Chinese Algae Eaters and Cichlids

3188 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by encountr, May 12, 2013

Lishka

Discussion Starter · May 6, 2013

Hello. I just wanted some opinions and info on CAE's. I have 3 baby ones in my 40 gallon. As they get larger and begin to exhibit aggression I want to move them into my 55 gallon semi-aggressive tank, and eventually into a 125 gallon. I have read conflicting information about them, and I would like to know if anyone has had experience keeping them. My questions are:

A) Will they be species aggressive in a 125 gallon tank with plenty of hiding places?
B) Can they live with Jewel Cichlids?
c) Is a 125 big enough?

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Byron

· #2 · May 6, 2013

Welcome to Tropical Fish Keeping forum.:-D

We have fish and plant profiles, under the second heading from the left in the blue bar across the top of the page. The Chinese Algae Eater is included; the name shaded to form a link, so click it for the profile. It explains the issues with this species--and mentions the trouble with cichlids.

I've never kept this fish myself, as I do not want these issues;-), but the profile I think sets them out.

Byron.

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Lishka

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 7, 2013 (Edited)

Thank you. So, since in recommends not keeping with low dwelling fish, what semi aggressive species that gets roughly the same size and isn't flat like discus do you think would do well. I would like something that I can get 3 or 4 of, and then get some dithers. Thank you!!

So I just read an old post from 2008 from The Wolf, and he kept them and recommended keeping them with botias, danios, and other river species that they would commonly be kept with. I would like to get somthing a little more vibrantly colored to go in with them. I found this when I googled fish from the same location. What do you think would be good in a 125??

http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/fishes.htm

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Byron

· #4 · May 7, 2013

Lishka said:
Thank you. So, since in recommends not keeping with low dwelling fish, what semi aggressive species that gets roughly the same size and isn't flat like discus do you think would do well. I would like something that I can get 3 or 4 of, and then get some dithers. Thank you!!

So I just read an old post from 2008 from The Wolf, and he kept them and recommended keeping them with botias, danios, and other river species that they would commonly be kept with. I would like to get somthing a little more vibrantly colored to go in with them. I found this when I googled fish from the same location. What do you think would be good in a 125??

Fishes of Southeast Asia

We have had members posting about a CAE suddenly becoming very aggressive and killing various other fish. I personally would not risk it. While individual fish may sometimes differ from the norm for the species, it is always best to assume that a fish will adhere to the norm for the species. This avoids risk.

I would not combine CAE with discus; I believe I have read of the CAE eating the discus slime.

Byron.

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fish monger

· #5 · May 8, 2013

I have also read that mature CAE will become aggressive and eat the slime coat from fish. One of the smaller plecostomus species might be more appropriate. I wouldn't build my tank around CAE.

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encountr

· #6 · May 12, 2013

I have a 55g with platies, neons, gold barbs, penguins and a cae.... The guy is about a year and a half old....

I had no issue what so ever. They all share ground and even tablets all eating on it at the same time.... No aggression what so ever...

But then again, its only a year and a half old....
It is an interesting fish and and it swims fast and just that could put stress on other fishes.

If you get to built with them, be sure you have an alternate solution then euthanasia....just in case. I have one.

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