In search of the true Siamese Algae Eater – get ready for the confusion!

**LORENZO** · 11-24-2008, 09:50 PM

yes what good algae eating fish. This fish will eat all hair algae as well. I think their fins have a slight yellowish tinge. They are not as colourful as flying fox. i keep three big ones and one flying fox in a 125g tank. Beautiful addition to any community tank. They love hair algae. OH they cleaned one anubias from another tank that was full of hair algae. I would not set up a tank without them. They get big though. What fish!

**Fishalicious** · 11-24-2008, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by mac

I understand your point of view. And depending on the shop it can be hell to get the right fish.

Luckily for me, my main LFS makes sure his SAE's or sun types are separate from the Flying Fox. Amazingly he know the difference. But IMo I think the reason is he cares for his fish. Not as just a object to sell that makes money.

mac

It is not so much a problem telling them apart from the Garra, Flying Fox, Chinese Algae eater etc. The real problem is telling the 5 different Crossocheilus themselves apart...seeing there are only 2 of them that are true algae eaters (Siamensis and Langei) the other 3 will not eat much algae and prefer fish food. These fish are all caught in the same place so in a tank it can be near impossible to get the 'right' one. Seeing the Siamensis are caught in a different area and very rarely imported your only hope is at finding a Langei.

I bought 2 Siamensis together at one shop and a few months later another 2 at another shop... Out of the 4 I have 3 different types of Crossocheilus

**Sharkman** · 11-24-2008, 09:57 PM

thanks fishalicious. I finally know what kind I have.

**Fishalicious** · 11-24-2008, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by doug z

Wait, so those AREN'T Siamensis???????

Shoot..

What kind are the ones I got?

Can you tell?

Would explain why I haven't seen them grazing on any algae.. :((

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...8SAE2Large.jpg

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...08SAELarge.jpg

Looking at the pics I think you have 1 Crossocheilus oblongus and 1 Crossocheilus Langei .... the Langei is great..the Oblongus will not eat much algae

If you get closer clearer pics it would be easier... if they have barbels etc...

**doug z** · 11-24-2008, 10:02 PM

I'll see what I can do..

I know they don't appear to have any barbels, but I'll go have a closer look..

That'd be good if I had at least ONE Langei.. :)

Here's a photoshopped close-up of them, while I see if I can get a better pic..

Does that help?

Thanks for the identification help!!

**Fishalicious** · 11-24-2008, 10:25 PM

The back one is either a C. continental oblongus or a C. atrilimes - have a reallllllly good look if you can see two little barbels near the mouth.

The front really looks like a Longei...

I hope the back one is not a atrilimes..they will eat moss

**doug z** · 11-24-2008, 11:58 PM

I dunno how in the heck you can see a difference between the 2!!!

I'll try and see about the barbels once more..

**doug z** · 11-25-2008, 12:14 AM

Ok, I stared and stared and stared, and no barbels that I can see on either of them..

Is that good or bad? :)

Do the barbels show up when they get bigger?

They are only about an inch each, presently..