Since Chinese Algae Eaters tend to be omnivorous (more carnivore) as they mature, their diet should be supplemented with meatier food, such as:
- frozen crustaceans and fry,
- live and frozen foods like bloodworms, blackworms,
- vitamin-enriched brine shrimp,
- daphnia.
What should I Feed my Chinese algae eater?
Algae eaters include a wide variety of fish, shrimp and snails that feed entirely or primarily on algae and other plant materials in an aquarium. Depending on the species, algae eaters may eat a broad swath or target a specific variety of algae.
Do Chinese algae eaters actually eat algae good?
The Chinese algae-eater is not from China; it’s from Thailand. Nor is it a good algae-eater, though it will eat some slime algae when young. If not eating algae was the worst of it, it would be no big deal, but it gets worse. Chinese algae-eaters become quite aggressive when they grow.
How to catch a Chinese algae eater?
- frozen crustaceans and fry,
- live and frozen foods like bloodworms, blackworms,
- vitamin-enriched brine shrimp,
- daphnia.
What is a true Siamese algae eater?
“ Siamese Algae Eater ” is the generic name for a group of closely-related bottom-feeding fish native to Southeast Asia. Wild populations are found in rivers and streams in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, but may also live in flooded areas during the rainy season. Unique populations exist throughout the region.
Do you have to feed Chinese algae eaters?
Food & Diet Recommendations The interesting thing about Chinese Algae Eaters is that their diets tend to change as they get older. When they are young, these fish have no problem feeding off algae. Many owners don't even feed them because they get ample nutrients from cleaning up the tank.
What do gold Chinese algae eaters eat?
Feeding Recommendations However, Golden Chinese Algae Eaters are primarily herbivores that feed on algae that grow on rock, plants, driftwood, and aquarium glass. If not enough algae are growing, they can be supplemented with algae wafers or fish pellets.
What type of algae do Chinese algae eaters eat?
Chinese algae eaters have an unimpressive appearance, with long, brown bodies that blend into the substrate. These bottom-dwelling fish are solitary creatures that spend most of their time eating algae from the tank....Chinese Algae Eater Facts & Overview.Scientific name:Gyrinocheilus aymonieriBreeding:Egg layer12 more rows•Feb 22, 2022
What do you feed SAE?
It's easy to provide for them in the aquarium, they are not fussy and will eat most things you add to the tank. This includes flake and pellet foods from stores, algae wafers and live foods. Good examples of live foods are brine shrimp and bloodworms, frozen varieties will work well too.
How do I know if my algae eater is getting enough food?
After you provide food for your pleco, watch and see if your pleco gobbles it down. If your pleco immediately begins to munch on the food, they may be overly hungry and need to be fed more often. If your pleco ignores the food, they may need to be fed less often.
Will Chinese Algae Eater eat snails?
Shrimp and Snails: This fish can suck the snails out of their shells. It is possible to keep them with shrimp or snails when they are young and small. Unfortunately, this fish grows very fast, and soon you will need to constantly monitor them to ensure that they are free from possible harm.
What do adult Chinese algae eaters eat?
These fish will appreciate the addition of live or frozen foods as well, and they can be fed bloodworms, blackworms, daphnia and brine shrimp. Chinese algae eaters tend to only take their food from the bottom or midsection of their tank, so it's important to offer them sinking foods.
Will Chinese algae eaters eat other fish?
They also shouldn't have flat bodies that the Chinese algae eater could latch onto. For these reasons, fellow tank mates like angelfish, goldfish, and other similar fish aren't recommended. Other than needing their own territory, these algae eaters are most known for, well, eating algae!
Do Chinese algae eaters get along with Cory catfish?
Siamese algae eater Siamese algae eaters are some of the most effective algae-eating fish species but they are not to combine with cory catfish. This fish species can be very territorial and will harm other bottom feeders. They can help control algae growth but should be kept apart from other bottom feeders.
