bmxer193

I think I made a mistake and got 2 CAE instead of 2 oto... Here some pics (the date in the pics is wrong) Thanks for the help!

Annadvn

I would say they are chinese algae eaters.

I have both chinese algae eaters and ottos, and they definitely look like chinese algae eaters (someone else feel free to correct me though)

Anna

Lucy

I agree with Anna. They don't look like ottos.

bmxer193

That wasnt what i was hoping to hear... So becasue they are CAE They cant live with my neons, mollies and gouramis for long right?

lilsoccakid

they really shouldnt be living with anything for long because they will try to eat them unfortunatly

Annadvn

They would probably be fine with the neons and mollys, but they will try and attack the gouramis. They like fish which are large and flat like gouramis, angels.

I keep mine in with mbuna (its the only algae eaters they dont kill), but have had them in with convicts, dempseys, danios and a 15" tin foil barb with no problems.

While they are babies they prefer algae its when they start growing up they prefer slime coat. You can keep them as long as when they start showing signs of chasing fish you rehome/euthanase them. Unless you would find it easier to take them back to the pet show now.

Anna

75galguy

Yeah i would definatly say those are chinese algea eaters

bmxer193

About how big are they when they start to chasing other fish?

75galguy

I wonder if live plants that have a slime coating will keep them busy enough to not eat on the other fish? Hmmmm..dunno

Its not the same type of coatong though. You can introduce snails into your tank but you might end up with a bigger problem.

soldieroffortune1974

Annadvn why would you suggest euthanising fish because they are incompatible with another species? There's hundreds of ways of solving the issue without euthanisng them.

bmxer193 Chinese algae eaters stop eating algae around 3-4 months of age. Snails may solve the problem,their slime is almost identical to fish slime coat.maybe maybe not. I would get another aquarium and put them in it,that way you wouldn't have to worry about it.Eventually,they will become killer fish.Taking them back to the pet store,you might be able to get in-store credit for something else,but not all stores do that,especially if the fish have been sold after a certain period of time.

Good luck

75galguy

Yeah getting another tank is best.. If you get snails they wiil populate a tank quicker than you can get them out. Thats if you can get them out at all.

Annadvn

Well I'm throwing out options. I have euthanized chinese algae eaters (using clove oil) before when they have got to be a problem and tried attacking other fish that i don't want to loose. I try to re-home first.

Not many people want chinese algae eaters when they get big, so re-homing is not always a option. Same as getting a tank just for them, it may not be viable to afford a tank for extra fish once they become baddies just so they can live out their lives. I also had chinese algae eaters turn on each other.

All the chinese algae eaters i have ever had have been from second hand tanks that i have bought.

Anna

sirdarksol

I would never suggest euthanizing any pet simply because it becomes inconvenient.

I would take them back to the fish store and say you meant to get otos (if they had them marked as otos, it will be even easier. Just tell them that they had the fish mis-marked and ask if they've got any real otos).

The following is not my own experience, and I can't fully vouch for it
If you have a large enough tank (they get to be huge), and if you never let them get a taste for slime coat, they might be okay with your current fish. Some members have had success by feeding their CAEs algae wafers. The theory is that these fish only start eating slime coat when they run out of algae. However, once they taste slime coat, they realize that it tastes better than algae, and will likely never go back to algae. In other words, eating slime coat is a learned experience that requires them to run out of other food to happen.

bmxer193

I tried to feed them an Algae wafer but in less then 5 mins the mollies find it (even with the all lights off) Any suggestions on how to keep this from happening

sirdarksol

Wait until you're ready to go to bed and the house is as dark as it's going to get, and then drop the algae wafer in. Even if the mollies get at it, they should scatter it enough that the CAEs get some of it.

Butterfly

Slime coat is almost completely protein. In my experience if they get enough protein before they start sucking on other fish they won't start. They will eat algae up to a certain size and then need an increase in protein available for them.
Once they start sucking on other fish they won't stop.
Carol

sirdarksol

Thank you, Butterfly. I'm guessing you're where I heard (and misquoted) this info from.
So, then, what did you use to increase protein? Shrimp pellets seem like a good option, but is there anything better?

Butterfly

Shrimp pellets, blood worms after lights out mostly. I still put a Omega One Veggie Wafer in at lights out once in a while. Ours stayed with us about three years and when we moved he went to live with someone else.
Carol

bmxer193

Ill try dropping in some blood worms under the filter (so they sink) tonight

gremlin

I have three chinese algae eaters that live in my pond in the summer. They are inside in a 40 gallon breeder tank for the winter. I have had them 6 months. They still eat algae and moss. They do not bother any of my other fish. They live with comet/common goldfish, 2 sailfin plecos, and a bunch of mosquito fish. Outside, I would occasionally supplement with algae wafers because there was no algae or moss down in my pond. I would also set mossy rocks from the waterfalls down into the pond for a couple of nights to get the moss cleaned off. It was fun to watch the cae's munch the algae. Now, I bring the mossy rocks into the tank for them to clean. They still eat the moss and I have had them 6 months. They are now about 6-7 inches long. They will eat snails, but not very often. They prefer the algae still. Since I brought them inside, I supplement the moss with occasional algae wafers, but also with shrimp pellets and Nutrafin Max Sinking Complete Food Tablets. My plecos like them also. I just got some new baby goldfish from Walmart - they are pretty little orange and white ones. I'll keep them inside until it warms up a bit outside. They are too tiny to put out in the winter. The cae's are ignoring them. I also have three cory cats in that tank. The cae's ignore them also. My only problem is my three cae's like to play tag. They swim around so fast in the tank that they knock things around. I'm surprised they haven't knocked themselves out with how hard they bump into the rocks! I have never had any problem with them bothering any of my other fish. If anyone in my area needs to get rid of a cae that is too big for their tank, I would be willing to take a few for my sister's pond in the spring. Her pond is about twice the size as mine, and she has tons of moss.

bmxer193

I would give them to you for her, but you live across the country. Thanks for the advise though

gremlin

No problem. cae's are great fish if they have the proper environment. Just like most fish. I'm lucky that I seem to have good luck with them.

dancerhas

^^ Same here.

We've fed ours Aquarian Algae Wafers from day 1, and never had them even look at another fish. It helps to feed your other fish first, then while their eating, drop the algae wafers in and then shut the lights off. We've had one for 7 months and he's about 4 inches long.

I don't think they'll eat blood worms at the size they are. I'm not sure about that though...you can see.