Aquamom

Nice tank. What is that leaping fish?

Sbloo

That's the Chinese Algae Eater, a member of the loach family. It's a very proficient consumer of algae in the tank, but it's quite aggressive towards the rest of the fish in a 10-gallon setting such as this. In particular, fish that share feeding habits with it. For example, two "Chinese Algae Eaters" were introduced to this tank initially, the one pictured here continuously menaced the other by interrupting its feeding until it died, presumably from starvation. afterwards, it consumed the remains. It didn't like it either when the school of tetras was introduced, but once its realized it couldn't do anything about the new inhabitants it went about its normal routine. Aside from its grizzly behavior in this confined environment, I have seen the same type of fish swimming in tandem unison in bigger tanks. So all-in-all, Con- Territorially aggressive, Pro- Cleans up after itself and others. I have heard of them leaping out of some tanks, but the tank is well covered so I haven't had an incident of that, yet anyway.... I've been very pleased with it as a useful community member.

anubiasnick

I once kept CAE and caught them more than once actually sucking babies right out of my livebearers which was very stressfull and several died ,also it has to be said they only eat algae when young and soon revert to large messy nasty creatures! warning to all NOT a comunity member! stick to otos and nearites!

Sbloo

I was aware that the baby fish wouldn't be safe in the same tank as a CAE, but that's wild about the livebearers. Still though, the CAE makes a great centerpiece for the tank's community in form and function. Loads of people have mentioned that they stop eating algae in adulthood, but mine still gobbles the stuff down. I guess life finds a way.