This is the fish that has most people stumped. Not too much is known about it's origin, thus it's vague scientific name relating it to the Flying Fox. This is a problem with the typical LFS, and they will often mix the SAE with the "False" SAE in the same tank.

You need to be careful in your LFS, as the popularity of the SAE has grown, more and more LFS are incorrectly labeling the Flying Fox as an SAE. It is important to know what you get with the Flying Fox.

True SAEs have very discernable characteristics. They have one set of barbels (the small whiskers on the sides of their mouth), their body is a tan-brown with black band that goes from the mouth all the way to the fork in the tail, and this band is in a jagged pattern (side note: these colors "fade" when SAEs are stressed.

The Chinese Algae Eater is not in fact from China. These are great handlers of green algae (but only green algae) as juveniles and has sparked their popularity.