Siamese Algae Eaters vs Otos?

Went to PetSmart today to get some Maracyn (I know I have a box laying around here somewhere, but I can't find it).
I always walk up and down the fish tanks, checking to see if they have any rare finds (like the Platinum butterfly koi that had been hiding among the regular mottled red, black, and white koi). I noticed a fish called a Siamese Algae Eater. I searched the forums a bit and found references to them, but couldn't find any real information on them.
These little guys looked kind of like slight larger, more angular versions of otos.
I was just wondering what anyone knew about them, if they're any easier or harder to keep than otos, that sort of thing.

Thanks

 

I know they're the only algae eaters that I know of, that eat the black brush algae which are IMPOSSIBLE to get rid of once they start growing in your tank. BN plecos and Otos don't eat this type of algae, from what I hear, and the TRUE Siamese Flying Fox does.

I also know many stores will tell you they sell the TRUE Siamese Flying Fox, which is a lie, as they use various algae eaters that look similar to the true Siamese Flying Fox. That can be bad because the false SFF won't eat black brush algae.

P.S. The scientific name of the TRUE SFF is Crossocheilus Siamensis.

 

Actualy, the Flying FOX and true SAE are very similar but different variety fish. I just scored 7 ture SAE's a few days ago. Go to this thread, I just posted some pics of real ones.

Oh, BTW, if you come across some real ones... BUY THEM!!!!

 

That is funny.. I was just at Petsmart yesterday as well and had them bag up two algae eaters to help clean up the dark algae on the driftwood and gravel. They said they were chinese algae eaters and did look like a somewhat larger oto. I had them put them back after I thought about for a few minutes, remembering something I had read here, about them sucking the slime coat off of fish? Not sure if that was the chinese algae eaters or not, but didnt want to take a chance. If anyone knows whether that is true or not, and if in fact, as Isabella stated, that they do eat that type of algae, I will have to re think it and get some for my tank. I did read the card with their scientific name, but can't remember right now what it was.
Did you end up getting any of them yesterday?

 

That is funny.. I was just at Petsmart yesterday as well and had them bag up two algae eaters to help clean up the dark algae on the driftwood and gravel. They said they were chinese algae eaters and did look like a somewhat larger oto. I had them put them back after I thought about for a few minutes, remembering something I had read here, about them sucking the slime coat off of fish? Not sure if that was the chinese algae eaters or not, but didnt want to take a chance. If anyone knows whether that is true or not, and if in fact, as Isabella stated, that they do eat that type of algae, I will have to re think it and get some for my tank. I did read the card with their scientific name, but can't remember right now what it was.
Did you end up getting any of them yesterday?

I bought all of the Siamese Algea Eaters they had. But you were smat to hold off, there is definitly a difference between Chinese and Siamese Algea Eaters. And Issy is right, Chinese are famous for doing the "Ramora" thing to slow, broad fish like Angles and Discus.

These little guys looked kind of like slight larger, more angular versions of otos.
I was just wondering what anyone knew about them, if they're any easier or harder to keep than otos, that sort of thing.

Thanks

Oh yeah, about that. They definitly look a lot like big Oto's when side by side. And after watching them together a few days, I've discovered SAE's and Oto's will sometimes schoal together! They seem really at peace with each other, and get along fine for 2 species from different ends of the world! Oh, and even though I've only had them a few days, SAE's seem really easy to care for.

 

Hey Jim...What is "Ramora" ?

 

It's an ocean fish that attaches to the sides of fish. They have rasp-like teeth that are used to bore a hole in the side of a fish to live off of the fluid from the fish.
CAEs don't actually do the boring thing, but they suck the slime coat off of some fish, and look like remora when they do it.

 

It's an ocean fish that attaches to the sides of fish. They have rasp-like teeth that are used to bore a hole in the side of a fish to live off of the fluid from the fish.
CAEs don't actually do the boring thing, but they suck the slime coat off of some fish, and look like remora when they do it.

You know I've been wondering something. I have read that slime coat is mostly protein, I was wondering about these fish that are notorious about slurping the slime coat of other fish. Maybe they aren't getting enough protein. Sorry just a stray thought
carol

 

You know I've been wondering something. I have read that slime coat is mostly protein, I was wondering about these fish that are notorious about slurping the slime coat of other fish. Maybe they aren't getting enough protein. Sorry just a stray thought
carol

I was told (or read somewhere) that they do it if they're hungry and there's not enough algea/food, so that makes sense.

 

I was told (or read somewhere) that they do it if they're hungry and there's not enough algea/food, so that makes sense.

I've also read once they start they don't start but it seems something would have to be missing from their diets instead of just being a "rogue"
Carol

 

I've also read once they start they don't start but it seems something would have to be missing from their diets instead of just being a "rogue"
Carol

Who can tell, sometimes fish are just funny about things. Maybe it's just a case of the algae eater finding the "right" fish, if you know what I mean.

