[kamikazi]

I have done some research and I'm still not sure if what I have are true SAEs?
I read through this article Fishlore.com ID SAE
It says "The next thing to look at is the mouth. Admittedly it's hard to see in the photos, but on close inspection you'll notice that the False Siamensis and Flying Fox both have twin pairs of barbells (the little whisker by their mouths), but a true siamese Algae Eater only has 1 pair."

Mine have only a single pair of barbels. So I'm thinking I have true SAEs
Here is a picture

 

[Fdsh5]

Also the black stripe goes all the way through the tail on a true sae. Looks like one to me.

 

[discuspaul]

But the black stripe on that pictured fish does not go through the tail.
It ends at the rear base of the fish' s body, and doesn't extend into the tail fin.
I don't think that's a true SAE, but a Flying Fox.

 

[Monster Fish]

Looks like a Flying fox or a garra species of some sort. The faint black stripe near the dorsal isn't found in true SAE. Also the large black stripe doesn't extend into the caudal fin.

 

[Bruce_S]

I'm thinkin' false SAE on this one... No stripe through the tailfin, gold line above the black, pigment in the dorsal...

Nice healthy specimen, though!

~Bruce

 

[kamikazi]

I'm thinkin' false SAE on this one... No stripe through the tailfin, gold line above the black, pigment in the dorsal...

Nice healthy specimen, though!

~Bruce

Looks like a Flying fox or a garra species of some sort. The faint black stripe near the dorsal isn't found in true SAE. Also the large black stripe doesn't extend into the caudal fin.

But the black stripe on that pictured fish does not go through the tail.
It ends at the rear base of the fish' s body, and doesn't extend into the tail fin.
I don't think that's a true SAE, but a Flying Fox.

Those of you saying not a true SAE how do you explain the single pair barbel vs twin pair? Is the author of the fishlore article wrong on that difference?

Also I didn't mention it in the OP but when they rest on the bottom they prop themselves up like the author mentions at the end of the article.

The goldish and thin black stripe above the large black stripe comes and goes, but the large stripe does seem rather smooth.

Hence why I'm asking, going by the stripe it would appear they are flying fox, but based on the barbel thing and resting behavior they are true SAE.

I could put them in a tank that has BBA and see if they eat it.

 

[Hmoobthor]

it's a SAE ..but what kind... I don't know...there is a few subspecies related that looks just like them so telling them see very very hard.

My petstore sell SAE as flying fox and flying fox as SAE... who knows

 

[Monster Fish]

It's not an SAE nor a flying fox though. It looks more like Garra cambodgiensis aka the False SAE.

http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/garra-cambodgiensis/

http://www.fishbase.org/summary/speciessummary.php?id=27164

 

[kamikazi]

it's a SAE ..but what kind... I don't know...there is a few subspecies related that looks just like them so telling them see very very hard.

My petstore sell SAE as flying fox and flying fox as SAE... who knows

Just found this post on another forum
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?192330-Calling-All-Siamese-Algae-Eater-Owners!

I can safely say I don't have Crossocheilus citripinnis or Crossocheilus oblongus based on the snouts.

Looking at the pictures on that site I'd say I have either Garra cambodgiensis or Crossocheilus Langei or Crossocheilus siamensis

 

[Newman]

thats a flying fox, not SAE

this pic shows an SAE very nicely. notice the head and mouth shape and the obvious black stripe through the caudal fin.

as opposed to FFF:

also if yours has a pink or reddish mouth the its also a FFF:

 

[kamikazi]

It's not an SAE nor a flying fox though. It looks more like Garra cambodgiensis aka the False SAE.

http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/garra-cambodgiensis/

http://www.fishbase.org/summary/speciessummary.php?id=27164

I cant get the fish base link to work but the other worked and i'm leaning more towards Garra cambodgiensis

 

[Fdsh5]

But the black stripe on that pictured fish does not go through the tail.
It ends at the rear base of the fish' s body, and doesn't extend into the tail fin.
I don't think that's a true SAE, but a Flying Fox.

I have to stop looking at pictures on my iPod. They are tough to see. You are 100% correct. Definitely not a true sae.

 

[discuspaul]

thats a flying fox, not SAE

this pic shows an SAE very nicely. notice the head and mouth shape and the obvious black stripe through the caudal fin.

as opposed to FFF:

also if yours has a pink or reddish mouth the its also a FFF:

Newman is right on !! Pictures don't lie.

