Got rid of the GAE

LoachOrgy · Post by **LoachOrgy** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:22 pm

Well the GAE(golden algae eater) was getting too big too fast. He became a bit aggressive towards the clowns. After about 6-8 months he went from abuot 1.5" to 6". I removed him and gave him to a good home. Now the clowns seem to be very happy that he is gone. They are dancing up a storm and one of the loaches that usually does not interact with me is doing flips for me now!

Sad thing is he was the best algae cleaner I have had to date. Glass was always spotless. Im trying to get a hold of a bristlenose catfish but the lfs's are always out of them.

I guess the dictatorship oppression in the tank is gone so the rest of the loaches are jim dandy now!

If the lfs near here has the siamese algae eaters still, I may invest in a group of these guys.

clownloachfan · Post by **clownloachfan** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:50 pm

I would not get another one if the old one was picking on your clowns. Siamese algae eaters get aggresive as they age and will probably stop eating algae. Plecos are great though.

LoachOrgy · Post by **LoachOrgy** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:10 pm

siamese algae eaters are not the same as golden algae eaters.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:07 pm

LoachOrgy wrote:siamese algae eaters are not the same as golden algae eaters.

Yep. And what LoachOrgy was talking about is Chinese Algae Eater, not Siamese Algae Eater.

Nerina · Post by **Nerina** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:37 pm

I have a bristlenose myself...big guy these days (grown a bit since that pic too

).

I wouldn't say he is aggressive but he is territorial and lunges at anyone who gets near his wafer. I've never seen him hurt any of his tankmates though. As for his cleaning abilities...well...lets say the only way my glass gets cleaned is if I use my magnet scrubber. I think he’s spoiled on his wafers and veggi’s.

I did recently get a couple SAE's and they are the ones who are really helping. Another poster mentioned they can be aggressive but it is my understanding that the false SAE or Flying foxes are the ones that get aggressive. It is very hard to find a true SAE and from others who keep them I have been told are peaceful, and so far mine are too. I did hear though that they eat less algae with maturity, but that should be awhile yet even though they are growing like they are on steroids or something…lol.

HTH

Nerina~

Rocco · Post by **Rocco** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:24 pm

I've got an SAE and a small bristlenose pleco with my loaches. Plan to get 3 more SAEs.

They do fine and I know Blue has used his SAEs to teach his Loaches to eat out of his hand.

Botia Robert · Post by **Botia Robert** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:03 am

Hi, SAE and flying foxes are commonly confused. So common in fact many web sites or LFS provide charts to show the differences.
I believe SAE are peaceful and flying fox become aggressive with age. You can improve their algae eating potential if you give them the occasional fast day (no food or no algae waffers).
My question on this topic is should SAE be kept in schools and if so schools of how many?
Also, how effective an algae eater are SAE versus Plecos?

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:09 am

SAEs should be kept in a small group. They will eat most types of hair algae that plecs don't.

loachmom · Post by **loachmom** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 5:38 am

I have a school of four SAE. They are hardly ever very far from each other in the tank. They are beautiful.

I've not noticed that they clean the glass, but they keep very busy grazing over the plants and driftwood.

LoachOrgy · Post by **LoachOrgy** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:10 am

I was thinking a group of 4. Are they aggressive towards other fish?

loachmom · Post by **loachmom** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:21 am

LoachOrgy wrote:I was thinking a group of 4. Are they aggressive towards other fish?

Mine are about 2" TL. They've never been aggressive. They are a lovely addition to my tank.

newshound · Post by **newshound** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:21 pm

this should help
http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/

newshound · Post by **newshound** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:25 pm

a ton of shops label cae as sae.
get to know the visual clues and get the real sae.

Laura · Post by **Laura** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:23 pm

LoachOrgy wrote:I was thinking a group of 4. Are they aggressive towards other fish?

I think 4 would be great.

We recently discussed this on my home forum. I was quite surprised to see folks reporting aggressive behaviour in their SAE, and saying that they stop eating algae as they age as this has not been my experience.

It seemed that people who kept several SAE in med-larger sized tanks (50+ gallons or so) did not find any aggressive behaviour, while people who kept a single SAE found they harassed other fish. Mine have never showed any aggressive behaviour to any other fish or non-bite sized inverts.

Mine also constantly cruise for food, nibbling on algae as they go. The largest is about 4 inches long (SL) and I have 3. I noticed when I had 2 they bickered with each other, not so with 3. They also shoal with my redline barbs.

Emma Turner · Post by **Emma Turner** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:44 pm

LO, my parents keep a shoal of 5 Siamese Flying Foxes/Siamese Algae Eaters (Crossocheilus siamensis) in with their gorgeous Botia histrionica and B. striata specimens. The Siamese Flying Foxes love following each other around and are always on the go, browsing on algae and any treats they might find. I'd highly recommend them, and the bigger the group, the better.

Also, have you looked into getting any of the beautiful Garra species?

Emma

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