amber holliday - 2005-07-22 i bought 3 and only one lived. i have had it for almost 2 years and he has grown to 5.5" in a 20 gallon tank. now he is in a 30, and i hope he gets bigger.
samkit - 2005-06-30 Al was about one inch long when I bought him, now he's about four and a half, I think (I'm bad at judging such things). Very shy, will swim and hide under the tree stump decoration. I have a small school of Neon Tetras in the tank as well and have had no problems between the species (that I've seen). Fin rot withered down Al's pectoral fins and added a split in the middle of his tail, but that doesn't seem to have bothered him. I've occasionally seen him stuck to the glass or nibbling algae growth off the outside of the tree stump, so he's doing his job. Even though he's so shy that I rarely see more than just his head in the entrance of the tree stump, I still think he's very beautiful and would definately add a Chinese Algae Eater to any future fish communities.
anthony - 2005-06-04 I have had my Chinese Algae Eater for about 7months he has grown bigger with two other goldfish that I also keep in the tank. Although he has grown exceptionally big in this time frame he does well with the two goldfish. He use to try and eat the goldfish alive, but I drop algae wafers in the tank, which he enjoys. Most of the time he will start eating the wafer until the goldfish come over and start to eat it. I'm just glad he does not get aggressive towards them and tries to eat them again. I think since they've been together so long they have adapted to each other.
margo - 2005-05-19 Thanks y'all. I just purchased a Chinese Algae Eater along with 4 goldfish for my pond. My pond is about 3' around and is made of concrete.
I released the fish in the pond yesterday but I couldn't find my Chinese Algae Eater (Hop Sing) today. I was worried because a turtle was in the pond. He's gone now but I thought he ate Hop Sing. But y'all make me feel better because I do have a cave in the pond and I did see Hop Sing going in and out of it yesterday. So I'm confident he's in there. He'll probably come out tonight. :)
Cat - 2005-05-17 Yes, I just got rid of mine last night because it was eating my shark. Actually it was on my shark's back and eating him, yelk. They are pretty aggressive. I went to the fish store to find out what I can do and they said it could be because I have no Algae at all and to put some Algae wafers in the tank. I did but it didn't work, it almost killed my shark. Thanks
Shaun Duffy - 2005-04-26 I have 2 sucking loaches, one i have had for 2 weeks and the other 2 monthes. My fish are nocturnal only coming out in the night where they feed on the algae. They love being in the castle and are peaceful to my other fish. But they are not friendly to each other.
Salu - 2005-02-10 I have purchased a total of five algea eaters since I started my aquarium endeavor. They are so cute and I love watching them. Sadly, two have died; one because it got stuck in a treasure chest I had as a decoration, and one from what I can only assume was old age. They are really great at keeping algea away under the waterline, but cannot reach much above it. Watch them if you ever have to take them out of the tank for any reason, they like to leap out of the fishnet and any container you put them in.
Konnor - 2005-02-02 I call my Chinese Algae Eater "The Poopinator" because all the little bugger does is POOP. He guards his cave under the turtle on the rock and chases my albino corys if they get too close him. Oddly enough, he leaves the Pleco alone. He is now almost 6 inches long and I am seriously considering taking him back to the pet store as he has killed my ghost cats and my bleeding heart tetras.
Richie - 2005-01-23 I have one in my tropical. I have only had it for a few weeks but already it has kept my rainbow shark in line. I originally had two but one died not long after getting introduced. The one fish is managing fine to keep a 92 L tank clean but getting fat. Richie B Scotland
Kimmy - 2005-01-08 I have found these little fish to be great for my tank. Some do get agressive when older but not all of them. I have one larger specimen (approx 5cm long) which although it doesnt clean much algae now, it pretty much leaves the rest of the community alone. The tank consists of Plattys, Glowlights, Neons, Black tetras, 1 peppermint bristlenose, Bronze & Sterbai Corys, Emerald Cats, plus three smaller Chinese Algae Eaters. this mix does work well as the smaller eaters keep the tank clean and they are more interested in chasing each other than the other fish. I definitely advise removing territorial fish but basically they are lovely to watch and do a good job in cleaning the tank. I have also found some of these fish do remain active in removing algae even when growing larger. Just keep in mind the fish you intend to keep with the algae eaters and seek some general advice but overall they are a great addition to a tank.
