Advice: When to add Siamese Algae Eater

[Mister Jerk]

I am currenly still in the process of stocking my 38Gal tank and would
like to add a Siamese Algae Eater / Siamese Flying Fox. But I am
concerned that the 3 platy fry I have might be agressed/eaten. The fry are
about 1/2inch in size, still small but starting to school with the other
platies.

When would it be safe to add the Algae Eater?


Thanks in advance.

[Dick]

On 30 Sep 2004 09:32:22 -0700, (Mister Jerk)
wrote:

>I am currenly still in the process of stocking my 38Gal tank and would
>like to add a Siamese Algae Eater / Siamese Flying Fox. But I am
>concerned that the 3 platy fry I have might be agressed/eaten. The fry are
>about 1/2inch in size, still small but starting to school with the other
>platies.
>
>When would it be safe to add the Algae Eater?
>
>
>Thanks in advance.


I wish SAEs were fry eaters. I have too many fry that live into
adulthood and my 75 gallon tank has 6 SAEs. But, then, the bottom of
my tank has heavy plant growth. I would suggest more than one SAE as
they tend to swarm together, even resting on Anubia leaves like
fairies.

dick

[Ali Day]

> I wish SAEs were fry eaters. I have too many fry that live into
> adulthood and my 75 gallon tank has 6 SAEs. But, then, the bottom of
> my tank has heavy plant growth. I would suggest more than one SAE as
> they tend to swarm together, even resting on Anubia leaves like
> fairies.

My discus think they're a snack ;)

[Nikki Casali]

Dick wrote:
> On 30 Sep 2004 09:32:22 -0700, (Mister Jerk)
> wrote:
>
>
>>I am currenly still in the process of stocking my 38Gal tank and would
>>like to add a Siamese Algae Eater / Siamese Flying Fox. But I am
>>concerned that the 3 platy fry I have might be agressed/eaten. The fry are
>>about 1/2inch in size, still small but starting to school with the other
>>platies.
>>
>>When would it be safe to add the Algae Eater?
>>
>>
>>Thanks in advance.
>
>
>
> I wish SAEs were fry eaters. I have too many fry that live into
> adulthood and my 75 gallon tank has 6 SAEs. But, then, the bottom of
> my tank has heavy plant growth. I would suggest more than one SAE as
> they tend to swarm together, even resting on Anubia leaves like
> fairies.

My molly fry are transmogrified into angelfish caviar which is then
munched by my flying foxes.

Nikki

[Mister Jerk]

Dick > wrote in message >...

>
> I wish SAEs were fry eaters. I have too many fry that live into
> adulthood and my 75 gallon tank has 6 SAEs. But, then, the bottom of
> my tank has heavy plant growth. I would suggest more than one SAE as
> they tend to swarm together, even resting on Anubia leaves like
> fairies.
>

I only have a 38Gal tank though, would 2 or more SAEs be a good thing?
I currently have the following;

4 adult platies
3 platy fry
8 black neons

Planning to add
1 SAE
1 male Betta
3 tri-band barbs

What do you think?

[Dick]

On 2 Oct 2004 05:17:47 -0700, (Mister Jerk)
wrote:

>Dick > wrote in message >...
>
>>
>> I wish SAEs were fry eaters. I have too many fry that live into
>> adulthood and my 75 gallon tank has 6 SAEs. But, then, the bottom of
>> my tank has heavy plant growth. I would suggest more than one SAE as
>> they tend to swarm together, even resting on Anubia leaves like
>> fairies.
>>
>
>I only have a 38Gal tank though, would 2 or more SAEs be a good thing?
>I currently have the following;
>
>4 adult platies
>3 platy fry
>8 black neons
>
>Planning to add
>1 SAE
>1 male Betta
>3 tri-band barbs
>
>What do you think?

I have 3 in a 29 gallon and one in a 10 gallon tank other than 10 in
the 75 gallon (I miss counted in my original message). They are good
citizens in my opinion. You list no fish that I would see as
conflicting. Be aware that platties reproduce in large quantities.
Your problem will be over crowding. The 3 fry will reach adulthood in
about 6 months, then your population explosion will be fast. You
didn't indicate the sex of the 4 adults, females are the problem. You
can have all the males you want, but one male with 6 females is
disaster. Unless, you plan to sell them or continue to add tanks.

