What Kind of Algae Eater Am I?

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missmeliss

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Aug 18, 2008
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OK.... So I went to a certain box pet store to get some mollies for my 45 gallon tank. While I was in there, I noticed they had Otos on sale, and decided to get one to help with the constant algae issues this tank seems to have. Well, of course, I got the new girl who couldn't tell an oscar from a guppy, and I ended up with something that is definitely NOT an Oto... When it was smaller, I kind of thought it could be, but now that it has grown about .5" - I can tell it is not one... I can't decide if it is a Siamese Algae Eater, or a Chinese Algae Eater. It sort of looks more like a CAE which scares me, but I've Googled some pictures and it doesn't look exactly like one... I'm torn, so I am turning to you guys for some help haha. He moves rather quickly, so sorry for the crappy phone picture, but it's the best I could get of him.
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tanker

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Looks like a Gyrinocheilus aymonieri (Chinese algae-eater) to me.
 

Big Mike

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Sep 8, 2009
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Definitely a Chinese Algae Eater, if it eats any algae at all (usually doesn't in most cases).


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I agree it is a CAE. I have a few of them and they all do a great job of eating algae. I also had a couple that did become aggressive.
 

mgarrido

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rufioman

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Sometimes they'll do wafers and such, but other than that they just bully around everything else in a tank.
 

Big Mike

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Sometimes they'll do wafers and such, but other than that they just bully around everything else in a tank.
IME I would have to disagree. I have had a few in my short fish keeping days and would have to give them an overall positive mark. Yes some are aggressive, but all are very good algae eaters. I have lost a couple and after they were gone the algae came.
 
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