Simamese Algae Eaters - How Many?

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Fazzafaris

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Aug 12, 2003
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Siamese Algae Eaters - How Many?

Hi all.

I've been reading up on these guys at http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/ and many other places, but on this page one quote stands out:-

"Minimum tank size for a pair of adult Siamese Algae Eaters is 100 liters"

I am possibly going to buy some today for my 96 litre tank, and was originally thinking of a small shoal of maybe 5 or 6. This article seems to suggest there needs to be far fewer than this, any thoughts?

TIA.
 
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It is very important that you actually get true SAE's. there are many mislabeled types out there that look very similar (some don't even look close but still). The problem is that except for the true version all the others are completely intolerant of others of their species or even other fish that look similar (I know this the hard way). There are lots of great sites you can google that have detailed pictures and discriptions that you should look at prior to buying. As for how many to put in a 96 litre tank? Well I guess part of that depends on what else is in the tank. If they were alone then maybe 5-6 would work but they do get big, up to 5 inches (or 15-20 cm or so).
 
I have an opinion contrary to the one above. If you are lookning for sae to eat bearded algae then you need to be sure that is what you get. I see you have already gotten some. There scientific name is Crossocheilus siamensis. They are also known as flying foxes. These are the only algae eaters known to eat berded algae, they do not have a sucker mouth. The chinese algae is a very aggressive fish as it ages it is the most commonly sold general algae it. the cae has a sucker mouht, and they are really more trouble than they are worth, they stop eating algae and will attach to and kill your fish when they get to be adults.
 
blueiz25 said:
. The chinese algae is a very aggressive fish as it ages it is the most commonly sold general algae it. the cae has a sucker mouht, and they are really more trouble than they are worth, they stop eating algae and will attach to and kill your fish when they get to be adults.
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i have a chinese algae eater in my tank and he seems to stay pretty much to itself noone has ever told me that it will grow to want to eat my communtiy fish had i known that when i bought the fish i would not have gotten it i will have to be on the look out for it to become an aggressive fish
 
i've heard that they take chunks out of ur fish..... well to make it sound better i've heard that they have bitten other fish is this true?
 
blueiz25 said:
I have an opinion contrary to the one above. If you are lookning for sae to eat bearded algae then you need to be sure that is what you get. I see you have already gotten some. There scientific name is Crossocheilus siamensis. They are also known as flying foxes. QUOTE]


Flying foxes and True SAE's are very different fish,Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus .

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/saes.htm
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Fazzafaris said:
Hi all.

I've been reading up on these guys at http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/ and many other places, but on this page one quote stands out:-

"Minimum tank size for a pair of adult Siamese Algae Eaters is 100 liters"

I am possibly going to buy some today for my 96 litre tank, and was originally thinking of a small shoal of maybe 5 or 6. This article seems to suggest there needs to be far fewer than this, any thoughts?

TIA.
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Behavior: Territoriality

Both SAEs and flying foxes can be or become quite antagonistic toward their own and related species. For this reason they should all be placed simultaneously and not overcrowded. I stand by my suggestion of about one per 15 gallons maximum for SAEs.
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I attempted to grow-out two small juvenile true SAE's in a 10gal it didn't last a week... They each have their own 10gal grow-out tank now.
Very territorial little buggers!
 
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