What is the difference between a Chinese Algae Eater and a Siamese Algae Eater?
1:209:29Chinese Algae Eater Vs Siamese Algae Eater - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo just wanted to show you guys actually what what the two different fish are yes there's a glowMoreSo just wanted to show you guys actually what what the two different fish are yes there's a glow fish.
What's the lifespan of an algae eater?
Blue tang: 8 – 20 yearsAlgae eater / LifespanParacanthurus hepatus is a species of Indo-Pacific surgeonfish. A popular fish in marine aquaria, it is the only member of the genus Paracanthurus. Wikipedia
What is the best algae eater in freshwater aquarium?
10 Best Algae Eaters for Freshwater AquariumsReticulated Hillstream Loach. This oddball fish is one of the coolest-looking algae eaters you will ever see. ... Amano Shrimp. ... Nerite Snails. ... Cherry Shrimp. ... Otocinclus Catfish. ... Siamese Algae Eater. ... Florida Flagfish. ... Bristlenose Plecostomus.More items...
How to keep Chinese algae eaters healthy?
The easiest way to keep your Chinese Algae Eaters healthy is to maintain a clean tank. They are generally hardy fish but an unclean tank will likely lead to disease. When cleaning a tank, it’s common to remove all the algae you see because it’s usually seen as a problem.
What is a Chinese algae eater?
The Chinese Algae Eater ( Gyrinocheilus aymonieri) is a freshwater fish from the Gyrinocheilidae family. They go by a few names as well, such as Honey Suckers and Sucking Loache – look out for these names in stores too. Surprisingly, the Chinese Algae Eater is rarely found in China.
What is the appearance of a Chinese algae eater?
Chinese Algae Eater Size and Appearance. Chinese Algae Eaters have an elongated body with small fins. On their head is a sucker mouth with pronounced lips which lets them latch onto surfaces for feeding. Their appearance is similar to other bottom-dwellers, but this species is larger than most.
What to feed a squid?
Feed them small pieces of lettuce, spinach or zucchini. They don’t need a set diet, as they will feed themselves on algae and scavenge any food their tank mates have not eaten. Just regularly check that they have a supply of algae and occasionally supplement this with live or frozen foods and they will be fine.
Can Chinese algae eaters clean their tank?
September 30, 2019 Robert Freshwater Fish 5. It is easy for algae to get out of hand in an aquarium. This can make it much harder to clean the tank, so some people look for algae-eating fish to clean it for them. Chinese Algae Eaters are one of the best algae eaters you can get. Pretty much all of their time is spent searching for food.
Can beginners keep single fish?
Beginners will be able to keep a single fish with few problems since they are hardy and undemanding. The biggest concern is their aggression, as they may attack other similar fish. However, if you have planned the tank well and chosen suitable tank mates, you should not have any problems.
Do Chinese algae eaters live with other fish?
Tank Mates. Your Chinese Algae Eaters will generally live a solitary life and stay away from other fish. They don’t get on well with everyone, and can even become aggressive towards certain types of fish. The ones to avoid are fish of a similar size, appearance, or lifestyle. One example is the Siamese Algae Eater.
Species Summary
The Chinese algae eater, scientifically known as the Gyrinocheilus aymonieri and commonly known as the honey sucker for its large puckered mouth. A freshwater fish natively from the northern Malay Peninsula, Mekong basin, Mae Klong basin, and Xe Bang Fai River.
Appearance
As a fish native to bottom-feeding, hiding at the bottom of rivers, it has colors to match. The natural color of a Chinese algae eater ranges from pale tan to olive, with a light underbelly and a dark lateral stripe. The dark lateral marking that these fish possess can appear as a solid line or as a spread of dark dots along the lateral line.
Chinese Algae Eater Size
The Chinese algae eater is recorded to reach at least 11 inches, a size that varies depending on the environment. As with any other fish, tank size affects the growth of your fish. If you put a big fish in a small tank, its growth can be stunted. A tank of 52+ gallons is recommended for a Chinese algae eater.
