Sae @ Lfs

[tyella]

I was at a local store and saw the "Flying Foxes" for sale. After looking, they were indeed SAE's. I asked at the counter, and the salesperson said that they can't find the "rare" Flying Foxes, and have had to substitute with the siamensis.

No my question: I have minor algae issues that can usually be cleaned up once a week with a toothbrush during water changes. Is it worth it to buy a SAE if I don't have any BBA? :huh:

(SFTA - sorry for the anacronyms)

[djlen]

Short answer: NO
They are great fish for combating BBA, but IMO totally unnecessary in a community tank if it is not present. Especially if you have a smaller (30 gals. and under) tank.
Flourish Excel will control BBA effectively and cheaply in those sized tanks.
IME, many SAE's are nice/interesting fish to keep, but some are intimidating to smaller fish, especially smaller schooling fish, because of their eventual size and speed.

Len

[Swimfins]

They are super community fish with platy and larger and I've had no problems except for my rainbowshark that harrases them. I have no tiny fish in the tank as well. (But they are very fast and don't seemed stressed and have lot of plants to hide in for a quick getaway) I've got a mated pair, and its really nice to see the intraction. I wouldn't buy a fish unless I liked the fish and wanted it for itself, however.

[tyella]

Thanks guys,
I've got some small fish (and a small tank) so I'll continue to twirl the toothbrush. Tony T

[djlen]

That is a beautiful tank, IMO.
Pick up some Excel. It will do a nice job for you on most hair algae.

Len

[tyella]

That is a beautiful tank, IMO.
Pick up some Excel. It will do a nice job for you on most hair algae.

Len

Thanks Len, :thm:
I'm running DIY CO2. Isn't Excel just another source of available carbon? I.E. Do I need Excel if I already have a yeastie bottle?

I hear it's pretty cost effective to use Excel in smaller tanks, so I'd do it if it helps.

Tony T.

[djlen]

I inject pressurized up to 35ppm/CO2 and add 2 - 2.5mls. of Excel every day to my 10 gallon, since I took out my SAE. The stuff works really well on many forms of hair algae, IME.

Len

[foopooh]

I have 2 SAEs with 16 Neon Tetras in a 29gal planted tank... never been an issue with SAEs harassing 'em or any other fish. Let's hope this won't be an issue 1-2 yrs from now when the SAEs get larger :D.

Also, I've been surfing this forum and another heavily for the past 4 months and i've never read about how Flourish Excel "rids" algae? This is new news for me.

[beviking]

Excel ridding algae is relatively "new" news. I've read it several times (no, not the same thread!) from different sources. No xp with it however.

I've also seen SAE mislabelled as "Flying Foxes" too...it happens.

My SAE would occassionally harass some of the fish in my community tank, but nothing severe enough that I had to remove it.

[tyella]

Thanks guys,
My Rams spawned the other day, so I'll forgo the SAE's for a while. No need to introduce any other harassment potential.
Unfortunately, when I looked today, there was a ghost shrimp sitting in the depression busily picking at the gravel. There are no more eggs. :(
I figure they'll try again soon.

But .... this is off topic and perhaps a question for another thread.
Tony T.

[FishSeller]

We sell our SAE's as Flying Foxes. It helps cut down on confusion between CAE's and SAE's; not that the two fish are the same, but Siam and China are similar and it's pretty difficult to remember the two when you're looking at a price list placing an order.

[f8ldzz]

I can't believe SAE's grow so big!
Some website claimed 13cm max length.
I seen some in our local *aquarium* that I swear were 6" long!
I nearly hit the floor when I figured they were SAE's!

[TwoTankAmin]

I have 5 saes in a planted 75 gal that are pushing 5 inches+. I also have about 40 cardinal tetras in the tank. The SAEs have never bothered anything. I have grown out an sae in sword tanks filled with fry as well with no problems.