Siamese Algae Eaters

I really want to get some SAE's to keep algae growth in check. I'm too afraid to go to a LFS and buy one. The flying foxes and chinese algae eaters are all so similar. Where could I find ones that are not labelled incorrectly?

 

Solex 69 has one he wants to sell

Alternatively, Otos are just awesome little guys

I got some in my tank..... Somewhere

 

From Fishlore.com

Siamese Algae Eater
Identifying the Siamese Algae Eater
See attachment.Se

 

I'd also recommend oto's! Cute little blighters! I have a group of seven and its so cool when they swim in open water as a little shoal! Doesn't happen often, but does happen! They don't eat BBA (Black Beard Algea) tho! Cheers! Big G!

 

I need them for BBA!

 

As everyone said, stick to Otos. They do a great job, and everything else they can't take care of is up to you. An algae scraper is an efficient means to remove algae effectively from the glass.

 

How bad is the bba? If its just a small amount, then yes siamese algea eaters may help, but I doubt they'd eat enough to control it unless you had a large shoal, in which case you end up with a large portion of your quota used up in algea control? Moonlight gourami's also eat bba, but they also get a bit big if you only want them as an algea control, rather than to enjoy the fish itself! I had a bba issue with my wood, which became very furry and in the end I had to remove it to scrub it clean! I left it outside for three weeks to dry out, and have now put it in a different tank! So far its not regrown, but I have no light on that tank as yet! Maybe a better option is to find the route cause? Usually a lack of CO2 compared to the amount of light? There's a thread here about algea control in the algea forum! Cheers! Big G!

 

They're easy to identify if you know what you're looking for. That guide that Slojo posted is all you'll need

 

Just be sure to not feed the fish in the tank so that the SAE will start chomping away at the BBA. If he is getting enough food, he won't be encouraged to eat the BBA

 

Chinese Algae Eater: eat bbs
Siamese Algae Eater Dont eat bbs. Never seen that anywhere.

????

how much do they go for?

 

Um, that's the wrong way around...
Chinese Algae Eaters only eat algae as juveniles, then they stop doing so and get very big and potentially agressive.
Siamese Algae Eaters eat all types of algae including BBA, and do so all their lives.

 

ok thanks....

now i am even more confused.... lol what is bbs? then i have it all wrong. i hate when lfs staff tell people wrong info.

 

lol, my bad. BBA = black beard/brush algae
The people at most LFS don't know what they're talking about, but they'll tell you anything they think you want to hear to make a sale. You'll find that usually the owner likes fish but his staff are just doing their 9 to 5 and couldn't care less.

And that's why forums like this exist, for people to get real knowledge so they can buy the right thing and look after it properly

 

Thanks....