 

[Cento]

Sounds like a consensus, so I don't now how valuable my 2 cents are, but....

A year or so ago, I combed and scoured my LFS's for a real SAE after my friend was duped. I brought my iPhone to take pics, compare pics, and ask others for advice.

Once you've starred at the pics of the two fish in question long enough, the differences become obvious. Kinda like the set of twins you may have known for 15 years that most can't tell apart but they couldn't look more different to you...

both fish are nice, but it's only the true SAE that will eat a variety of algae and also leave your plants and any little critters you keep in the tank.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[kamikazi]

Newman is right on !! Pictures don't lie.

Color wise mine look pretty much identical to these
http://www.fishbase.org/photos/thumbnailssummary.php?ID=27164

I'm 95% sure thats what I got. Thanks guys for the other sources.

Mine look nothing like this
http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/epalzeorhynchos-kalopterus/
or
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Epalzeorhynchos-kalopterus.html

 

[kamikazi]

Sounds like a consensus, so I don't now how valuable my 2 cents are, but....

A year or so ago, I combed and scoured my LFS's for a real SAE after my friend was duped. I brought my iPhone to take pics, compare pics, and ask others for advice.

Once you've starred at the pics of the two fish in question long enough, the differences become obvious. Kinda like the set of twins you may have known for 15 years that most can't tell apart but they couldn't look more different to you...

both fish are nice, but it's only the true SAE that will eat a variety of algae and also leave your plants and any little critters you keep in the tank.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Well I put them in a 29 yesterday that has the sides covered in wispy green algae they immediately started going at it and today when I came home from work, as I expected, its completely gone. I was hoping they would eat the black bush algae, that is yet to be seen. I have a krib in the same tank and he will nibble clumps of it off, but I'm not sure he eats it cause it looks like he spits it out.

They are neat fish. But since it doesn't look like they are a true siamese species I will probably sell them. I got them with a bunch of other fish for a good deal so its not a big problem to sell them to someone else, but at least if I do decide to sell them I know what to tell people.

 

[Newman]

Yes, Garra cambodgiensis looks like a very close match. I called them false flying foxes, so that might be confusing.

It sounds like what you have might be a good algae eater still. especially while young.
for the BBA what you REALLY need to do is spot treat it with either excel or peroxide(both will have the same effect) to kill it. the BBA will turn reddish and THEN your fish will eat it all! It will be amazing, just watch it disappear overnight after you kill it.
w/o the spot treating your fish are not likely to touch it though

I used to have a group of 5 SAEs in my community tank and those suckers just ate everything and kept my tank and plants sparkling clean. had them for 2 years, after a while they singled out one of the weaker ones and he starved. then another one probably jumped my tank because they get very quirky and dart back and forth, so i wound up with 3 very big fat adults before i sold them to someone with a huge planted tank. i bet they loved that tank!

 

[kamikazi]

Yes, Garra cambodgiensis looks like a very close match. I called the false flying foxes, so that might be confusing.

It sounds like what you have might be a good algae eater still. especially while young.
for the BBA what you REALLY need to do is spot treat it with either excel or peroxide(both will have the same effect) to kill it. the BBA will turn reddish and THEN your fish will eat it all! It will be amazing just watch.
w/o the spot treating your fish are not likely to touch it though

I have both excel and peroxide, which is the better/safer method?

Do you use a syringe or turkey baster to blast the excel or peroxide onto it?

What will be the effects on plants like Alternanthera and Anubias that have it growing on them?

 

[Newman]

I'd use a syringe and fill that up and squirt it directly onto the BBA bunches.
Alternanthera leaves might be fragile enough to hate the treatment, but its shouldn't affect the plants too much. anubias doesnt care.

I'd use the peroxide. use only 1ml of peroxide per every 10gals of water you have just to stay on the safe side.

 

[kamikazi]

I'd use a syringe and fill that up and squirt it directly onto the BBA bunches.
Alternanthera leaves might be fragile enough to hate the treatment, but its shouldn't affect the plants too much. anubias doesnt care.

I'd use the peroxide. use only 1ml of peroxide per every 10gals of water you have just to stay on the safe side.

Does it only take one squirt?