algae eater advice =|

Is this a proper Siamese Algae Eater (SAE) or a Chinese Algae Eater? (CAE)

A CAE is not actually an algae eater per se, but will eat pretty much whatever (Including your other fish!)

If it's an SAE, then it's safe to feed him zuchini, lettuce and spinach.

When you say you've got a big algae eater do you mean a common pleco? If so you may want to take him back and get a bristlenose pleco. A common pleco will get too big for your tank and produce a lot of waste. The reason I ask this is because at some fish stores around here common plecos are labeled as algae eaters.

since you have a cooler water tank, the plecos and algae eaters are more warm water and not really suitable. Also, any algae eater needs more than just algae, the veggies are a great thing to add. I would really just use some elbow grease. You got a pretty well stocked, if not overly stocked tank already with all the goldies, so I would avoid adding more to the mix

I hate to break it to you but six goldfish and a pleco is a lot for a 46 gallon tank. Goldfish are very messy (so are Plecos) and goldies and Plecos will get very big. The feeder fish and the Pleco should get too big for that take eventually. The others should be okay provided you have an oversized filter and do water changes weekly. I realize that your tank looks empty now, but if you take good care of your goldfish they should get very large. If I were you, I'd get rid of the Pleco and the feeder goldfish and turn the heater down a little more.

Oh, and btw, yes, all of your fish can eat those veggies. It certainly won't hurt them. Just nuke it in the microwave until it is soft (in a little water) and let it cool and add it to the tank. If it is not eaten in 48hrs, go ahead and take it back out or it will foul the water.

My wife kept goldfish for years, and years, and years.

10 gallons for one young comet was barely enough, and she was disciplined in her tank husbandry (i.e., her fish always prospered for years).

6 goldy types in 46 gallons is pretty much the max. Fish stores get away with more in a tank because they have incredible filtration volumes over a given time frame. We average home aquarists don't have this luxury of space and plumbing.

v/r, N-A

2 black moores, one bubble eyed goldfish. 2 calico fantails and on feeder fish that i rescued

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Six Fancy goldies in a 46 is WAY too much. Five Fancies and a comet that will grow over 12+" is way WAY too much. That's not even 10 gallons each! Goldfish grow fast and will stunt very easily if they are not given enough room.

Fancies should have 20-30 gallons for the first fish and 10-15 gallons for each additional fish. You're looking at needing a 70-100g tank for those fish.

You also need to be aware that you cannot mix Pond, Fancy and Very Fancy goldfish. Comets are pond fish, Moores are Fancies and Bubbles are Very Fancies. Your comet is an aggressive fish and does not like anything that moves slower than he does. He will eventually kill either the Fancy or the Very Fancy, and if he doesn't do the job, then your Fancy, who also does not like fish that are slower than it, will terrorize and kill the Very Fancy. Seriously.

Roan