it wasn't the water b/c my water is was clean all those 3 weeks with only 2 water changes. 6. The Siamese Algae Eater (typically Crossocheilus langei; Crossocheilus siamensis; or Crossocheilus oblongus) is perhaps best known for being one of the few fish that will eat black beard (or brush) algae and hair algae. Females tend to be larger than males, with bodies that are approximately 30% larger or thicker. Try not to transfer too much of the old water into the tank. Temperature: 75-80 F (23.89 – 26.67 Celsius) pH: 6.5-8. Seeing the active behavior and curious nature of Siamese algae eaters is a rewarding experience. You can offer treats of fresh blanched veggies like spinach, peas and cucumbers in place of the wafers a couple of times a week, too. For them, a 20-25-gallon tank is necessary. Though not overly colorful, this fish more than makes up for that with its dazzling personality. They prefer to keep to the lower levels of the tank, close to where there are ample cover and food. Thailand and Malayan peninsula are SАЕ habitats. They also aren’t particular about hardness (5-15 GH). If your fish is more colorful or has dark-colored fins, it’s. Siamese Algae Water Eater They are one of the best algae eaters you can have in your tank because they are not selective about the types of algae they can feed on. “Siamese Algae Eater” is the generic name for a group of closely-related bottom-feeding fish native to Southeast Asia. They can grow up to 6 inches and live up to 10 years in good water conditions. Remember to always ask a veterinarian for help regarding all of your pets. The most limiting factor is their temperature preference. There need to be driftwood, caves or any ornament where the SAE can hide. These aquatic eating-machines are some of the best algae eaters in the trade, so check out our complete guide and see why they’re ideal for densely planted tanks! Also, these fish feed well on algae and since they are bottom dwellers, you will not have to worry about cleaning your tank. 4. She is an expert in setting up new tanks and maintaining naturally-planted freshwater habitats, and has experience raising a wide variety of aquatic species. It’s not known for attacking slow-moving, deep-bodied, or long-finned fish. The Chinese Algae Eater is a unique fish that you wouldn’t expect to be a popular choice among aquarists. It’s not difficult to feed your SAEs, as these fast-swimming scavengers will help themselves to any leftover scraps. The Siamese algae eater is not territorial, so you shouldn’t have to worry about any fights related to these hiding places. Maximum Siamese Algae Eater Size: 6-inches : Rate of Growth: SAEs mature to full-size anywhere between six months and two years, depending on circumstances like water temperature and food supply : Siamese algae eater lifespan: 10 years : Temperament: Peaceful : Preferred Tank Region: Changes with age : Gill Considerations These waters are usually warm and slightly acidic. Young fish often hang out in the middle of the tank, but mature fish spend most of their time at the bottom. The Siamese Algae Eater loves to be around plants which also resembles its natural habitat. Maximum Size: 6 inches. 7. They may need to be separated from the main tank if the problem cannot be quickly resolved. We know very little about their breeding requirements and spawning behaviors, other than they are egg-layers. Due to their energetic nature, they can cover pretty much space in a short time. Click here for more about Live Black Worms. Siamese algae eaters can get a bit larger than most freshwater tropical fish species that you’ll find in various tanks. A true Siamese Algae Eater will reach around 6 inches in maximum size or just about 15 cm. SAEs have long, streamlined brownish to silver-grey bodies with a black lateral line running lengthwise from the opercle near their gill cover through the fork in their caudal fin (tail). A true Siamese algae eater grows to a maximum size of about 6″ (16 cm) in an ideal environment. Since they may nip at slow-swimmers with long tails, it’s also best to avoid keeping angelfish or discus with SAE, although I have successfully kept them with a male Betta fish in a big community aquarium. Crossocheilos langei Bleeker, 1860. Some common considerations for tank mates include: All of the fish listed above are peaceful fish that also do well in community tanks. I feed my SAEs one meal a day and fast them one day a week to mimic their natural feeding habits: Siamese algae eaters are not aggressive and get along with a wide variety of fish. It’s wise to keep only one type of bottom feeder since other species may show aggression towards Siamese algae eaters. Chinese algae eaters sport spots instead of a stripe, and are known for being aggressive towards other fish. the fish didn't kill him because all I have is plain orange goldfish. Earlier SAE was considered to belong to Epalzeorhynchus genus according to scientific classification. What do you need to design a great planted aquarium ideal for a Siamese algae eater and other friendly community fish? This stripe is a dependable indicator of health and maturity; it will fade during times of stress or sickness and when it prepares to mate. However, the algae eater must also