Sorry to be so negative about live bearers. I have been addressing
this birth control problem for a couple of months and I have 6 tanks.
My problem really got terrible when ONE female black molly gave birth
to over 50 fry in my quarantine tank. Very few died. I tried hard to
find homes. One friend wanted some, but had a large chiclid, so I
raised the fry until I had a few large enough, I thought, to live in
her community tank. Wrong, the chiclid had no problem consuming the
fry. I now have the platties and mollies separated by sex (I hope).
I have lost some of the mollies over the last year and have even
resorted to killing new fry when I can catch them.

So, I may be overly negative. If you can get a LFS (I have none) or a
local fish club to take the fry after they are big enough, then you
may enjoy raising them.

dick

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Advice: When to add Siamese Algae Eater
>From: Dick
>Date: 10/3/2004 4:51 AM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>On 2 Oct 2004 05:17:47 -0700, (Mister Jerk)
>wrote:
>
>>Dick > wrote in message
>...
>>
>>>
>>> I wish SAEs were fry eaters. I have too many fry that live into
>>> adulthood and my 75 gallon tank has 6 SAEs. But, then, the bottom of
>>> my tank has heavy plant growth. I would suggest more than one SAE as
>>> they tend to swarm together, even resting on Anubia leaves like
>>> fairies.
>>>
>>
>>I only have a 38Gal tank though, would 2 or more SAEs be a good thing?
>>I currently have the following;
>>
>>4 adult platies
>>3 platy fry
>>8 black neons
>>
>>Planning to add
>>1 SAE
>>1 male Betta
>>3 tri-band barbs
>>
>>What do you think?
>
>I have 3 in a 29 gallon and one in a 10 gallon tank other than 10 in
>the 75 gallon (I miss counted in my original message). They are good
>citizens in my opinion. You list no fish that I would see as
>conflicting. Be aware that platties reproduce in large quantities.
>Your problem will be over crowding. The 3 fry will reach adulthood in
>about 6 months, then your population explosion will be fast. You
>didn't indicate the sex of the 4 adults, females are the problem. You
>can have all the males you want, but one male with 6 females is
>disaster. Unless, you plan to sell them or continue to add tanks.
>
>Sorry to be so negative about live bearers. I have been addressing
>this birth control problem for a couple of months and I have 6 tanks.
>My problem really got terrible when ONE female black molly gave birth
>to over 50 fry in my quarantine tank. Very few died. I tried hard to
>find homes. One friend wanted some, but had a large chiclid, so I
>raised the fry until I had a few large enough, I thought, to live in
>her community tank. Wrong, the chiclid had no problem consuming the
>fry. I now have the platties and mollies separated by sex (I hope).
>I have lost some of the mollies over the last year and have even
>resorted to killing new fry when I can catch them.
>
>So, I may be overly negative. If you can get a LFS (I have none) or a
>local fish club to take the fry after they are big enough, then you
>may enjoy raising them.
>
>dick

Hi Dick.
An over population of live bearer fry is *not* (giggle) going to be a problem
with a Betta in the tank.

[Mister Jerk]

(Mister Jerk) wrote in message >...
> I am currenly still in the process of stocking my 38Gal tank and would
> like to add a Siamese Algae Eater / Siamese Flying Fox. But I am
> concerned that the 3 platy fry I have might be agressed/eaten. The fry are
> about 1/2inch in size, still small but starting to school with the other
> platies.
>
> When would it be safe to add the Algae Eater?


Okay everyone.. Thanks all for your comments, I stopped by the store
this weekend and picked myself up an SAE.

When first adding him to the tank, he immediately proceeded to swim up
and down the glass, apparently eating algae.. A good sign!

But today, the second day he is in the tank, he is constantly chasing
2 of my largest (yellow) platies around the tank constantly, and
trying to chase the 8 black neons (more unsuccessfully). Is this
normal behaviour?

he hides between some rocks for a little while, but then seeks out the
yellow platies again, only giving up when they both (2 of them) cower
in the top corner of the tank. I assume he is chasing them because of
their size? He completely ignores the fry and smaller platie.

Comments?

thanks in advance.

