Siamese Algae Eater, scientific name Crossocheilus siamensis fish is a peaceable one by its temperament. Not a really giant one in size, it’s identified by its distinctive attribute – as an actual tank cleaner!
Siamese Algae Eater
These fish are known as SAE for brief which is an abbreviation of its full name. It eats algae within the water tank because the name suggests, and the duty is sort of difficult as a lot of the fish can’t do it.
Siamese Algae Eater Quick facts
Scientific Name: Crossocheilus siamensis
Common Name: Siamese Algae Eater / SAE
Temperament: Peaceful
Care Level: Easy
Lifespan: Up to 10 Years
Colour Form: Gold/Grey with Black Stripe
Diet: Omnivore
Size: as much as 6 inches
Family: Cyprinidae
Water Temperature: 20 – 26 °C
pH: 6.0 – 7.5
Water Hardness: 18 – 268 ppm
Compatibility: Peaceful
Set-Up of Tank: Freshwater, Heavily Planted
Siamese Algae Eater Description
This fish is very often mistaken for one more one referred to as Epalzeorhynchuskalopterus or generally referred to as the ‘Flying Fox’ since they each look fairly alike and are keen on consuming algae.
However the latter is more aggressive in comparison with Siamese Algae Eater. The Siamese Algae Eaters are fairly well-known at pet shops and are additionally fairly low-cost to purchase!
The most important distinguishing characteristic of Siamese Algae Eater is their black stripe on its body. It begins from the mouth of the fish, and it ends in direction of its tail fin.
On its higher facet, the fish has a brown tint with every scale having darkish edges.
Moreover, the Siamese Algae Eater has a pair of skinny ahead barbells that can rest on the cheeks of the fish when it relaxes or swims.
The Siamese Algae Eater has three help factors when its mendacity on the underside of the tank. It is the tail and the ventral fins at that the fish doesn’t contact the substrate of the tank with its pectoral fins.
These fish wouldn’t have a swim bladder as such they should be in fixed movement or else it should sink.
Wild Habitat
It was thought earlier that the Siamese Algae Eater belonged to the genus “Epalzeorhynchus” as per a scientific classification.
With the newest analysis, we now know that it belongs to the Crossocheilus family. Malayan and the Thailand peninsula are understood to the natural habitats for the Siamese Algae Eaters.
This fish is understood to be the one one that may eat coarse algae and is understood to be of great assist for the house tanks the place people need to take care of BBA (black beard algae) of their tanks.
These fish are normally present in fast-moving rivers and streams with rocky bottoms and include gravel, discipline stones, and sand with a lot of tree roots and snags.
Having a low level of water with transparency supplies favorable circumstances for the growth of blusterous algae, and the fish feeds on them.
Siamese Algae Eater Feeding
The central part of what they feed on is their name. They have change into well-known for consuming algae, however, they don’t seem to be restricted to that.
If you will have an algae drawback in your tank, these fish could be a great assist, however, you’ll need to repair the issue anyway because the Siamese Algae Eater fish should not the treatment for all algae.
They should not keen on the green spot and blue-green algae. While they’re within the wild, they eat plant matter and vegetation other than algae. They additionally feed on periphyton and phytoplankton.
They should not simply herbivores, nevertheless; the truth is, they’re scavengers and can feed on no matter what they will simply discover, which incorporates useless fish and bugs.
Siamese Algae Eater Diet
While they’re within the tank, they are going to eat all varieties of residing, frozen, and even dry specialized meals.
Other examples of what they like to eat are bloodworms, brine shrimps, and so forth. Sinking meals like pellets are good for the bottom-dwelling fish because it falls previous the fish that are higher up within the aquarium.
They ought to, nevertheless, have a diversified diet that ought to embody a considerable amount of plant meals.
If there should not sufficient plant elements within the fish diet, then they could start consuming the tank vegetation, particularly sure varieties of moss.
