What are these fish ?

[Dechi]

They were sold to me as SAE but they have no barbs and the black line doesn’t go quite far enough. They are amazing jumpers. I do not want them in my tank so I am bringing them back to another LFS tomorrow. Until then they are in a covered bucket with a bubbler.

 

[TClare]

I believe flying fox are often confused with Siamese algae eaters- but they also have barbels. Any chance of clearer photos?

 

[Dechi]

I believe flying fox are often confused with Siamese algae eaters- but they also have barbels. Any chance of clearer photos?

It’s night here so I won’t have a chance until morning. I’ve checked and rechecked again and my most plausible answer is these guys are feeder fish.

I’ll ask this other store I’m going to tomorrow (my usual LFS) what they think they are. If I’m lucky they’ll still have those two SAE that were in quarantine 2 weeks ago.

 

[TClare]

It’s night here so I won’t have a chance until morning. I’ve checked and rechecked again and my most plausible answer is these guys are feeder fish.

I’ll ask this other store I’m going to tomorrow (my usual LFS) what they think they are. If I’m lucky they’ll still have those two SAE that were in quarantine 2 weeks ago.

True, they could well be minnows of some kind…

 

[Dechi]

True, they could well be minnows of some kind…

The store owner is a moron. I called before buying, to make sure he had the real SAE. I explicitly said I wanted the true algae eater and even gave him the latin name…

 

[TClare]

Yes annoying, they really ought to know.

 

[Dechi]

I called the store where I bought them and explained the situation. The owner agreed to refund me. I brought them to my local store and the girl said they were flying foxes. They usually don’t sell those; she hadn’t seen any in years. She took them anyway.

They had extra tiny SAE and I was going to take 2 of them but then she remembered there was a bigger one in another tank. Not an adult, maybe half the size of one. So I went with this one instead. I figured it would eat BBA faster if it eats it at all.

After acclimating it for 45 minutes I put it in the tank. This fish is a total nut case… Absolutely fearless and going after the tetras not even 10 minutes after being in the tank. Speedy Gonzales on acid…

The tank is big and lots of place to dash around so I think it will calm down. So all is well that ends well !

 

[GlennO]

I recommend getting another one or two of them. It will chase the other fish less and they will follow each other around.

 

[chromedome52]

The fish in the photos are definitely not flying foxes, lots of color and markings missing, so your regular store person isn't very smart, either. Any decent ID would have required much better photos. Since you've already gotten rid of them, the point is moot. There are a couple of species closely related and similar in appearance to Siamese Algae Eaters, often sold as such.

Some time ago there was a post here on Fishlore with excellent photos and descriptions of species often sold as SAE. Not sure where it went.

 

[Dechi]

The fish in the photos are definitely not flying foxes, lots of color and markings missing, so your regular store person isn't very smart, either. Any decent ID would have required much better photos. Since you've already gotten rid of them, the point is moot. There are a couple of species closely related and similar in appearance to Siamese Algae Eaters, often sold as such.

Some time ago there was a post here on Fishlore with excellent photos and descriptions of species often sold as SAE. Not sure where it went.

Oh well. I guess we’ll never know. Maybe when I go to the store next time I can take good pictures and post them here.

 

[Coradee]

Some time ago there was a post here on Fishlore with excellent photos and descriptions of species often sold as SAE. Not sure where it went.

Is this the one you mean?
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariummagazine/may08/siamese-algae-eater-id.htm