[Dick]

On 03 Oct 2004 14:37:30 GMT, (TYNK 7) wrote:

>>Subject: Re: Advice: When to add Siamese Algae Eater
>>From: Dick
>>Date: 10/3/2004 4:51 AM Central Daylight Time
>>Message-id: >
>>
>>On 2 Oct 2004 05:17:47 -0700, (Mister Jerk)
>>wrote:
>>
>>>Dick > wrote in message
>...
>>>
>>>>
>>>> I wish SAEs were fry eaters. I have too many fry that live into
>>>> adulthood and my 75 gallon tank has 6 SAEs. But, then, the bottom of
>>>> my tank has heavy plant growth. I would suggest more than one SAE as
>>>> they tend to swarm together, even resting on Anubia leaves like
>>>> fairies.
>>>>
>>>
>>>I only have a 38Gal tank though, would 2 or more SAEs be a good thing?
>>>I currently have the following;
>>>
>>>4 adult platies
>>>3 platy fry
>>>8 black neons
>>>
>>>Planning to add
>>>1 SAE
>>>1 male Betta
>>>3 tri-band barbs
>>>
>>>What do you think?
>>
>>I have 3 in a 29 gallon and one in a 10 gallon tank other than 10 in
>>the 75 gallon (I miss counted in my original message). They are good
>>citizens in my opinion. You list no fish that I would see as
>>conflicting. Be aware that platties reproduce in large quantities.
>>Your problem will be over crowding. The 3 fry will reach adulthood in
>>about 6 months, then your population explosion will be fast. You
>>didn't indicate the sex of the 4 adults, females are the problem. You
>>can have all the males you want, but one male with 6 females is
>>disaster. Unless, you plan to sell them or continue to add tanks.
>>
>>Sorry to be so negative about live bearers. I have been addressing
>>this birth control problem for a couple of months and I have 6 tanks.
>>My problem really got terrible when ONE female black molly gave birth
>>to over 50 fry in my quarantine tank. Very few died. I tried hard to
>>find homes. One friend wanted some, but had a large chiclid, so I
>>raised the fry until I had a few large enough, I thought, to live in
>>her community tank. Wrong, the chiclid had no problem consuming the
>>fry. I now have the platties and mollies separated by sex (I hope).
>>I have lost some of the mollies over the last year and have even
>>resorted to killing new fry when I can catch them.
>>
>>So, I may be overly negative. If you can get a LFS (I have none) or a
>>local fish club to take the fry after they are big enough, then you
>>may enjoy raising them.
>>
>>dick
>
>Hi Dick.
>An over population of live bearer fry is *not* (giggle) going to be a problem
>with a Betta in the tank.

Sounds like every community tank with live bearers should add one
Betta to control fry. I would now if I had a LFS.

dick

[Nikki Casali]

Dick wrote:
> On 03 Oct 2004 14:37:30 GMT, (TYNK 7) wrote:
>
>
>>>Subject: Re: Advice: When to add Siamese Algae Eater
>>>From: Dick
>>>Date: 10/3/2004 4:51 AM Central Daylight Time
>>>Message-id: >
>>>
>>>On 2 Oct 2004 05:17:47 -0700, (Mister Jerk)
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Dick > wrote in message
>>>
>...
>>>
>>>>>I wish SAEs were fry eaters. I have too many fry that live into
>>>>>adulthood and my 75 gallon tank has 6 SAEs. But, then, the bottom of
>>>>>my tank has heavy plant growth. I would suggest more than one SAE as
>>>>>they tend to swarm together, even resting on Anubia leaves like
>>>>>fairies.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I only have a 38Gal tank though, would 2 or more SAEs be a good thing?
>>>>I currently have the following;
>>>>
>>>>4 adult platies
>>>>3 platy fry
>>>>8 black neons
>>>>
>>>>Planning to add
>>>>1 SAE
>>>>1 male Betta
>>>>3 tri-band barbs
>>>>
>>>>What do you think?
>>>
>>>I have 3 in a 29 gallon and one in a 10 gallon tank other than 10 in
>>>the 75 gallon (I miss counted in my original message). They are good
>>>citizens in my opinion. You list no fish that I would see as
>>>conflicting. Be aware that platties reproduce in large quantities.
>>>Your problem will be over crowding. The 3 fry will reach adulthood in
>>>about 6 months, then your population explosion will be fast. You
>>>didn't indicate the sex of the 4 adults, females are the problem. You
>>>can have all the males you want, but one male with 6 females is
>>>disaster. Unless, you plan to sell them or continue to add tanks.
>>>
>>>Sorry to be so negative about live bearers. I have been addressing
>>>this birth control problem for a couple of months and I have 6 tanks.
>>>My problem really got terrible when ONE female black molly gave birth
>>>to over 50 fry in my quarantine tank. Very few died. I tried hard to
>>>find homes. One friend wanted some, but had a large chiclid, so I
>>>raised the fry until I had a few large enough, I thought, to live in
>>>her community tank. Wrong, the chiclid had no problem consuming the
>>>fry. I now have the platties and mollies separated by sex (I hope).
>>>I have lost some of the mollies over the last year and have even
>>>resorted to killing new fry when I can catch them.
>>>
>>>So, I may be overly negative. If you can get a LFS (I have none) or a
>>>local fish club to take the fry after they are big enough, then you
>>>may enjoy raising them.
>>>
>>>dick
>>
>>Hi Dick.
>>An over population of live bearer fry is *not* (giggle) going to be a problem
>>with a Betta in the tank.
>
>
> Sounds like every community tank with live bearers should add one
> Betta to control fry. I would now if I had a LFS.

