SAE

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jackiomy

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Jul 6, 2008
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What is the difference between SAEs and Ottos?
 

Slappy*McFish

Global Moderator
Staff member
Feb 18, 2002
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They are two different species. Otos are smaller. Otos are great for diatoms while SAEs are good with hair algae.

I could go on and on. Was there something specific you wanted to know?
 

jackiomy

Lover of Oddballs
Jul 6, 2008
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They are two different species. Otos are smaller. Otos are great for diatoms while SAEs are good with hair algae.

I could go on and on. Was there something specific you wanted to know?
They just look alike and I thought I was missing something. :) What is a diatom? And, please, go on and on. I love my ottos and would like to hear anything I can.
 

lucy42083

AC Members
Jan 20, 2008
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Wappingers Falls, NY
SAEs are much larger than otos, they can grow up to 6 inches. They are also much more active, and can show some conspecific aggression, at least IME.
 

DAVIDFBT

Extinct? Since when?
Feb 3, 2008
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Definitely not David
Otos and Siamese Algae Eaters are very different, SAEs grow to 6 inches, otos stay at arounf the 1.5 inch mark. Otos mainly eat diatomic algae and SAEs eat hair algae and most notably, black beard algae.
 

KarlTh

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Feb 15, 2008
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And of course Ottos are catfish and SAEs are carp. Ottos have suckermouths; SAEs do not, they have browsing jaws. Apart from both eating algae, they're really not very alike. But then I can't see how people think that SAEs look like CAEs; they appear totally different to my eyes - the first has stripes, the second blotches.
 

jackiomy

Lover of Oddballs
Jul 6, 2008
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San Diego, CA
Real Name
Jacki Wilson
And of course Ottos are catfish and SAEs are carp. Ottos have suckermouths; SAEs do not, they have browsing jaws. Apart from both eating algae, they're really not very alike. But then I can't see how people think that SAEs look like CAEs; they appear totally different to my eyes - the first has stripes, the second blotches.

I think I just made a big mistake. I wanted three ottos at the LFS. I pointed to the ones I wanted but I can't stand to see them chased around the tank so I looked away. She handed me the bag and I looked at them and of course they were freaking out. I took them home and I think one of them is a SAE!!!
 

DAVIDFBT

Extinct? Since when?
Feb 3, 2008
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Definitely not David
Otos: (picture from otocinclus.com)


SAE:
(Picture by Joergen.Schoppe.)


The SAEs have a slimmer and more torpedo profile and otos have a flattened and wide-ish head.
 

lovemybarbs

AC Members
Dec 23, 2006
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They just look alike and I thought I was missing something. :) What is a diatom? And, please, go on and on. I love my ottos and would like to hear anything I can.
A diatom is a brown algae that shows up usually in new tanks.
 

jackiomy

Lover of Oddballs
Jul 6, 2008
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San Diego, CA
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Jacki Wilson
What do you think? SAE? Sorry about the blurry pic.

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