Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Cyprinids > Chinese Algae Eater

Chinese Algae Eater

Indian Algae Eater ~ Siamese Algae Eater ~ Sucking Loach Family: Gyrinocheilidae

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Gyrinocheilus aymonieri Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   Though not the most beautiful of fishes, the Chinese Algae Eater is a workhorse when it comes to its job... eating algae!

   The Chinese Algae Eater is desirous to many aquarist mainly for their ability to keep the aquarium free of algae. This fish prefers hiding places in wood, rocks and plants. Since they graze on algae most of the time, some sunlight on the aquarium to promote the algae growth is appreciated.Their slung mouth forms a sucking disk, perfect for anchoring to a surface especially in fast moving water. Though they prefer algae, you can occasionally substitute crushed lettuce or spinach. Also, they won't work in the cold. If the temperature in the aquarium drops below 69° F (20° C) they will stop eating algae!

   When young, the Chinese Algae Eater does fine in a community aquarium, busily going about its business of greedily foraging algae from the glass sides of the tank, the plants, the substrate, and any decor. When it gets older however, it can start to defend a territory and can continually harass tankmates. Adult specimens are often best kept alone.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Distribution:
   The Chinese Algae Eater was described by Tirant in 1883. They are found in northern India and Central Thailand. They inhabit large and medium sized waterways such as lakes, rivers and flood plains where they found adhered to solid surfaces with their 'sucker' type mouth.
   This fish that we are calling the 'Chinese Algae Eater' is one of those fish with a multitude of common names, including such things as: Algae eater, Indian Algae Eater. Siamese Algae Eater, Siamese Headbreather, Sucker loach, Sucking loa, Sucking loach, and Biforated Carp.

NOTE: Don't confuse the Chinese Algae Eater with the similar looking Siamese Algae Eater Crossocheilus siamensis. These are two distinctly different fish from two separate families. Though both are algae eaters, the Siamese Algae Eater will eat a broader range of algaes including the black forms and the filametous red forms, unfortunately it is not as readily available to the aquarist and is a bit more pricey. The Siamese Algae Eater lacks the distince sucker mouth seen on the Chinese Algae Eater, and its horizontal center stripe has jagged edges and extends through the tail fin.

Status:
   These fish are not endangered.

Description:
   Not the most beautiful of fishes, the body of the Chinese Algae Eater is plain with a notable black stripe from the tip of its "nose" to its tail. Though their color is quite variable, they are often yellowish on the sides, more brown along their back, and have a yellow eye. The stripe is often broken, and there can be black spotting along the back and at the base of the dorsal and caudal fin. They have an under slung mouth which forms a sucking disk, perfect for anchoring to a surface especially in fast moving water.

Size - Weight:
   They grow up to 11 inches (27 cm). They are mature at 4.5 inches (12 cm). Personally we have seen them at 5 inches which is a surprisingly large fish, but we have never seen one approach 11 inches.

Care and feeding:
   Generally the Chinese Algae Eater, Indian Algae Eater, or Sucking Loach prefers an herbivorous diet of algae and vegetable matter, but they will eat live and flake foods also. You can occasionally substitute crushed lettuce or spinach for algae.
   This fish prefers hiding places in wood, rocks and plants. An aquarium best suited to this fish would have lots of plants and other decor. Since they graze on algae most of the time, some sunlight on the aquarium to promote the algae growth is appreciated. When small they can fit in most any size aquarium, but as they grow a minimum of 25 gallons is suggested. Of course an even larger aquarium will provide more natural algae for them and suit their needs better.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
   These fish will swim on the bottom of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:
   Hardness: 5 - 19° dGH
   Ph: 6.0 - 8.0
   Temp: 77 - 82° F (25 - 28° C)

Social Behaviors:
   When young they are a good community fish. The busy young Chinese Algae Eater will go about its business of greedily foraging algae from the glass sides of the tank, the plants, the substrate, and any decor. When it gets older however, it can start to defend a territory and can continually harass tankmates. They are especially cantankerous in groups of more than five individuals of their own kind, adult specimens are often best just kept alone.