venture to the surface when food is not plentiful enough. In the wild, they eat a variety of food, including: In the aquarium, they will eat all of this and more. SAEs are not sensitive to water hardness and adjust well over a wide range of parameters as long as they’re consistent. Not only will the Siamese algae eaters get you rid of algae, but they have a super peaceful and friendly temper as well. I have a 10 gallon tank and I bought a baby algae eater for it. Siamese Algae Eater vs Flying Fox. Specifically consumes hair/thread and black beard (red) algae. Successfully keeping live aquarium plants and getting the right lighting substrate is the most difficult part of having Siamese algae eaters. They prefer well circulated clean water. These two species perform a similar role in any tank, and unfortunately, they are a little bit difficult to tell apart. Siamese algae eaters can survive in a wide range of temperatures (71-82F) and PH conditions (6-8). They are ravenous and very effective by clearing up the tank of leftover food, dead plant materials, and algae. In general, the red algae-eater can be kept in most community tanks and is reportedly much less aggressive than similar fish such as the Chinese algae-eater or the red-tailed black shark. The recommended temperature is between 75 and 79˚F / 24 and 26˚C. Some of them are schooling species, while others are fine on their own or in mated pairs. SAEs have a wide sucker-like mouth and unhinged jaw, and some species have one or more delicate barbels on the sides of their snout. Scientific Name: Crossocheilussiamensis Common Name: Siamese Algae Eater / SAE Temperament: Peaceful Care Level: Easy Lifespan: Up to 10 Years Colour Form: Gold/Grey with Black Stripe Diet: Omnivore Size: up to 6 inches Family: Cyprinidae Water Temperature: 20 – 26 °C pH: 6.0 – 7.5 Water Hardness: 18 – 268 ppm Compatibility: Peaceful Set-Up of Tank:Freshwater, Heavily Planted Siamese Algae Eaters do not seem to be interested in eating Live Black Worms, so we don't feed our Algae Eaters any Lived Black Worms. General Information: The Siamese algae eater is also known as the Siamese flying fox, Flying fox and Siamese fox. This means they will eat all varieties of algae, from string algae to red algae that might be … Siamese algae eater can live at a wide range of water parameters, but it prefers neutral or a bit acidic water. pH 6.5-7.0. It is active and can be seen swimming in fast circles and swipes along the bottom of the tank floor in search of food. This fish has a voracious appetite for algae and will often work tirelessly until your tank is clean. An adult Siamese algae eater requires at least 20 gallons of space. The Siamese Algae Eater (typically Crossocheilus langei; Crossocheilus siamensis; or Crossocheilus oblongus) is perhaps best known for being one of the few fish that will … Use high-quality filter media, and perform regular water changes and gravel vacuuming to limit the build-up of toxins in your tank, which can especially affect the bottom-dwelling SAEs. Tankarium is reader-supported. Siamese Algae Eater Like any other fish, they don’t appreciate high levels of ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates. Siamese algae eaters are a great option for both new aquarists and experienced fish keepers. pH: Chinese Algae Eaters are pretty hardy and can tolerate pH range between 6.0 – 8.0. However, this can be difficult due to their high activity levels. I recommend at least a 20-gallon tank for a single SAE and around 10-gallons per additional fish. Instead, it prefers to scour the tank floor for food missed by these inhabitants and its preferred food of choice, algae growth! Don’t keep this species in very hard water. It will eat algae right off live plant leaves. Since they are captured while young (see Breeding) and have overlapping natural ranges, it’s not uncommon to collect juveniles of multiple species at the same time. Siamese Algae Eaters need warm waters, usually between 75 – 79 degrees Fahrenheit. Jen has more than 30 years experience as a biologist, aquarist, and fishkeeper. 7. It is a fantastic pond algae eater, hailing from the freshwater carp family. Despite the fact that they resist blue-green and green spot algae, they still serve their purpose by consuming other forms of algae. BUY ONE HERE . This implies the need for a medium-sized freshwater tank. They also do well with invertebrates like snails and small freshwater shrimp. It is fairly easy to recreate the conditions of their natural habitat. It is common in aquarium stores and a very good algae eater. There’s not a lot of information about the behavior and habits of wild fish, which leads to the next challenge: identifying which species you’re actually buying under the name SAE. They’re usually sold as juveniles at around 1.5 to 2.5-inches in length. The absolute minimum tank size to keep Siamese algae eaters in is 20 gallons. If successfully done, owners will have the satisfaction of seeing the Siamese algae eater live up to its active tendencies. Even though these omnivorous fish prefer live foods they are some of the few that will consume hair and black beard algae! They get along well with other peaceful inhabitants and don’t become aggressive as they age, unlike