interested in algae AT ALL!!

 

I don't know if this link has been helpful (or has been posted elsewhere) or is even correct as my LFS markets what the author calls Chinese Algae Eaters as Siamese Algae Eaters, and my aquarium book calls the SAE a Flying Fox, but here's a link I found:

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

 

OK my bad...

you get:

(1) SAE aka siamese flying fox.
(2) Flying fox and
(3) CAE aka Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri

 

Hey Zoom!

Although I have already spoken to you, I will place it here for others so as not to have any confusion....

As you have written....

E. Siamensis - SAE/Siamese Algae Eater/Siamese Flying Fox.... Friendly!! Nice!! Loves being in a group!! And Eat Beard and Thread Algae!! Grows to around 15cm maybe a little bigger!!

E. Kallopteru - Flying Fox.... Great when small!! Become territorial and aggressive when adult, and enjoys being solitary!! Once Adult, can attack own kind and anything it feels is a target!! Similar to SAE above, but has yellow tinge below and sometimes above black lateral band down sides!! Grows to similar size!!

Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri - CAE/Chinese Algae Eater/Pain in the Butt.... Looks different to the previous two!! Has a Sucker mouth unlike above two!! Fantastic Algae eater when small!! Grows Bloody rapid!! Can grow to around 28cm!! Becomes useless as an algae eater when bigger!! Also can start sucking onto sides of fish when older, and eating away the mucus protection, leaving the victim exposed to disease!!

I'll try and get more pics tomorrow and post them so you can see the differences!!

Hope that helps??
Regards
G!

 

As I said, I hope that source is right... I'm hoping to get some true Siamese Algae Eaters myself, though I would like to know with absolute certainty which are which...

 

Hey Nirv!!

Yer, that site is right, but its pics are not the best!! It does however show that a Flying Fox and SAE can look almost Identical at a quick glance or poor ish image!!

The flying fox pic does not really show the yellow markings down the sides too well, but that could be because it is a Juvenile?? I believe these markings are more prominent in adults!!

Cheers
G!

 

Cool, I think I will identify them by the number of barbels and mouth shape mostly to avoid confusion with the colouration.