Chinese Algae Eater Care
Chinese Algae eater care isn’t as cut and dry as it may seem, stick it in a tank with some smooth rocks that collect algae and it’ll self-regulate, right? Unfortunately for some unsuspecting owners, where the Chinese algae eater is an avid tank cleaner and tireless algae snacker in their youth, they transition to higher-protein diets as they age.
Tank Size
When your Chinese algae eater is young, it will only need a 26-30 gallon tank. However, this fish does grow sizably, you’ll need a 60-70 gallon tank to accommodate this bottom-feeder. Especially if you have a community of fish, which is recommended for welcoming a Chinese algae eater into your tank.
Water Parameters
You want your tank to reflect the fish’s natural environment as much as possible. Being from Asian rivers, the Chinese algae eater prefers warm, clean, oxygen-rich water with strong water circulation. Specifically, you want to aim for:
What to Include in Their Tank
The most important thing to include in a Chinese algae eater’s tank is shelter. Providing many caverns and plants with ample hiding spots can prevent aggression amongst fish. Especially if you’re housing your Chinese algae eater in a tank with many other fish, you need to provide enough space for each fish to have a crevice of its own.
How many gallons of water do Chinese algae eaters need?
At the very least, these fish need 30 gallons. That number is assuming you only have one Chinese Algae Eater in your aquarium. Author Note: While you can see success with 30 gallons, we always recommend getting a slightly bigger tank (aim for 50 gallons).
What are the characteristics of a Chinese algae eater?
Perhaps the most noteworthy physical feature of the Chinese Algae Eater is their mouth. These fish have a large mouth and sizable lips.
How long do Chinese algae eaters live?
The typical Chinese Algae Eater lifespan is around 10 years. This makes them a fish that’s better suited for aquarists who are interested in making a reasonable commitment. Casual hobbyists might do better owning a species with a shorter lifespan. As always, many factors can contribute to their overall lifespan.
What is an algae eater?
The Chinese Algae Eater is a freshwater fish that comes with a mixed reputation. Some aquarists think they’re very aggressive, others believe they only eat algae, and a few mistake them for another species entirely!
How do Chinese algae eaters stay stationary?
The rivers that these Chinese Algae Eaters occupy are quite fast. In these waters the fish stay stationary in their habitat by latching onto smooth rocks. You can recreate a powerful water flow with a good pump. Direct the outlet towards the side of the tank to keep the water circulating at all times.
What is the name of the fish that eats honey suckers?
Scientifically, these fish are known as Gyrinocheilus aymonieri. But, they go by many names in the aquarist community. The two most popular are the Honey Sucker or Sucking Loach. Whatever you call them, these fish can be a bit of a challenge to care for.
Why do Chinese fish eat ich?
They can experience common conditions that affect all freshwater fish, such as Ich. Ich is caused by stress, which is usually a direct result of poor water conditions. Again, maintaining those parameters from earlier is crucial. Chinese Algae Eaters are also prone to bloat.
Overview
Chinese Algae Eaters are freshwater fishes and go by a few other names also, like Honey Suckers and Sucking Loache. Their names may deceive you as these are rarely found in China and closely originate from Thailand and Vietnam. The long lifespan of Chinese Algae Eaters will surely enchant your interest in them.
Origin and Habitat of Chinese Algae Eater
Chinese Algae Eaters are commonly found in mountain streams and lakes of Thailand, Kalimantan Peninsula, Laos and Vietnam. The wild Chinese Algae Eaters are not exported from their natural habitat, rather, the ones grown in hatcheries are used for sale.
Appearance of Chinese Algae Eater
They have a majestic appearance along with an elongated body and small fins. With an inferior sucker mouth and pronounced lips, these fishes cling to the sand surface when the water current becomes high.
Behaviour of Chinese Algae Eater
Though this species likes to live alone, still, they don’t mind sharing their space with small fishes. When kept alone, they keep by themselves and do not create any trouble.