other algae eaters. The best tank mates for these algae eaters are other peaceful community species that use areas that SAEs avoid, although they also get along well with non-territorial bottom feeders like Corydoras and loaches. They prefer densely planted streams and rivers. However, because of their bottom-dwelling nature, it’s important to make sure they’re getting enough to eat. Name: Siamese Algae Eater. Do you have (or plan to add) Siamese algae eaters to your planted community? To avoid problems with bullying, it’s best to have at least 5 SAEs in your shoal, since they create a social hierarchy among themselves. Care Level: Moderate. As stated above, algae eaters’ stripe runs the length of their whole body, while the stripe on flying foxes ends where their caudal fin starts. Anyway… Hence, SAE is a natural freshwater fish and would require a heat of about 75 – 79°F (23.88 – 26.11°C) to keep them healthy and happy. They’re not particularly colorful and tend to be solitary creatures. Get a heater that can work long periods of … The ideal SAE tank would have densely planted areas with both slow-growing plants like Amazon Swords and fast-growing soft plants like Hornwort (they will snack on the Hornwort). This species is the epitome of the good guy in the aquarium. This fish is the only known fish genus that can eat coarse algae and it will be a good helper for you to deal with black beard algae (BBA) in a tank. An excellent option for tanks over 20-gallons, the Siamese Algae eater or SAE is an eating machine. Las algas siamesas (latín Crossocheilus siamensis) a menudo se llaman CAE (del inglés Siamese Algae Eater). They do prefer to swim in currents, though, so a, It’s best to feed them a high-quality commercial diet of. So get one fish, or at least 5, and avoid small groups of 2 or 3. Very likely to jump out of the aquarium especially after reaching adult size. Despite keeping to the lower levels, their high activity level often results in frenetic swimming patterns that may disturb fish above them. Most fish are probably sold around 1 to 2 years of age. The good news is it’s very easy to care for your SAEs and in most cases, you won’t have to make many modifications to your tank to accommodate them. Finally, the Siamese Eater will eat less and less algae as it gets older. Day or night, you’ll be able to see these fish zipping along the bottom of the tank and along leaves in search of food. Temperature: 75-80 F (23.89 – 26.67 Celsius) pH: 6.5-8. With each additional fish increase the tank space by 10 gallons. Common name: Siamese algae eater, Siamese flying fox, Flying fox, Siamese fox Scientific name: Crossocheilus siamensis Max size: 6 inches / 15 cm pH: 6.5-7 (tolerates a much larger range span) Temperature: 75-79˚F / 24-26˚C They’re not the most colorful animals in your tank, but experienced aquarists know the true value of the silver-grey colored striped fish known as the Siamese Algae Eater. You probably won’t be surprised that this fish will also readily consume the algae in your pond. The Siamese Algae Eaters prefer to live in water temperatures of between 75 and 79 °F. Temperature: The optimal temperature range for this species is in the range of 74 °F to 80 °F (23 °C to 27 °C). Since they don’t have a swim bladder, they can’t maintain buoyancy in the water when they stop moving, which leads to some interesting behaviors: They are also social fish who enjoy shoaling in groups, although they do well on their own too. They prefer an acidity of 6.5 to 7.0 pH and the water hardness to be 5-20 pH. Avoid keeping your SAEs with semi-aggressive fish like Tiger Barbs or territorial sharks and cichlids. Tank size for Siamese Algae Eater. Their constant activity may disturb territorial bottom feeders, and they shouldn’t be kept with aggressive or semi-aggressive species like cichlids or freshwater sharks. Compatibility Keep about one Siamese Algae Eater for each five gallons of water in your aquarium. It depends. Using rocks and driftwood decor, you can create caves and provide different surfaces and textures for growing algae and biofilm for your fish to consume. Siamese Algae Eater. The hardy red algae-eater Crossocheilus langei is commonly found in the aquarium trade and is one of the most popular and effective tank algae cleaners. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This freshwater fish originated in Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand and Malaysia. Tank Size and Conditions: Min tank size of 30 gallons. Once a week, substitute their usual meal with a protein treat like bloodworms, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae or, 20 to 30-gallon aquarium (or larger), preferably a long-style tank with a close-fitting hood or cover, Sand, aquatic soil or smooth pebble-based substrate, Variety of live plants, including a mix of fast and slow-growing species, Decor like rocks, driftwood, sticks and branches, Commercial sinking algae wafers or spirulina pellets, Occasional treat foods such as bloodworms, mosquito larvae or brine shrimp. Next, use a net to transfer the algae eaters into your aquarium. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. A true Siamese Algae Eater will reach around 6 inches in maximum size or just about 15 cm.