The juvenile of the Siamese Algae Eater typically eats essentially the most algae whereas the adults desire to have a protein-based diet.
Overfeeding the fish is usually a drawback as they have already got entry to vegetation and algae within the tank, before their feeding time.
These fish might cease consuming the algae in favor of the opposite meals should you give them an excessive amount of.
These fish typically eat rather a lot and can proceed to consume as long as you’ll carry on feeding them. This is why it’s best to restrict their feeding to a specific amount which they will end in a couple of minutes.
Compatibility
These are good-tempered fish and might be pleasant tank mates for even essentially the most aggressive varieties of fish.
It is nevertheless advisable to not maintain them with the long-finned ones, for the reason that Siamese Algae Eaters might nip their fins.
The Rainbow Shark is a species with whom they shouldn’t be positioned since each of the species is associated and territory-dependent.
They typically don’t get alongside and end up preventing each other. Loads of male Siamese Algae Eater fish must also not be saved in a small tank.
Moreover, since these are very lively, they shouldn’t be positioned with the cichlids since they’re very territorial throughout their spawning interval and the SAE will disturb them by swimming around.
Siamese Algae Eater Tank conditions
These fish spend most of their time on the backside of the water tank. As such, it must be a sandy substrate which makes it protected for them to swim around without damaging their delicate barbells or scratching their bodies.
There must be vegetation added to the tank in order that they really feel comfy and at the house.
The vegetation act as a shelter for them and the water must be saved clear and properly oxygenated.
There is a risk that they will start consuming the vegetation within the tank if they’re unable to search out meals. As such, holding them properly fed is a method of defending the vegetation in your tank.
Another tactic is to make use of the fast-growing species because the hornwort may recuperate rapidly if the vegetation is eaten by them.
All fish, particularly the bottom-dwelling ones, prefer to have positioned within the tank the place they will cover away from the opposite tank mates.
You ought to, subsequently, create caves for them within the tank to offer them away for an escape. They are typically not territorial, so there wouldn’t be any dispute over who goes the place.
Moreover, these fish are fairly fast and lively which may make it simple for them to leap out of the water, so holding a lid on the tank will be certain that they don’t make a deadly escape try.
A heater could be required to take care of the temperature within the range of 75-79°F whereas the hardness of the water must be saved at 5-20 dH.
There aren’t any specific necessities for the water movement which can be a shock as they dwell within the rivers.
Siamese Algae Eater Care
There are typically not any particular ailments that they’re liable to, however that doesn’t imply they won’t get any ailments in any respect.
Most of the ailments which they will catch have sure indicators and signs which may change into obvious.
For instance, Ichthyophthiriusmultifiliis is a standard parasitic illness that’s popularly referred to as ‘ich’.
This causes white, small dots all around the body. Most of the ailments have medicines and remedy that may be purchased and works properly with the quarantined tanks.
The greatest approach, nevertheless, is to stop the fish from getting an illness in the first place. Giving the fish high quality of meals is much less more likely to trigger organ issues, whereas cheaper meals could cause constipation.
Having soiled water within the tank is much like respiratory polluted air, as such water must be modified every two weeks at the very least in order that there isn’t a buildup of any pollution.
Lastly, it’s essential to additionally watch out for what you add to the tank as decorations have toxins. Water from different tanks may also deliver ailments.
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Siamese Algae Eater Breeding
The Siamese Algae Eaters breed in the identical approach as different fish do, however it’s unlikely that it is possible for you to breed these fish yourself.
They are typically identified to breed within the farms with the assistance of hormones, and there’s no dependable information obtainable to recommend that they are often bred efficiently within the house tank.
Even the process of sexing them requires a keen eye and is sort of exhausting. The females are 30% bigger than their size as soon as they’re matured absolutely.
The process of spawning might be triggered by the modifications within the situation of the water, such because the pH ranges or the temperature of the water. Currently, it’s unknown as to methods to breed this fish within the house tanks. Learn more about common-carp-facts.