chinese algae eater

[FishDude13]

Ok guys and gals, I have a 3 inch chinese algae eater, Before I never researched fish or researched how to care for them I have through the months learned alot about my fishes and technical care. I just found out my chinese algae eater will soon become agressive and harm my fishes. All the people who have had them said they had to get rid of them after they become adults due to the agression. I really like him and I dont wana do that but yet I dont want him to be flushed. I dont know who will take him and I dont have a seperate tank for him. Hes fine now and swims about and cleans very well but I dont know when he will stop eating algae and start eating fish.. any ideas??

[johnpeezy]

He will start becoming aggressive when he become to large for the tank to support his food intake. It could be 2" if you have a terribly small tank with no algae could be full gwon 8-9" if hes in a 220 gallon.

A good way to stave aggression with these guys is to feed them, something that people often overlook when purchasing an algae eater.

I had a 9 inch chinese algae eater that was harmless, a algae wafer garbage disposal, but non the less harmless.

[FishDude13]

He will start becoming aggressive when he become to large for the tank to support his food intake. It could be 2" if you have a terribly small tank with no algae could be full gwon 8-9" if hes in a 220 gallon.

A good way to stave aggression with these guys is to feed them, something that people often overlook when purchasing an algae eater.

I had a 9 inch chinese algae eater that was harmless, a algae wafer garbage disposal, but non the less harmless.

what do you think I should start feeding him when I notice agression? hes harmless now and just eats algae and sleeps in his cave, hes in a 20 gal untill I get my 55 gal going. lettuce? or maybe zuccini how ever you spell that? Or just some algae waffers?

[smaug]

Ive had my cae for over 2 years now and he shows no nasty aggression at all,0 nada.I undersstand that many people warn against them but in my experiance I havnt seen it.Just keep an eye on him and if he actually gets aggressive,get him out of there,if he dont,then just enjoy having him.Mine still eats algae and is an awesome part of my clean up crew.

[TorqueWorks]

I have 4 of them and they are not aggressive at all. My Cory's push them out of the way to get to the food. I rotate frozen brine shrimp, frozen vegetables (gumdrops), shrimp tablets, bottom feeder tablets, and algae discs to give them a variety. They are very peaceful!!!

[Red]

yeah i have on who is really mean.... i have him with a severum...
But some fish have personality so its worth a shot..

[smaug]

Mine is no push over but he doesnt do anything more then defend his current spot with bluff charges.

[fraggle]

I've had my CAE for about 18months or so, he hasn't got aggresive, but I put in lettuce, zucchini, cucumber and peas (not all at once mind you! LOL) at least 1 a week, he has never been aggresive, don't know if the veggies are why, but he's been great, still eats algae etc

[Wheelman]

Mine is about 3.5" and 10 months old. It is skiddish, but not agressive.

exactly what smaug said...

[FishDude13]

thanks everybody! I will see how he behaves! Much love friends!

[Jackie C]

I've never seen one become agressive, but I have seen them become hyperactive, darting around the tank and making the other fish nervous. I've never tried changing their diet, but moving to a larger tank usually settles them down.

[Cassandra]

I love my CAE, now about 2 1/2 years old. I had 2, but one mysteriously died :scry: The remaining one became much less skittish once the other one was gone and now hangs out with all the other fish and doesnt hide anymore when someone walks by, and sometimes even comes out to see what I'm doing or to taunt my cats lol. The only aggression i've noticed is sometimes he's in his cave and when a tetra swims too close he charges it but never touches it, and this only seems to happen at night. The clown loaches bump him out of the way to get to food and he doesnt seem to bother them at all. He is still a very efficient algae eater but I supplement his diet with an algae wafer once a week, plus they eat leftover flake food left behind by the tetras. I wish there was more information on these guys they are very fascinating. I see that they are often confused with the Siamese algae eater---very different!

[Northernguy]

This is an old thread but here is some info you may have missed:[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[mac]

Hi,
I have never kept one. But I know many people who have had them with bad experiences. Ripped fines. Damaged fish. But as Smaugs has already said if he is nice and quite don't worry. But if he starts getting pushy and violent then take him back to the LFS you bought him from.

Other wise IMO feed them with alternative foods like Algae wafers and pellets with a mix veggie diet.

A 55 gallon tank would be a much better size tank for a fully grown CAE, considering they can grow up to 11 inches. IMO I would try and get a bigger tank if you can.

mac