Chinese Algae Eaters (CAE) in Cold water pond?

Hi all, as you may know i have a 850gal pond with goldfish (comets, commons, shubinkins, hybrids and more+)

I have some dojo loaches from a local creek and some yabbies/crawfish I wanted to get some sort of algae eater becauee my goldies eat the long algae but leave short strands my pond gets to 12-15 C in winter and around 20-25C in summer, is it possible to add some Chinese algae eaters?? or what algae eaters can you recommend.

Thanks,
PeterFishKeepin

 

From what I have read, I am not sure your pond will be warm enough in winter for a CAE unless you add a heater.

One algae eater than might survive your moderate winter temperatures might be a common pleco. They can survive water temperatures as low as 50 F/ 10 C.. If you are correct about your water temperature, you should be OK to add a single pleco to your pond. You might even be able to find a large one that has outgrown the owner's aquarium. A common pleco would be a good companion to goldfish and koi as it
can grow to a similar size.

I have a common pleco that is over 10 years old and is well over a foot in length, but mine is kept in a species tank, not a pond. Outdoor ponds freeze over here in Northern Illinois.

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ive thought about common pleco, but ive heard they are good cleaners when yooung then turn into lazy fish that poop all the time. Also it can be hard finding a common pleco in AUS as they get big and arent commonly sold in big box stores they normally only have BN plecos.

 

ive thought about common pleco, but ive heard they are good cleaners when yooung then turn into lazy fish that poop all the time. Also it can be hard finding a common pleco in AUS as they get big and arent commonly sold in big box stores they normally only have BN plecos.

Common plecos do get large. Here in the States far too many plecos are sole in juvenile form to unsuspecting buyers. I am glad the pet store chains Down Under have not adopted that practice as too many plecos are abused as a result.

Yes, large plecos do generate a lot of waste, but so do goldfish. In order to generate waste, they have to eat. While older plecos are not as active as juveniles, when they get hungry, they will find something to eat.

 

Are there any rules / laws in Australia for) about this Peter? I was always thought that Australia was quite picky as it comes to non native fish kept outdoors (to prevent they end up in nature).

 

Are there any rules / laws in Australia for) about this Peter? I was always thought that Australia was quite picky as it comes to non native fish kept outdoors (to prevent they end up in nature).

Would AUS consider goldfish to be native?

 

Australia is extremely hard on a whole lot of fish and either have them banned from import or restricted by permit only under certain conditions, and it's a massive list.

Fairly certain plecos are in their "noxious fish" category and banned.

There are plecos around that predate the ban in Australia, they would be extremely expensive and in extreme short supply. Most pleco species are going extinct in the aquarium hobby there.

If you did manage to source plecos in Australia you wouldn't put it in a pond, you'd keep it in your house and treat them like gold. Lol.
Could cost you 2-4 thousand for a breeding pair of L41 zebras or $100-250 for a common armored catfish from what I see on the internet about that market. The only supply available are aquarist breeders that had them before the import ban from the 70s that just got tougher since then, a very tight knit community of breeders. That had them before the ban and keep breeding them, picky on who they sell to and charge an arm and a leg for them.

 

Would AUS consider goldfish to be native?

No idea (think not) but why so offensive Ray?

Australia (and New Zealand) seems to have quite strict laws for importing fish / animals / plants / seeds / etc.....(that is what is shown here in serie as "border control" and such. It wasn't my idea.

Knowing the pleco disasters it would be quite logical that import / keeping of (certain) fish is restricted by rules / laws.

 

Would AUS consider goldfish to be native?

Goldfish no they are from asia.. they are a regulated invasive species though,, people are allowed to have them in aquariums,, and above ground ponds, nothing used to house them that could overflow and release them somehow into the wild is permitted.
every other type of carp is banned from import.
Victoria bans koi also.

 

No idea (think not) but why so offensive Ray?

My question was not intended to be offensive? It was an honest question.

I know nothing of the regulations in AUS and was wondering how they might regulate goldfish that are not native to Australia, but are native to Eastern Asia. SparkyJones provided the answer I was seeking. That seems to be a sensible way to regulate them.

I live in Northern Illinois and Asian Carp have caused havoc in the Illinois River and Lake Michigan, so I understand the significance of invasive species, whether plant or animal.

 

My question was not intended to be offensive? It was an honest question.

I know nothing of the regulations in AUS and was wondering how they might regulate goldfish that are not native to Australia, but are native to Eastern Asia. SparkyJones provided the answer I was seeking. That seems to be a sensible way to regulate them.

I live in Northern Illinois and Asian Carp have caused havoc in the Illinois River and Lake Michigan, so I understand the significance of invasive species, whether plant or animal.

Ah I misunderstood !

 

Ah I misunderstood !

Emails and forum posts are easily misinterpreted as we cannot express a tone of voice. I should have expressed myself more clearly.

 

Sorry for delayed response, while you all awake it's my sleeping time lol. Goldies are invasive In Aus amd a its illegal to release into the wild. But you can buy them and put in ponds as Long as they can't get into the wild creeks and waterways. I have 'wild' dojo loaches from a creek down the road in my pond which I caught. They seek CAE in Aus so it's not illegal to keep but only illegal to release into wild.

In regards to pleco, you can buy May species but not at lfs, mainly on BN pleco. You have o find breeders for the L species. They are very very expensive too. Same apply with the dojo and goldies, can keep in tanks and pond but can't release them into wild.

Carp/goldies can be found in our waterways because some silly people released them, if you search up, On YouTube, RobbieFishing and look at his carp vids he can get some up to 1 meter! We may be considered in Asia but they aren't native and hVe had damaging effects on Aus waterways.

 

I think SAEs would rasp the slime coat off your goldfish so i wouldn't recommend them.

Regarding temperature Seriously Fish says:
Temperature: Active over a wide temperature range of 60 – 90°F/16° – 32°C. Prolonged exposure to conditions towards either extreme of this range is not recommended however and this fish should be kept in a heated aquarium at 22 – 26 °C for general care.

 

Well thank you for your advice, I think they'd may turn into a headache in the future so I'm not going to add them, thanks again.