The problem is, do they know when to stop eating fry? I had one once, a
few years ago, that I thought had developed dropsy overnight! I then
separated him from the mollies just in case.

Nikki

[TYNK 7]

>Subject: Re: Advice: When to add Siamese Algae Eater
>From: Nikki Casali
>Date: 10/4/2004 5:52 AM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>
>
>Dick wrote:
>> On 03 Oct 2004 14:37:30 GMT, (TYNK 7) wrote:
>>
>>
>>>>Subject: Re: Advice: When to add Siamese Algae Eater
>>>>From: Dick
>>>>Date: 10/3/2004 4:51 AM Central Daylight Time
>>>>Message-id: >
>>>>
>>>>On 2 Oct 2004 05:17:47 -0700, (Mister Jerk)
>>>>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Dick > wrote in message
>>>>
>...
>>>>
>>>>>>I wish SAEs were fry eaters. I have too many fry that live into
>>>>>>adulthood and my 75 gallon tank has 6 SAEs. But, then, the bottom of
>>>>>>my tank has heavy plant growth. I would suggest more than one SAE as
>>>>>>they tend to swarm together, even resting on Anubia leaves like
>>>>>>fairies.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>I only have a 38Gal tank though, would 2 or more SAEs be a good thing?
>>>>>I currently have the following;
>>>>>
>>>>>4 adult platies
>>>>>3 platy fry
>>>>>8 black neons
>>>>>
>>>>>Planning to add
>>>>>1 SAE
>>>>>1 male Betta
>>>>>3 tri-band barbs
>>>>>
>>>>>What do you think?
>>>>
>>>>I have 3 in a 29 gallon and one in a 10 gallon tank other than 10 in
>>>>the 75 gallon (I miss counted in my original message). They are good
>>>>citizens in my opinion. You list no fish that I would see as
>>>>conflicting. Be aware that platties reproduce in large quantities.
>>>>Your problem will be over crowding. The 3 fry will reach adulthood in
>>>>about 6 months, then your population explosion will be fast. You
>>>>didn't indicate the sex of the 4 adults, females are the problem. You
>>>>can have all the males you want, but one male with 6 females is
>>>>disaster. Unless, you plan to sell them or continue to add tanks.
>>>>
>>>>Sorry to be so negative about live bearers. I have been addressing
>>>>this birth control problem for a couple of months and I have 6 tanks.
>>>>My problem really got terrible when ONE female black molly gave birth
>>>>to over 50 fry in my quarantine tank. Very few died. I tried hard to
>>>>find homes. One friend wanted some, but had a large chiclid, so I
>>>>raised the fry until I had a few large enough, I thought, to live in
>>>>her community tank. Wrong, the chiclid had no problem consuming the
>>>>fry. I now have the platties and mollies separated by sex (I hope).
>>>>I have lost some of the mollies over the last year and have even
>>>>resorted to killing new fry when I can catch them.
>>>>
>>>>So, I may be overly negative. If you can get a LFS (I have none) or a
>>>>local fish club to take the fry after they are big enough, then you
>>>>may enjoy raising them.
>>>>
>>>>dick
>>>
>>>Hi Dick.
>>>An over population of live bearer fry is *not* (giggle) going to be a
>problem
>>>with a Betta in the tank.
>>
>>
>> Sounds like every community tank with live bearers should add one
>> Betta to control fry. I would now if I had a LFS.
>
>The problem is, do they know when to stop eating fry? I had one once, a
>few years ago, that I thought had developed dropsy overnight! I then
>separated him from the mollies just in case.
>
>Nikki
>
>

LOL..yeah they look they swallowed a marble. = )~

[Michael Larsen]

