GypsyGirl71

So, I'm reading all the info on CAE attatching to broad sided slower swimming fish and now I'm worried about my silver dollars. I've had the CAE for about a week now and my dwarf gourami died 2 days later. There could have been a circular place on him, or it could have been me being extra paranoid. I hadnt seen the CAE anywhere near him but he'd been fine. I never see the CAE near my silver dollars either, should I be concerned? I bought the CAE because I was starting to get some algae on the glass and plants, more than my RTS could keep up with.

Shawnie

once the cae's grow up, they do go for slime coat on fish..depending on how old he is, depends on how concerned you should be..eventually, he WILL attach onto them ...its in their nature

agabr123

how old is your CAE? generally as juveniles they're okay, it's when they grow into adults that you start to have problems

Lol, ninja'd shawnie!

GypsyGirl71

I assume he's very young, just bought him last weekend and he's about 2 inches long.

agabr123

yeah, you likely won't see too much aggression from him for a little while, but inevitably he will realize that he likes the taste of slime coat more than algae!

aquarist48

I had some CAE's many years ago. I had to remove them because they were attaching themselves to Discus that I had at the time.

GypsyGirl71

Well, I will watch him closely and let him keep my tank clean for now anyway! Thanks for the advice, guys!

GypsyGirl71

Any suggestions for a cleanup guy that doesnt present all these problems? I keep reading bristlenose pleco but I cant find them anywhere!

agabr123

BN plecos, clown plecos, otocinclus are wonderful for that as well, they're also a lot smaller so you can have more in a 55

gremlin

Your single cae should actually do ok in the 55 gallon. Make sure there are at least 2 (3 is better) caves that he can hide in. Feed him the sinking pellets that are made for cories. At 2 inches, he is actually about teenager size. The main reasons they attack other fish are:

1. defending territory - not enough space - not enough hidey holes
One cae needs at least 55 gallons - more is always better. They also need three caves that they can move between. They will generally choose one favorite, but will defend 2 or 3 spots from all other fish. Another reason why they need a lot of space.
2. not enough food
They are voracious eaters and most causes of them going after other fish is because they are scavengers and are getting hungry from not enough food. They also prefer meatier foods as they get older. The sinking pellets for bottom feeding scavengers are a good choice. One cae will/can eat 3 or more of these pellets a night as well as keeping the algae under control.

Cae's are basically huge shark type fish in a small body. They need lots of room and lots of food. If they are given what they need, they do not bother other fish. I have three cae's for my pond. They do not bother my plecos, goldfish or mosquito fish at all. They have lots of places to play hide and seek from each other and lots of space to swim around. They also have lots of algae and pond snails to feed on as well as the sinking pellets I drop in.

even in bigger tanks, they crave or seem to crave , slime coat as adults..I had 2 in my 75 gal for a few years...and then had no clue why all my angels had all these weird spots on them...and then saw one on an angel one day and found out from FL and other sites, that CAE's as adults, seem to need the slime coat like cats crave catnip

GypsyGirl71

Thanks so much, gremlin. I have one large hide out spot that has already been claimed by a pictus cat. I have lots of plants and several rocks with holes in them. I may consider adding something else that CAE can hide in. I've only had him a week and he's already done an excellent job of cleaning. I always put plenty of algae wafers or sinking pellets for him and the pictus cats.

Shawnie

even in bigger tanks, they crave or seem to crave , slime coat as adults..I had 2 in my 75 gal for a few years...and then had no clue why all my angels had all these weird spots on them...and then saw one on an angel one day and found out from FL and other sites, that CAE's as adults, seem to need the slime coat like cats crave catnip

gremlin

I think, as long as they get enough variety in their diet, that they should be ok. I haven't had mine go after my goldies ever and I have had cae's for 4 years. I think, if you feed them the meatier sinking pellets, that should satisfy their craving for the meatier foods and they should leave the other fish alone.

mightymaki

I have had a couple of these suckers for about 3 months now without a problem in a community tank. They are still juvenilles but I feed them both spirulina & shrimp pellets. They don't seem to mind the odd blood worm that drops down to the bottom either! They do a geat job keeping everything clean & I have enough hiding placesfor them as well. After reading all of these quotes I am a little concerned for some of my larger fish but I guess I'l just keep monitoring the tank.