Does anyone here keep Chinese Algae Eaters (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri
)? What do you guys think?

I have one in my tank. (She's sitting on a red tiger lotus leaf at the moment,
next to two SAEs.) The one I have is fairly docile, and hasn't caused any
trouble. However, they can be very aggressive, particularly with fish that
look like themselves. (In my misspent youth, I tried to keep a flying fox with
a CAE. They fought constantly.) They are definitely not recommended if you
have large-bodied, slow-moving fish such as goldfish or discus. CAEs may kill
them, by sucking the slime off their bodies. (Otos and pl*cos have been know
to do this, too, but not nearly as much as CAEs.)

Nothing eats algae like a baby CAE. Just one will keep your tank spotless.
Unfortunately, they grow up fast -- into large, bad-tempered fish that eat only
a little algae.

If you do get a CAE, be prepared to deal with the aggressive adult it may grow
up to be. (I like the gold morphs myself.)

I find snails to be much better and less problematic algae-eaters. Pomacea
bridgesii is my favorite. Just make sure you get real P. bridgesii. I was in
PetCo this morning, where they were selling "Gold Inca" snails, under the
species name P. bridges [sic]. They were actually P. canaliculata -- notorious
plant eaters.


Leigh

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