Is This A Real Sae? (PICS)

[Natty]

I just recently bought these guys at the Asian LFS and I'm wondering if they are SAE's, fakes, or flying foxes. Also, how good are they at cleaning algae and are they any good at killing BBA (whichever fish you guess that is)?

I got my opinion on it but I'm not going to say it here, don't want to affect anyone's decision.

One website I went to
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebindex/saes.htm

[BiscuitSlayer]

Pictures aren't quite optimal, but my inclination is to say yes. Flying foxes have an extremely well defined black stripe that has lines that aren't soft at all. SAEs, on the other hand, have black lines that are soft and not as well defined. The black stripe also continues through the end of the tail fin.

Any noticeable barbles on the nose? Can't tell from the pics.

[Grendel]

True SAE. 100%.



G

[frozenbarb]

Flying fox is my guess. Flying foxes are alot slimmer and long looking compared to the SAE. I have two in my tank and I see them all the time.

[lauraleellbp]

I'm far from 100% but my vote is on flying foxes.

[BiscuitSlayer]

Maybe this site will help a little better.

http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/

One of the reasons I think at least one of those fish (3rd and 4th pictures) is a SAE is because of the black line "bleeding" into the scales below and above. Flying foxes line is much more defined and rigid than a SAE's.

[Natty]

Hey BiscuitSlayer

Are these the barbs you're talking about





Here's more pics




Hard to get a good one because they run around like crazy.

[BiscuitSlayer]

I am pretty sure you have at least one SAE.

I can't find the reference, but I think that each one has a different number of barbles. One has a set and the other has two sets (I think).

Edit:

The reason I say at least one is because of that first picture. In your first picture, one of the fish looks quite a bit like a flying fox. The black line is much more pronounced. This could be deceiving though because of the camera and lack of clarity in the photo.

[Natty]

Originally Posted by BiscuitSlayer

I am pretty sure you have at least one SAE.

I can't find the reference, but I think that each one has a different number of barbles. One has a set and the other has two sets (I think).

They should both be the same since they were in the same fish tank at the store and they look identical and they even follow each other.

Right?

[BiscuitSlayer]

Originally Posted by Natty

They should both be the same since they were in the same fish tank at the store and they look identical and they even follow each other.

Right?

Not necessarily. I edited my post above after you posted this comment.

I had SAE's a long time ago. They were kept in a tank that also contained some flying foxes. The store had all of the fish labled as flying foxes, and I drove the guy nuts trying to slectively catch a couple of SAE's. Sometimes they are kept together and the selling store doesn't know better or doesn't care.

[BiscuitSlayer]

The question to you is:

Do they look identical to each other or are there some noticeable differences?

[Natty]

Originally Posted by BiscuitSlayer

The question to you is:

Do they look identical to each other or are there some noticeable differences?

Yep unless there's a 10% difference that's really hard to notice.

[BiscuitSlayer]

What is the 10% difference? Explain.

[Natty]

Originally Posted by BiscuitSlayer

What is the 10% difference? Explain.

There is none, I'm just saying if there is, then its so small I dont even notice.

[BiscuitSlayer]

Gotcha... I think you have two SAE's then.