Need help identifying fish - Aquarium Advice

Ferret_Friend · 08-08-2006, 08:26 PM

Ok, so the pet store is selling "algae eaters" and I had $6 store credit, so I got three of them. I'm not entirely certain of what they are though. They are currently about an inch long, and I can tell they are some breed of catfish. They seem to like sucking on the glass, much like a pleco. I wouldn't even be surprised if they were some relative. They were $1.99 each or 3 for $5.19, and they have a maximum length of 4.5-5.5 inches. They seem to want to stay near the bottom most of the time, but when I do see them moving around, they want to school. I'm pretty sure they're not Corys since these are rather slim streamlined fish, and they have a thin black streak on them from end to end.

Any idea what these guys might be? Wish I had a picture.

Mosaic · 08-08-2006, 08:32 PM

Chinese algae eater?

Ferret_Friend · 08-08-2006, 10:30 PM

Perfect! That's it!

So Algae Eater is actually 2/3 of their common name?

I always wonder, because that particular pet store seems to have the common names all mixed up. Those are definitely them though. Thanks a bunch! It's always nice to know what fish you have, even if you don't plan on doing much with them.

JustOneMore20 · 08-08-2006, 10:49 PM

Their max length is actually more around 8-10 inches. They get more carnivorous with age, meaning they won't eat algae. And they get more aggressive. Nasty fish IMO.

hsherman1986 · 08-09-2006, 04:09 AM

I have two in my 55, and regret getting them. I liked them at first, they were great at eating algea, but as they have gotten bigger (they are 4-5 inches) they have gotten meaner. They chase around my new dojo's all the time. They are still good at eating algea for now, but I think I may take them back and trade them in for a handful of ottos instead.

08-09-2006, 09:03 AM

Now i have just the opesit reaction with them, Mine are 2yrs old and are 5 to 7 inches in sie and are some of the clumest fish I have. They never go around any of the other fish and chase each other around. They are great algee eater still and I have never seen them bother another fish. Now i thank the main thing is that they are a type of schooling fish. when I had two always something with them, then I added two more and things changed alot. I have 6 now and there always togeather and stay to there self on the botom and ply chase all the time. My alge has never been better controled.

hulkamaniac · 08-09-2006, 10:02 AM

What I've heard about them is that once they realize they can get free food from you for doing nothing, they'll never touch algae again. Also, they tend to suck on the slime of other fish once they get bigger.

CaysE · 08-09-2006, 12:03 PM

How big is your tank? If it can't comfortably house 3 potentially 8+" fish, I'd trade them in for 3+ Otos.

JustOneMore20 · 08-09-2006, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Also, they tend to suck on the slime of other fish once they get bigger.

Yes they do. I had one do that to 2 danios and it killed them. That's why I call them nasty fish...

I think they are better kept with cichlids that will keep them in their place.

hsherman1986 · 08-09-2006, 02:19 PM

CaysE, if you are asking me, the tank they are in is a 55g long. They have plenty of room, they are just mean, imo. I have been talking to my fiancee about it, and he wants to trade them in too.

Just a little background, we needed more algea eaters after our ottos died off (ich breakout a few months ago), and the CAE's were on sale for $1 each. So we bought some. We have more than just those two, we have one in each of our other tanks and planned to move them as soon as they started getting bigger. But I just don't think I want to keep any of them after seeing how these bigger ones are.

I have also seen the two larger ones in the 55 suck on my platies.

JustOneMore20, how did they get the danios to stay still long enough? You would think they would outswim the CAE's?

08-08-2006, 08:26 PM	#1
Ferret_Friend Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 155	Need help identifying fish Ok, so the pet store is selling "algae eaters" and I had $6 store credit, so I got three of them. I'm not entirely certain of what they are though. They are currently about an inch long, and I can tell they are some breed of catfish. They seem to like sucking on the glass, much like a pleco. I wouldn't even be surprised if they were some relative. They were $1.99 each or 3 for $5.19, and they have a maximum length of 4.5-5.5 inches. They seem to want to stay near the bottom most of the time, but when I do see them moving around, they want to school. I'm pretty sure they're not Corys since these are rather slim streamlined fish, and they have a thin black streak on them from end to end. Any idea what these guys might be? Wish I had a picture.

08-08-2006, 08:32 PM	#2
Mosaic Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 646 Images: 3	Chinese algae eater? __________________ I just want my planted tanks to be perfect. Is that so much to ask? 55g: (Mostly) African riverine species: Alestes Chaperi, breeding pair of Kribs, and rhino pleco 30g: Newly established reef tank 10g: Planted but fishless 5g: Unplanted with various snail species 2.5g: Heavily planted with betta.

08-09-2006, 10:02 AM	#7
hulkamaniac Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 438	What I've heard about them is that once they realize they can get free food from you for doing nothing, they'll never touch algae again. Also, they tend to suck on the slime of other fish once they get bigger. __________________ I'm selling in line co2 diffusers. If you're interested in buying one PM me.

08-09-2006, 12:03 PM	#8
CaysE Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bloomfield, NJ Posts: 238	How big is your tank? If it can't comfortably house 3 potentially 8+" fish, I'd trade them in for 3+ Otos. __________________ 20g tall - planted FW with furcata rainbows, albino BN, crystal red shrimp, and a cute neon blue Endler. 5g hex - planted FW for "Butters" the male betta.

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08-08-2006, 10:30 PM	#3
Ferret_Friend Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 155	Perfect! That's it! So Algae Eater is actually 2/3 of their common name? I always wonder, because that particular pet store seems to have the common names all mixed up. Those are definitely them though. Thanks a bunch! It's always nice to know what fish you have, even if you don't plan on doing much with them.

08-09-2006, 04:09 AM	#5
hsherman1986 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 719	I have two in my 55, and regret getting them. I liked them at first, they were great at eating algea, but as they have gotten bigger (they are 4-5 inches) they have gotten meaner. They chase around my new dojo's all the time. They are still good at eating algea for now, but I think I may take them back and trade them in for a handful of ottos instead.

08-09-2006, 09:03 AM	#6
Guest Posts: n/a	Now i have just the opesit reaction with them, Mine are 2yrs old and are 5 to 7 inches in sie and are some of the clumest fish I have. They never go around any of the other fish and chase each other around. They are great algee eater still and I have never seen them bother another fish. Now i thank the main thing is that they are a type of schooling fish. when I had two always something with them, then I added two more and things changed alot. I have 6 now and there always togeather and stay to there self on the botom and ply chase all the time. My alge has never been better controled.

08-09-2006, 02:19 PM	#10
hsherman1986 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 719	CaysE, if you are asking me, the tank they are in is a 55g long. They have plenty of room, they are just mean, imo. I have been talking to my fiancee about it, and he wants to trade them in too. Just a little background, we needed more algea eaters after our ottos died off (ich breakout a few months ago), and the CAE's were on sale for $1 each. So we bought some. We have more than just those two, we have one in each of our other tanks and planned to move them as soon as they started getting bigger. But I just don't think I want to keep any of them after seeing how these bigger ones are. I have also seen the two larger ones in the 55 suck on my platies. JustOneMore20, how did they get the danios to stay still long enough? You would think they would outswim the CAE's?

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