Mister Jerk wrote:
> (Mister Jerk) wrote in message >...
>
>>I am currenly still in the process of stocking my 38Gal tank and would
>>like to add a Siamese Algae Eater / Siamese Flying Fox. But I am
>>concerned that the 3 platy fry I have might be agressed/eaten. The fry are
>>about 1/2inch in size, still small but starting to school with the other
>>platies.
>>
>>When would it be safe to add the Algae Eater?
>
>
>
> Okay everyone.. Thanks all for your comments, I stopped by the store
> this weekend and picked myself up an SAE.
>
> When first adding him to the tank, he immediately proceeded to swim up
> and down the glass, apparently eating algae.. A good sign!
>
> But today, the second day he is in the tank, he is constantly chasing
> 2 of my largest (yellow) platies around the tank constantly, and
> trying to chase the 8 black neons (more unsuccessfully). Is this
> normal behaviour?
>
> he hides between some rocks for a little while, but then seeks out the
> yellow platies again, only giving up when they both (2 of them) cower
> in the top corner of the tank. I assume he is chasing them because of
> their size? He completely ignores the fry and smaller platie.
>
> Comments?
>
> thanks in advance.


Sounds to me like you have not got SAE, but one of it's lookalikes,
eventually "false siamese alge eater" (Epalzeorhynchus sp).
True SAE does not have this behavior.
--
Regards / Mvh Michael
---
"The important thing is not to stop questioning." - A. E.
http://sae.tech-nic.dk

[Mister Jerk]

Michael Larsen > wrote in message >...

> >
> >
> >
> > Okay everyone.. Thanks all for your comments, I stopped by the store
> > this weekend and picked myself up an SAE.
> >
> > When first adding him to the tank, he immediately proceeded to swim up
> > and down the glass, apparently eating algae.. A good sign!
> >
> > But today, the second day he is in the tank, he is constantly chasing
> > 2 of my largest (yellow) platies around the tank constantly, and
> > trying to chase the 8 black neons (more unsuccessfully). Is this
> > normal behaviour?
> >
> > he hides between some rocks for a little while, but then seeks out the
> > yellow platies again, only giving up when they both (2 of them) cower
> > in the top corner of the tank. I assume he is chasing them because of
> > their size? He completely ignores the fry and smaller platie.
> >
> > Comments?
> >
> > thanks in advance.
>
>
> Sounds to me like you have not got SAE, but one of it's lookalikes,
> eventually "false siamese alge eater" (Epalzeorhynchus sp).
> True SAE does not have this behavior.


Michael,

Actually, he is definately a true SAE. I was quite careful in choosing
him.

I have since done a rearangement of the tank, and placed my lava rocks
in a way that offers concealment. Since then, the SAE has totally
calmed down. In fact I think he was just bored, and/or trying to
school with the platies. I now often see them swimming around
together.. No more aggression at all. I guess he was just looking for
a friend.

[Dick]

On 25 Oct 2004 06:55:32 -0700, (Mister Jerk)
wrote:

>Michael Larsen > wrote in message >...
>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Okay everyone.. Thanks all for your comments, I stopped by the store
>> > this weekend and picked myself up an SAE.
>> >
>> > When first adding him to the tank, he immediately proceeded to swim up
>> > and down the glass, apparently eating algae.. A good sign!
>> >
>> > But today, the second day he is in the tank, he is constantly chasing
>> > 2 of my largest (yellow) platies around the tank constantly, and
>> > trying to chase the 8 black neons (more unsuccessfully). Is this
>> > normal behaviour?
>> >
>> > he hides between some rocks for a little while, but then seeks out the
>> > yellow platies again, only giving up when they both (2 of them) cower
>> > in the top corner of the tank. I assume he is chasing them because of
>> > their size? He completely ignores the fry and smaller platie.
>> >
>> > Comments?
>> >
>> > thanks in advance.
>>
>>
>> Sounds to me like you have not got SAE, but one of it's lookalikes,
>> eventually "false siamese alge eater" (Epalzeorhynchus sp).
>> True SAE does not have this behavior.
>
>
>Michael,
>
>Actually, he is definately a true SAE. I was quite careful in choosing
>him.
>
>I have since done a rearangement of the tank, and placed my lava rocks
>in a way that offers concealment. Since then, the SAE has totally
>calmed down. In fact I think he was just bored, and/or trying to
>school with the platies. I now often see them swimming around
>together.. No more aggression at all. I guess he was just looking for
>a friend.

I have 9 SAEs in a 75 gallon community tank. They do school, but
often are off in pairs or alone. Just now all 9 are resting on a
plant leaf by themselves. Hmmm, that is one to a leaf, the leaves are
spread about the tank, no togetherness right now. They nibble on my
arm and hand when I am playing gardner, this is a group activity.

The test for real SAE is if the black line extends into the tail, the
false SAEs the line stop where the tail begins.

dick