Chinese Algea Eater

mec102778 · 06-03-2011, 09:12 AM

So I've decided that the three little guys I got are just awesome. However I'm affraid one has alread been picked off by my Bichir. he was swiming around last night with a rather round belly and well I've only been able to identify to different algea eaters 1 larger and 1 small. I may need to pick up a few more.

Any tips on keeping these guys what would be considered to many?

holly12 · 06-04-2011, 12:49 AM

Just a thought - do you have a HOB filter? I had a CHinese algae eater years ago who was really skittish. I did a water change one day and saw him darting around really quickly. Well, I didn't see him for days after that, and even lifted up all the decor looking for him. I thought he must have died and the tetras ate him or he must have jumped out... but I never found a body.

A week later I thought.... maybe he somehow got into the filter? That's where he was! In all his shooting around the tank like a mad man, he managed to fly up the waterfall into the filter. He was still alive and healthy, so I dumped him back into the tank and away he went, doing his algae eating thing.

rtbob · 06-04-2011, 07:53 AM

Actual Chinese algae eaters like to attach themselves to other fish when mature. They eat the slime off of the scales. I also have read that they only eat algae for a short time. Then soon switch over to what ever your feeding the other fish.

I'll post a link if you would like. Have to search for it again and I'm at work.

mec102778 · 06-04-2011, 09:51 AM

Yes please I thought these were the only true algea eaters.

rtbob · 06-04-2011, 02:47 PM

Here it is.

How to keep Chinese algae eaters, Gyrinocheilus aymonieri, with pictures

mec102778 · 06-04-2011, 06:03 PM

Interesting, what fish is it that is strickly algea?

rtbob · 06-04-2011, 06:28 PM

The only one I know of off hand is those itty bitty ottos. Do a google search on Chinese Algae eaters, the link I provided was just one of many. More than likely other people have had different experiences with these fish. They may be just fine.

I had one way back when (1980's) and he never (that I saw) stuck onto any of my fish.

holly12 · 06-04-2011, 09:19 PM

Otos are sooooooo cute! I've got 3 right now. I've had them for a month and so far every one has fat, healthy, pea shaped bellies! (Super excited because I've heard from multiple people that the 'golden trial time' for keeping Otos is 4 weeks. They are so super cute and very very docile. (My ADF's swim by, kicking them in the face and they just continue eating algae, lol). If you look closely, they wink at you too!

06-03-2011, 09:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
mec102778 ADV TankSeperationAnxity mec102778's Photo Gallery Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,442 Name: Mike Location: Lorton, VA My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 536 Times Said "Thanks" 246 Times Was Thanked 299 Times in 281 Posts	Chinese Algea Eater So I've decided that the three little guys I got are just awesome. However I'm affraid one has alread been picked off by my Bichir. he was swiming around last night with a rather round belly and well I've only been able to identify to different algea eaters 1 larger and 1 small. I may need to pick up a few more. Any tips on keeping these guys what would be considered to many? __________________ 100G->African Cichlids:Kribensis-2,Bumblebee-2,Red Zebra-2,Elec. Yel. Labi.-2, Acei-2, Elec. Blu. Johanni-2,Peacocks-2 / Community: Australian Rainbow-3,Turquoise Rainbow-4,Dalmatian Mollies-2,white molly-1,Dojo Loaches-1/Cleaners:Chinese Algea Eaters-5/Murderers: Dinosaur Bichir-1And lots of other tanks,2-Gourims,6-Rams,1-Arrowanna,6-FW Flounder,1-Farlowella CF, 1-Spiney Eel

06-04-2011, 12:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: Chinese Algea Eater Just a thought - do you have a HOB filter? I had a CHinese algae eater years ago who was really skittish. I did a water change one day and saw him darting around really quickly. Well, I didn't see him for days after that, and even lifted up all the decor looking for him. I thought he must have died and the tetras ate him or he must have jumped out... but I never found a body. A week later I thought.... maybe he somehow got into the filter? That's where he was! In all his shooting around the tank like a mad man, he managed to fly up the waterfall into the filter. He was still alive and healthy, so I dumped him back into the tank and away he went, doing his algae eating thing. __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

