Chinese Algae Eater by BearFan

[fishfreek]

[center:62b4f646c1]Chinese Algae Eater[/center:62b4f646c1]

Submitted by BearFan

Scientific Name: Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri

Common Names: Chinese Algae Eater, Indian Algae Eater, and Sucking Loach

Region: Thailand and India

Maximum Size: 11” (27cm)

[acronym:62b4f646c1="Powerhead"]PH[/acronym:62b4f646c1] Range: 6.0-7.5

Hardness: 2-12dh

Temperature: 73-82ºF (23-28ºC)

Environment: Planted tanks as juveniles with hiding places and bogwood.

Feeding Habits: Some Green Algae (but will outgrow this), flake, blood worms, veggies

Distinguishing Sex: None Known

Behavior: Territorial and Aggressive

Breeding: Darn near impossible. I have never heard of anyone breeding them.

Lifespan: 10 years plus

The Chinese Algae Eater is not in fact from China; leave it to the English-speaking world to ignore geography. These are great handlers of green algae (but only green algae) as juveniles and has sparked their popularity. This comes at a price. As the CAEs age they ignore the algae and focus on the provided food and become very aggressive. The CAE got it’s nickname as the sucking loach as the adult CAE will often attach itself to other fish in the aquarium, especially flat slower fish, taking large chunks out of the host.

If you decided CAEs are good for your tank, you need to be prepared for their adult characteristics. They will chase of any fish they believe to be in their territory and become very large (up to 11”).

Discerning the CAE from the SAE is easy. CAEs have a large carp-like sucker mouth. The stripe that runs from mouth to the start of the tail looks like a line that connects several dots. The tails are often spotted as opposed to the SAEs clear.

My Rankings:
Price: 10
Value: 4
Hardiness: 9
Community: 3
Activeness: 2
Appearance: 5
Overall: 5.5

Sources:
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/algeater.htm
http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/cyprinid.html
http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/
http://www.mongabay.com/fish/cyprinds.htm
http://www.fishprofiles.com/profiles...eeders/cae.asp
http://www.myfishtank.net/freshwater...php?profile=64
http://www.aquariacentral.com/fishin...h/aeater.shtml

[fishlane]

I have a [acronym:54035a9242="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:54035a9242] and your description is right on my [acronym:54035a9242="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:54035a9242] is very aggressive and when my bichir eel is near he tries to suck on his back luckily he has not taken out a chunk (the bichir eel usually snaps back) and he will chase off any of the fish that get near his territory and he doesn’t just suck on glass either he is good at cleaning the rocks on the bottom

[fvalbr2l]

Hey, I just bought two small [acronym:7ccbd0447a="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:7ccbd0447a] and I think my puffer has eaten the smaller of the two. Maybe though it was a shrimp.

[flamingonhot]

I absolutley hate these fish. they always kill your favorite fish and do absolutely nothing but annoy you and suck on other fish.

Only get one if its the only type of fish in the tank.

[workfortheman]

My [acronym:1c766a211b="Chinese Algae Eater"]CAE[/acronym:1c766a211b] also has what look like small "horn" on it's head, giving it a real mean look compared to my [acronym:1c766a211b="Siamese Algae Eater"]SAE[/acronym:1c766a211b]. Mine is 2.5", and housed with a [acronym:1c766a211b="Siamese Algae Eater"]SAE[/acronym:1c766a211b], blue gourami, angel, dwarf pike cichlid, rosy barbs, red-tail shark. He chases others, but doesn't injure them by sucking ON them (yet). Still spends lots of time cleaning the glas of algae.