 

This is my Chinese algae eater

He is aggressive is my danio mess with him and they do IE when he is cleaning the filter they swim around he and he chases them away but he does not actively bother any fish. and have never seen he on any of my fish.

 

Has anyone any experience with the golden algae eaters? my sister has one and says he's never been the least bit aggressive, but I read up and they're also chinese algae eaters. I'd like one for the black brush algae, but I'm hesitating...

 

I LOVE my chinese algae eaters - I have an outdoor pond, so mine have LOTS of algae and wigglers (insect larvae) to eat as well as lots of places to hide (there are two rock shelves that they love to hide in). I have three right now in the pond with several gold fish and a batch of mosquito fish. I have never had any problems with my algae eaters bothering my other fish. In my personal experience (I have two sisters with fish tanks, two teacher friends that have classroom fishtanks and another sister with a pond) they only time the chinese algae eaters have bothered other fish has been when they were either not getting enough food, or did not have enough "territory". They really need at least two (preferably 3) caves/hidey holes for each algae eater. Also, as they grow, they need a lot of swimming room. I would not have more than one in a tank, and the smallest tank I would have one in would be a 29 gallon with three caves/hidey holes and some type of plants (plastic is fine, they can't eat that). When I do a major clean of my pond, my algae eaters will attach to my finger and just sit there. They may only grow to about 5-6 inches long, but they need space as if they are 12 - 15 inches long!

 

Has anyone any experience with the golden algae eaters? my sister has one and says he's never been the least bit aggressive, but I read up and they're also chinese algae eaters. I'd like one for the black brush algae, but I'm hesitating...

I'm pretty sure a golden is variation of a chinese.

I LOVE my chinese algae eaters - I have an outdoor pond, so mine have LOTS of algae and wigglers (insect larvae) to eat as well as lots of places to hide (there are two rock shelves that they love to hide in). I have three right now in the pond with several gold fish and a batch of mosquito fish. I have never had any problems with my algae eaters bothering my other fish. In my personal experience (I have two sisters with fish tanks, two teacher friends that have classroom fishtanks and another sister with a pond) they only time the chinese algae eaters have bothered other fish has been when they were either not getting enough food, or did not have enough "territory". They really need at least two (preferably 3) caves/hidey holes for each algae eater. Also, as they grow, they need a lot of swimming room. I would not have more than one in a tank, and the smallest tank I would have one in would be a 29 gallon with three caves/hidey holes and some type of plants (plastic is fine, they can't eat that). When I do a major clean of my pond, my algae eaters will attach to my finger and just sit there. They may only grow to about 5-6 inches long, but they need space as if they are 12 - 15 inches long!

Now that I think about it, it seems I saw something on wigglers and that being the reason Chinese Algea Eaters (and some other species I can't recall right now) are here in the U.S. to begin with. They're lousy algae eaters, but GREAT pest control.

 

This is my chainese alge eater



He is aggressive is my danio mess with him and they do IE when he is cleaning the filter they swim around he and he chases them away but he does not actively bother any fish. and have never seen he on any of my fish.

Oh my...Just looked at 1gamma's chinese algae eater.. This is the same type of fish that started the demise of our tank...Harassed the discus and red tail shark.

 

"They're lousy algae eaters, but GREAT pest control."

Actually, mine do quite nice at cleaning the algae off the pond. I will set the rocks from the waterfalls down in the bottom of the pond overnight and they will be nice and moss free by the next morning. It's kinda cool because the moss will be about 5 or 6 inches long and completely covering the rocks (7 inches by 14 inches roughly) on both sides so I lean the rocks against the side so the algae eaters have access to both sides. Sometimes I will flip the rock over the next night (if it slips down and only gets one side cleaned).

 

"They're lousy algae eaters, but GREAT pest control."

Actually, mine do quite nice at cleaning the algae off the pond. I will set the rocks from the waterfalls down in the bottom of the pond overnight and they will be nice and moss free by the next morning. It's kinda cool because the moss will be about 5 or 6 inches long and completely covering the rocks (7 inches by 14 inches roughly) on both sides so I lean the rocks against the side so the algae eaters have access to both sides. Sometimes I will flip the rock over the next night (if it slips down and only gets one side cleaned).

OK, I definitly amend my statement. I'm glad to know they're not as useless as some people claim. But again, you have them in a pond, not a tank. Perhaps this is a more natural setting for them, with real algae and moss to feast on???

 

Yes - I think this is a fish that a lot of people think of as a tank cleaner when it really does need a LARGE area and lots of places to hide. Just because a fish is small, doesn't mean it only needs a little bit of space. I would not recommend it for most tanks unless you have a large tank with lots of algae. It seems the oto's would be better for the smaller tanks as they have the same general look as the chinese algae eaters without needing quite as much room. The oto's also seem to be more of a community fish. I have not seen any oto's here in Phoenix, just the cae's.