The Chinese Algae Eater is a workhorse when it comes to its job... eating algae!
i bought 3 and only one lived. i have had it for almost 2 years and he has grown to 5.5" in a 20 gallon tank. now he is in a 30, and i hope he gets bigger.
Al was about one inch long when I bought him, now he's about four and a half, I think (I'm bad at judging such things). Very shy, will swim and hide under the tree stump decoration. I have a small school of Neon Tetras in the tank as well and have had no problems between the species (that I've seen). Fin rot withered down Al's pectoral fins and added a split in the middle of his tail, but that doesn't seem to have bothered him. I've occasionally seen him stuck to the glass or nibbling algae growth off the outside of the tree stump, so he's doing his job. Even though he's so shy that I rarely see more than just his head in the entrance of the tree stump, I still think he's very beautiful and would definately add a Chinese Algae Eater to any future fish communities.
I have had my Chinese Algae Eater for about 7months he has grown bigger with two other goldfish that I also keep in the tank. Although he has grown exceptionally big in this time frame he does well with the two goldfish. He use to try and eat the goldfish alive, but I drop algae wafers in the tank, which he enjoys. Most of the time he will start eating the wafer until the goldfish come over and start to eat it. I'm just glad he does not get aggressive towards them and tries to eat them again. I think since they've been together so long they have adapted to each other.
Thanks y'all. I just purchased a Chinese Algae Eater along with 4 goldfish for my pond. My pond is about 3' around and is made of concrete.
I released the fish in the pond yesterday but I couldn't find my Chinese Algae Eater (Hop Sing) today. I was worried because a turtle was in the pond. He's gone now but I thought he ate Hop Sing. But y'all make me feel better because I do have a cave in the pond and I did see Hop Sing going in and out of it yesterday. So I'm confident he's in there. He'll probably come out tonight. :)
Yes, I just got rid of mine last night because it was eating my shark. Actually it was on my shark's back and eating him, yelk. They are pretty aggressive. I went to the fish store to find out what I can do and they said it could be because I have no Algae at all and to put some Algae wafers in the tank. I did but it didn't work, it almost killed my shark. Thanks
I have 2 sucking loaches, one i have had for 2 weeks and the other 2 monthes. My fish are nocturnal only coming out in the night where they feed on the algae. They love being in the castle and are peaceful to my other fish. But they are not friendly to each other.
I have purchased a total of five algea eaters since I started my aquarium endeavor. They are so cute and I love watching them. Sadly, two have died; one because it got stuck in a treasure chest I had as a decoration, and one from what I can only assume was old age. They are really great at keeping algea away under the waterline, but cannot reach much above it. Watch them if you ever have to take them out of the tank for any reason, they like to leap out of the fishnet and any container you put them in.
I call my Chinese Algae Eater "The Poopinator" because all the little bugger does is POOP. He guards his cave under the turtle on the rock and chases my albino corys if they get too close him. Oddly enough, he leaves the Pleco alone. He is now almost 6 inches long and I am seriously considering taking him back to the pet store as he has killed my ghost cats and my bleeding heart tetras.
I have one in my tropical. I have only had it for a few weeks but already it has kept my rainbow shark in line. I originally had two but one died not long after getting introduced. The one fish is managing fine to keep a 92 L tank clean but getting fat.
Richie B Scotland
I have found these little fish to be great for my tank. Some do get agressive when older but not all of them. I have one larger specimen (approx 5cm long) which although it doesnt clean much algae now, it pretty much leaves the rest of the community alone. The tank consists of Plattys, Glowlights, Neons, Black tetras, 1 peppermint bristlenose, Bronze & Sterbai Corys, Emerald Cats, plus three smaller Chinese Algae Eaters. this mix does work well as the smaller eaters keep the tank clean and they are more interested in chasing each other than the other fish. I definitely advise removing territorial fish but basically they are lovely to watch and do a good job in cleaning the tank. I have also found some of these fish do remain active in removing algae even when growing larger. Just keep in mind the fish you intend to keep with the algae eaters and seek some general advice but overall they are a great addition to a tank.