Lifespan of Chinese Algae Eater
The lifespan of Chinese Algae Eaters is typically 10 years and in their whole lifespan, they remain your best pet. However, their years of living is generally dependent on the type of space, care, nutrition and water.
Diet of Chinese Algae Eater
Since these fishes feed on algae, they prefer to stay at bottom of the water bodies. Wild Chinese Algae Eaters rasp on sands and rocks to scrape off algae through their sucker mouth. However, they do not feed on algae only and while dwelling in rocky tributaries, they feed on maggots, which provide them huge protein.
Tank Requirements for Chinese Algae Eater
These are mainly wild fishes, but still, to maintain them in captivity you must maintain the required tank conditions and regularly follow our guide.
1. What To Feed Young Chinese Algae Eaters
Chinese algae eaters need more to eat than just the algae in your aquarium. Chinese algae eaters need to be fed, just like your other fish. They will need sinking food so they can “find” the food. When they are young, they will need mostly algae wafers supplemented with protein based foods like blood worms and flake food.
2. What Feed Adult Chinese Algae Eaters
As your Chinese Algae Eater (CAE) gets older, they will want to switch to a mostly protein diet. In the wild, the juvenile CAE will graze on algae because it is easy to get into their oddly shaped mouth.
5. Where To Collect Chinese Algae Eaters In The Wild
Chinese algae eaters originally came from Southeast Asia, including Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Their they are used as food fish and in the aquarium trade.
6. What Is The Natural Environment Of Chinese Algae Eaters?
Chinese algae eaters’ natural habitat is in fast flowing (clean water) streams. The water in these streams in well oxygenated, so make sure your tank water is well agitated. Powerheads for airflow and water flow would probably work best.
9. Fish That Are Safe To Keep With Your Chinese Algae Eater
Because Chinese algae eaters can be aggressive with their own species or similar species, its best to keep one to a tank or (if you have a huge aquarium) in groups of five or more so that the aggression is shared / passed around.
12. Aquarium Conditions Best Suited For Your Chinese Algae Eater
The Chinese algae eater needs a tank appropriate for its full-grown adult size. The adult size of a Chinese algae eater can range from 6 inches to 11 inches for an older, well cared for specimen. A lightly stocked tank of at least 30 gallons would be a minimum. I would recommend a lightly stocked tank of 55 gallons or larger.
Conclusion
So there you have it. Everything you wanted to know about Chinese algae eaters.
Species Summary
The Chinese Algae Eater, also known as the chinese sucker, honey sucker or sucking loach, is often a solitary fish. Despite their name, they are found mostly in Las, Vietnam & Thailand rather than China.
Care Guide
Chinese Algae Eaters need quite a lot of space and will get stressed if they are crammed into a small space with too many fish as they prefer to be alone. They require a minimum 50 gallons per fish. It’s best to give them extra space if possible as they can sometimes grow larger than expected.
Lifespan
Chinese Algae Eaters will usually live up to 10 years in a home aquarium, though this can increase quite a lot if you keep them in a clean tank and feed them a good diet. This is a long lifespan for a domestic fish, so getting a Chinese Algae Eater is a big commitment. Their lifespan will also depend on the state of the fish when you buy it.
Appearance
Chinese Algae Eaters are pale brown, with a light belly. Some of them have a long horizontal dark stripe, particularly in the wild. They have an elongated body with small fins, including a dorsal fin.
Size
This species of bottom-dweller is larger than most. They can reach lengths of 11 inches in the wild but are unlikely to exceed 5-6 inches when kept in a domestic tank.
Behaviour and Temperament
Chinese Algae Eaters have a semi-aggressive temperament. They are solitary fish who enjoy spending time alone at the bottom of the tank.
Breeding
It is unlikely that you will be able to successfully breed Chinese Algae Fish in a domestic aquarium. Firstly, you will need to make sure your group of chinese algae eaters includes a female, which can be challenging as it is hard to differentiate males and females.