06-04-2011, 07:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
rtbob rtbob's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 665 Name: rtbob Location: Austin, TX Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 230 Times Said "Thanks" 77 Times Was Thanked 188 Times in 155 Posts	Re: Chinese Algea Eater Actual Chinese algae eaters like to attach themselves to other fish when mature. They eat the slime off of the scales. I also have read that they only eat algae for a short time. Then soon switch over to what ever your feeding the other fish. I'll post a link if you would like. Have to search for it again and I'm at work. __________________ Do fish get thirsty? How to fishless cycle your aquarium http://www.aquariumforum.com/f66/fis...cle-15036.html Information on API FW test kit http://www.aquariumforum.com/f2/api-...ion-15347.html

06-04-2011, 09:51 AM	#4 (permalink)
mec102778 ADV TankSeperationAnxity mec102778's Photo Gallery Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,442 Name: Mike Location: Lorton, VA My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 536 Times Said "Thanks" 246 Times Was Thanked 299 Times in 281 Posts	Re: Chinese Algea Eater Yes please I thought these were the only true algea eaters. __________________ 100G->African Cichlids:Kribensis-2,Bumblebee-2,Red Zebra-2,Elec. Yel. Labi.-2, Acei-2, Elec. Blu. Johanni-2,Peacocks-2 / Community: Australian Rainbow-3,Turquoise Rainbow-4,Dalmatian Mollies-2,white molly-1,Dojo Loaches-1/Cleaners:Chinese Algea Eaters-5/Murderers: Dinosaur Bichir-1And lots of other tanks,2-Gourims,6-Rams,1-Arrowanna,6-FW Flounder,1-Farlowella CF, 1-Spiney Eel

06-04-2011, 02:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
rtbob rtbob's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 665 Name: rtbob Location: Austin, TX Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 230 Times Said "Thanks" 77 Times Was Thanked 188 Times in 155 Posts	Re: Chinese Algea Eater Here it is. How to keep Chinese algae eaters, Gyrinocheilus aymonieri, with pictures __________________ Do fish get thirsty? How to fishless cycle your aquarium http://www.aquariumforum.com/f66/fis...cle-15036.html Information on API FW test kit http://www.aquariumforum.com/f2/api-...ion-15347.html

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06-04-2011, 06:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
mec102778 ADV TankSeperationAnxity mec102778's Photo Gallery Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,442 Name: Mike Location: Lorton, VA My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 536 Times Said "Thanks" 246 Times Was Thanked 299 Times in 281 Posts	Re: Chinese Algea Eater Interesting, what fish is it that is strickly algea? __________________ 100G->African Cichlids:Kribensis-2,Bumblebee-2,Red Zebra-2,Elec. Yel. Labi.-2, Acei-2, Elec. Blu. Johanni-2,Peacocks-2 / Community: Australian Rainbow-3,Turquoise Rainbow-4,Dalmatian Mollies-2,white molly-1,Dojo Loaches-1/Cleaners:Chinese Algea Eaters-5/Murderers: Dinosaur Bichir-1And lots of other tanks,2-Gourims,6-Rams,1-Arrowanna,6-FW Flounder,1-Farlowella CF, 1-Spiney Eel

06-04-2011, 06:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
rtbob rtbob's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 665 Name: rtbob Location: Austin, TX Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 230 Times Said "Thanks" 77 Times Was Thanked 188 Times in 155 Posts	Re: Chinese Algea Eater The only one I know of off hand is those itty bitty ottos. Do a google search on Chinese Algae eaters, the link I provided was just one of many. More than likely other people have had different experiences with these fish. They may be just fine. I had one way back when (1980's) and he never (that I saw) stuck onto any of my fish. __________________ Do fish get thirsty? How to fishless cycle your aquarium http://www.aquariumforum.com/f66/fis...cle-15036.html Information on API FW test kit http://www.aquariumforum.com/f2/api-...ion-15347.html

06-04-2011, 09:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: Chinese Algea Eater Otos are sooooooo cute! I've got 3 right now. I've had them for a month and so far every one has fat, healthy, pea shaped bellies! (Super excited because I've heard from multiple people that the 'golden trial time' for keeping Otos is 4 weeks. They are so super cute and very very docile. (My ADF's swim by, kicking them in the face and they just continue eating algae, lol). If you look closely, they wink at you too! __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

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