Sexual Differences:
   Chinese Algae Eaters have 'thorns' around their mouth. The males' thorns are more numerous and more pronounced than the females'.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Not much is known about the breeding behaviors of these fish.

Buy Chinese Algae Eaters From LiveAquaria.com

To our knowledge they have not been intentionally bred in the aquarium or commercially, though there have been reports of accidental breeding.

Availability:
   The Chinese Algae Eater, Indian Algae Eater, or Sucking Loach is readily available and is very popular. Single specimens start at about $5.00 USD.

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Latest Comments
Fish have been mysteriously missing from my tank. My CAE was growing at an alarming rate. Last week a tetra came up missing, last night 2 of my large black neons went missing.... I kept noticing the CAE was getting very very aggressive chasing and biting at the other fish in my 55 gallong aquarium. Well, guess who I found belly up at the btm of the tank this morning.... CAE himself. Guess he over done it this time. Am really glad everyone shared the info on this one time algae eater gone cannibal! GlendaR 2009-09-08
This is a good page. Needs more details on the fish. tonisha hart 2009-08-31
I work in a pet store and currently we have one CAE that someone bought into us because it was to aggressive for their tank. He is about 8 inches long and is currently housed in a tank with a few piranha and is doing fine. At first he used to actually chase the piranha, but now both have settled down and he stays in a cave mostly. This fish is NOT for a community tank. eric 2009-05-25
We have a CAE that has grown to about 4-5 inches. In the last two months 4 of our smaller fish (1/4-3/4 inch) have simply disappeared in the tank. Over night last night, 3 more went missing. We have emptied the fish tank, and cleaned it, and the missing fish are nowhere to be found. The CEA is the only aggressive fish in our tank, and I think most likely ate the missing fish. Shawnee 2009-03-20
My 2 algae eaters are only about 2 inches (5 cm) long. Recently one of them changed color, patterns on its skin (stripes to spots) and behavior. He was living peacefully in the warm water tank until one day he started attacking my betta and my angel. I put them both in with my big gold fish (10 cm or about 4 inches) and they still attacked the other fish. I have kept algae eaters in a cold water tank before with gold fish and others and they lived fine together, only now I've noticed aggression. What size are they when they mature... Shez Shez 2008-11-12
Some of the coolest comments:
Buy this fish with care! Pet stores seem to get personalaties mixed up between CAE`s (Chinese Algae Eaters) and the algae eating cousin the SAE (Siamese Algae Eaters). CAE's are quiet and peaceful when young and will happily munch on algae, however, as they approach 4 inches they turn more and more agressive and will stop eating algae and start eating little fish, slime coats, and the like! They also grow to just under a foot long. A much better choice for an algea eater would be the SAE, a close cousin of the CAE, who only grows to an adult size of 4-6 inches or even better for peacful community tanks the otocinclus, a 2 inch algea eater that will never think of harming a fly. AGAIN CAES ARE HUGE FISH THAT ALMOST ALWAYS BECOME FISH EATERS! I would however love to get a 55 gallon and do a species tank, also the golden CAE or golden algea eater is just an un-pigmented vesion of the CAE. its likly that people with peacful "CAEs" have a false SAE, a flying fox, or less likly an SAE. All these fish only get to about 4-6" and will usually leave the other tank mates alone. JEF 2007-02-12
I have 2 Chinese Algae eaters, they are very cool fish. They hide in the most unsuspecting places. Sometimes you think they just disappeared. It is ok though. At night tiptoe to your tank, you should see your "missing" fish right there in the tank. Because they like to hide in tiny crevices, when they go missing take out the filter and check between the body of the filter and the motor housing. That tiny gap is enough for a fish to sneak into. Also sometimes they swim right up into the filter when the motor housing becomes loose and they find their way in and get STUCK. Chen Shao 2004-06-29

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Author: David Brough. CFS.