Natural Habitat, Identification, and Where to Buy
Chinese Algae Eaters, a member of the Gyrinocheilidae family, is a bottom-dwelling freshwater fish known by a variety of names such as Sucking Loach and Honey Suckers, originating in southea st Asia. While not a rare fish, it can be uncommon and might be difficult to find at your local pet store.
Creating the Landscape
One thing all fish have in common is that the closer their tank mimics their environment the happier and healthier they will be. The Chinese Algae Eater is located throughout Asia in various rivers. These waters are warm and have a lot of hiding places for the fish.
Society
Chinese Algae Eaters are known to be natural loners that like to spend most of their time in the lower areas of the tank where they attach to surfaces around the aquarium and look for any algae growth to eat in your freshwater aquarium.
Gender, Breeding, and Reproductive Considerations
Chinese Algae Eaters are known to be a species that is incredibly difficult to breed at home. There are only a few recorded cases of breeding happening while being kept in an aquarium.
Nutritional Needs
For the Chinese Algae Eater, their primary source of food and nutrition in the wild is algae. When in their native environment they will latch onto rocks and eat all the algae they find using their sucker mouths.
Common Diseases and How to Avoid and Treat Them
The best way to ensure the health of your Chinese Algae Eaters healthy is by making sure your tank remains clean and the water stays remains at the highest quality possible. In many ways, this is a hardy fish but they are very susceptible to illness caused by having an unclean tank.
4 Facts About Chinese Algae Eaters
The Chinese Algae Eater ’s scientific name is Gyrinocheilus aymonieri.
Chinese Algae Eater Facts & Overview
Appearance & Behavior
Chinese Algae Eater Care & Tank Requirements
- Chinese algae eaters are easy to care for. The fish are hardy, but tank conditions should mimic the Chinese algae eater’s environment to prevent stress and disease. Chinese algae eaters follow a largely herbivorous diet that should be replicated in captivity.
Tank Mates
- Chinese algae eaters have aggressive tendencies that limit the types of fish that can serve as tank mates. Avoid housing Chinese algae eaters with fish that are similar in size or appearance to Chinese algae eaters, or fish that swim in the bottom of the tank. Fish with flat bodies should also be avoided because Chinese algae eaters often attach onto these fish with their mouths. The be…
Diet and Feeding
- In the wild, Chinese algae eaters feed on algae, which the fish scrape from rocks and plants using their sucker mouths. Although the Chinese algae eater’s diet is composed mostly of plants, the fish also eats protein sources such as maggots. Chinese algae eaters exhibit similar algae-eating behavior in captivity, latching onto the walls and tank de...
Breeding
- Breeding Chinese algae eaters is difficult, and there are no established breeding methods for these fish. Most fish hatcheries use hormonal agents to breed Chinese algae eaters, which you won’t have access to in a home breeding setup. Only experienced fishkeepers should attempt to breed these fish in captivity. Chinese algae eaters reach sexual maturity at three years old. To br…
Should You Get A Chinese Algae Eater For Your Aquarium?
- Chinese algae eaters are useful, hardy fish that are suitable for beginners and experienced aquarists. You should consider a Chinese algae eater for your tank if you have plenty of space for this bottom-dwelling species. Don’t buy a Chinese algae eater if your tank contains fish of a similar size or appearance to the Chinese algae eater, which could provoke aggression and territ…
Species Summary
Appearance
Chinese Algae Eater Size
Chinese Algae Eater Care
Food & Diet Recommendations
- The interesting thing about Chinese Algae Eaters is that their diets tend to change as they get older. When they are young, these fish have no problem feeding off algae. Many owners don’t even feed them because they get ample nutrients from cleaning up the tank. Unfortunately, their appetite for algae wanes as they get bigger. Eventually, your fish...
Temperament & General Behavior
Tank Mates
Breeding
Making The Decision