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Chinese algae eater

The Chinese Algae Eater was described by Tirant in 1883. They are found in northernIndia and Central Thailand. They inhabit large and medium sized waterways such aslakes, rivers and flood plains where they found adhered to solid surfaces with their'sucker' type mouth.

This fish that we are calling the 'Chinese Algae Eater' isone of those fish with a multitude of common names,including such things as: Algae eater, Indian Algae Eater.Siamese Algae Eater, Siamese Headbreather, Sucker loach,Sucking loa, Sucking loach, and Biforated Carp.

Not the most beautiful of fishes, the body of the ChineseAlgae Eater is plain with a notable black stripe from the tip

of its "nose" to its tail. Though their color is quite variable, they are often yellowish onthe sides, more brown along their back, and have a yellow eye. The stripe is often broken,and there can be black spotting along the back and at the base of the dorsal and caudalfin. They have an under slung mouth which forms a sucking disk, perfect for anchoring toa surface especially in fast moving water.

Size - Weight:They grow up to 11 inches (27 cm). They are mature at 4.5 inches (12 cm). Personally

we have seen them at 5 inches which is a surprisingly large fish, but we have never seenone approach 11 inches.

Care and feeding:Generally the Chinese Algae Eater, Indian Algae Eater, or Sucking Loach prefers an

herbivorous diet of algae and vegetable matter, but they will eat live and flake foods also.You can occasionally substitute crushed lettuce or spinach for algae.

This fish prefers hiding places in wood, rocks and plants. An aquarium best suited tothis fish would have lots of plants and other decor.Since they graze on algae most of the time, somesunlight on the aquarium to promote the algae growth isappreciated. When small they can fit in most any sizeaquarium, but as they grow a minimum of 25 gallons issuggested. Of course an even larger aquarium willprovide more natural algae for them and suit their needs better.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:These fish will swim on the bottom of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:Hardness: 5 - 19 dGHPh: 6.0 - 8.0Temp: 77 - 82 F (25 - 28 C)

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Social Behaviors:When young they are a good community fish. The busy young Chinese Algae Eater

will go about its business of greedily foraging algaefrom the glass sides of the tank, the plants, thesubstrate, and any decor. When it gets older

however, it can start to defend a territory and cancontinually harass tankmates. They are especiallycantankerousin groups of more than fiveindividuals of their own kind, adult specimens areoften best just kept alone.

Sexual Differences:Chinese Algae Eaters have 'thorns' around their mouth. The males' thorns are more

numerous and more pronounced than the females'.

Breeding/Reproduction:

Not much is known about the breeding behaviors of these fish.

To our knowledge they have not been intentionally bred in the aquarium orcommercially, though there have been reports of accidental breeding.

Availability:The Chinese Algae Eater, Indian Algae Eater, or Sucking Loach is readily available and

is very popular. Single specimens start at about $5.00 USD.

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Gyrinocheilus aymonieri

Common name: Chinese algae-eaterFamily: Gyrinocheilidae (Algae eaters)Order: Cypriniformes (carps)Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

Max size: 30 cm/ 12 inchesWater conditions: pH range: 6.0 - 8.0, temperature 25 - 28C/ 77-82F

I would like to say a few words about one of the bigger surprises I've had as an aquarist.A few years ago I was cleaning out a 50 gallon holding tank in which I kept fishes thatwere going to a new aquarium when the new aquarium was ready. I also used it forkeeping fish I didn't know what else to do with. At this time this aquarium was home totwelve blue discus of about 10 cm, and four albino Chinese algae-eaters that were about20 cm. The aquarium was overgrown with lots ofC. Demersum since it had beenneglected a little during the previous months. Now thetime had come to clean this aquarium and try to weed

out the jungle that had formed. To my big surprise Ifound a small (1.5 - 2cm) Chinese algae-eater fry.After looking around a little more I found a total ofseven fry. I stopped the cleaning and left theaquarium as it was, since the water quality was goodand I didn't want to change too much. I didn't see anyreason to move the fry since they seemed big enoughto be safe from the discus which I was moving to a120 gallon Amazon tank in a few days anyway.

The fry survived and grew relatively fast on a diet of what they could find in the well-

planted aquarium, and boiled lettuce. But I never got the parents to spawn again, and thefry themselves never spawned either. However I would like to say a few words abouthow the Chinese algae-eaters had been kept before thespawning, and which waters they spawned in, to see if I canhelp anyone else have success where I failed - to breedChinese algae-eaters and figure out what triggers them tobreed.

When I found the fry their parents had been in the holdingtank for about 2-3 months. Before that I had kept them in a50 gallon tank which was heavily circulated and contained

very few plants. Temperature was 25C/ 77F. They were kept with clown loaches andvarious barbs. I've been wondering if the fact that they were kept in a heavily circulatedaquarium and then moved to an aquarium with close to no circulation and warmer water(28C/ 82F) may have simulated a natural change in conditions that precedes spawning.

The breeding tank was as I said before, heavily planted, and had little or no circulation atall, due to the vegetation. The water was old and clean. Dh about 4. I can't say the exactwater conditions as I don't know exactly when the spawning took place. However the

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water conditions had been relatively stable and it isreasonably safe to assume that the stated waterconditions are correct.

The Chinese algae-eaters had been fed a varied diet

which consisted mainly of boiled lettuce and broccoli,Hikari sinking algae wafers, and shrimps. They alsoate the leftovers from the food I gave the barbs andloaches, which consisted mainly of different frozen foods.

Sexing the fishes I assume is simple. I believe it's done in thesame way as Corydoras catfishes. Some fish have much broaderbodies and I assume them to be females; males are more slenderespecially if well fed.

Getting the fish into spawning condition seems to be quite simple

if they are fed a good diet. However the problem seems to betriggering them to spawn. As I said, I never got them to spawnagain. Maybe you will have better luck!