dancerhas

There seems to be a lot going around the forum about Chinese Algae Eaters. From what I've read people seem to hate them, and have even mentioned euthanizing them. Our experience with them has been stellar and (belying their large size) they seem (in our experience) to be an excellent fish.

In light of that I would like to know who has kept CAE's and what kind of success you have had with them. I'd also appreciate it if you would post what tank setup you had, what kind of food you provided them, etc...

Thanks!

# of CAE's: 2
Size: 4 inches
Tank Size: 29 Gallon (upgrading to 55 gallon soon)
Tank Layout: Caves and Plants
Food: Aquarian Algae Wafers
Tankmates: Platy's, Zebra Danios

sirdarksol

As with goldfish, it's not so much that people hate them, but rather that most of them don't have the proper setup for them.

CHoffman

I didn't vote simply because..I don't think they are bad, if put in a proper tank with compatiable fish. CAE are just like any other fish they have to have a proper tank and they don't do well with some other fish.I think because LFS so readily sell them and tell people they will do fine in a 10gallon with any fish they get a bad rep. CAE are only doing what comes naturally to them, therefore I dont' think they are "BAD". They just need a certain enviroment to thrive. I've never had one kill my fish but I haven't kept one successufully either. I found mine a new home because he was in a 10 gallon that the LFS said would be perfect.

Jess

CAE's move too fast for my tank. You're right, in the right situation they would be fine.

dancerhas

I agree, and that's exactly why I started this poll.

CHoffman

I think in general people are just uneducated about them mainly because LFS sell them like neons..lol..I guess I don't understand how a fish like that gets thrown into the mass market, you would think after awhile LFS would think twice about selling them and provide a more suitable fish. Not that they shouldn't be sold at all but they shouldn't be offered as a fish for any tank type. Same with pleco's too.

Zoreta

For years we had a CAE that reached about six inches, and it never bothered our other fish aside from one case (read below)- not even tiny neons. We keep our tank a little warm (78-90), so the algae in the tank is usually enough to keep them happy, though they do eat any food that falls to the bottom. When our one that got really large became too big to feed of scraps we put in algae wafers.

I wouldn't recommend them with zebra danios, though- in my experience, if they are the same size, the CAE will chase the danios. Once there's a good size difference they seem to leave each other alone, but until then the zebras get chased. The CAE doesn't have any teeth to do damage with, but it can still stress out the danio.

# of CAE's: 1
Size: 5-6 inches
Tank Size: 20 Gallon
Tank Layout: planted with tunnels
Food: Aquarium Algae Wafers
Tankmates: numerous over years; zebra danios, platys, and neons being most common

dancerhas

Thanks for the replies! I've heard other cases of large CAE's chasing large Bala Sharks, so it may have something to do with size difference.

Zoreta

I think it's because they get territorial with other CAE once they reach a certain age, and go after other, similar looking fish.

I could be wrong, though- I have all of two CAE to my record, so I'm not an expert by any means.

dancerhas

They are very territorial. Caves and tunnels give them space to claim as their own and help keep squabbles down. The more I think about it, the more they seem like betta's.

gremlin

I currently have three cae's. They live in my pond with my goldfish all summer. They eat the moss, snails, and whatever food the goldfish don't eat. My Mom will toss goldfish pellets in for the goldfish, and some of them sink. Pretty much though, it is just whatever is in the pond that they eat. I also have 2 sailfin plecos that help with the algae in my pond. For the winter, I brought the cae's and the plecos in to a 40 gallon breeder tank (yes, I know it is not big enough for them but it is just for the winter). The pleco's just sort of hang out under the decor (hollow log and a couple of caves and a 'vine' ball) all day. They like to hang upside down. The cae's have each picked their favorite spot and will guard it from each other. The hollow log is the favorite piece. I can usually find one pleco attached to the top inside and two cae's - one in each end - on the bottom. I'm almost tempted to just go get about 7-8 of the hollow logs and take everything else out except that one of the plecos likes the vine ball. My cae's have never bothered any of my other fish. They still eat moss/algae. My pond outside is at least 180 gallons, it has two shelves that I have rocks on to make caves/shallow shelves, I have 3 lillies so the lilly stems/roots provide more places to hide. This is the first time I've kept them over the winter. The last two winters, I gave the cae's (1 the first year and 2 the second year) to friends who had tanks. They each got their own tank (29 gallon, 29 gallon, and 40 gallon) and are still happy and going strong in their tanks with various tetras, swordtails, guppies, and danios. The largest of my three is about 5-6 inches and the other two are almost as long. I have only had them 6 months. I think the reason the pet stores sell them is because they are so tiny at first, and they are voracious eaters so they are real good at cleaning all the algae out of the tank and then when they get too big and die, they can sell more. The main reason they die, I think, is because there really isn't enough food and room for them in most tanks. It takes mine all of about 1/100th of a second to go from one end of the 40 gallon tank to the other and back. They are just solid muscle!

dancerhas

Good point, this is part of my theory as well. Perhaps when they lack enough food they decide to start feeding on other fish.

fishlover78

I know tons of people who have owned them and because they like to be at the top of the "pecking order" in the tank they will chase and they don't take any krud from other fish!