Agressive Siamease Algae Eater at feeding time?

[Rocco Moretti]

I recently purchased a largish Siamease Algae Eater (2-3 inches) to help
control the Algae in my tank. (Although it was sold to me as a "Large
Flying Fox", from the descriptions on
http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/ I'm pretty sure it's a true
SAE). And first let me say I have seen a reduction in Algae since I've
added him to the tank.

The thing that I've noticed, however, is that during feeding time, the
SAE gets very agressive, chasing my corys and amano shrimp. It doesn't
appear that it is trying to steal the food from them, it's just chasing
them while they are eating. (Like it's punsihing them for eating.) It
seems strage to me, as they all appear to ignore each other at other times.

Is this behavior common with all SAEs? Or do I just have an agressive
one? Moreover, is this behavior going to adversely affect my corys
and/or shrimp? I'd hate to stress them unduely just to keep the algae down.

Thanks.

[Mean_Chlorine]

Thusly Rocco Moretti > Spake Unto All:

>Is this behavior common with all SAEs? Or do I just have an agressive
>one?

They guard food, yes.
You only have one? They're highly social group animals, and would
normally mostly bicker among eachother over the food; you might get a
lower total level of aggression if you got a few more SAE's. On the
other hand the resulting racing/chasing may in itself stress timid
fish.

> Moreover, is this behavior going to adversely affect my corys
>and/or shrimp?

Hard to tell, but I'd doubt it. If it seems the SAE manages to
monopolize the food, scatter it more. Both shrimp and cories are
experts at finding scraps.

[Dick]

On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 09:30:51 -0600, Rocco Moretti
> wrote:

>
>I recently purchased a largish Siamease Algae Eater (2-3 inches) to help
>control the Algae in my tank. (Although it was sold to me as a "Large
>Flying Fox", from the descriptions on
>http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/ I'm pretty sure it's a true
>SAE). And first let me say I have seen a reduction in Algae since I've
>added him to the tank.
>

Your SAE is not "largish." I have 10 in 3 tanks and most are
approaching 5 inches. One of the 10 is in a 10 gal tank with some
platties. It is an aggressive eater, but I have never seen it chase
the other fish. I have 6 in a 75 gal tank. I see what appears to be
play between the SAEs and the other fish. For the first year they
would gather round my arm and nibble. They don't do that anymore.

>The thing that I've noticed, however, is that during feeding time, the
>SAE gets very agressive, chasing my corys and amano shrimp. It doesn't
>appear that it is trying to steal the food from them, it's just chasing
>them while they are eating. (Like it's punsihing them for eating.) It
>seems strage to me, as they all appear to ignore each other at other times.

Perhaps the SAE thinks the feeding brings a shoal to play in. Mine
love to shoal with the other fish. They use to have their own shoal,
but for over a year they join any gathering if they are in the mood.
>
>Is this behavior common with all SAEs? Or do I just have an agressive
>one? Moreover, is this behavior going to adversely affect my corys
>and/or shrimp? I'd hate to stress them unduely just to keep the algae down.
>
Hard to know if they are just being or if yours is overly aggressive.
I hate to have fish attack and have moved fish that do attack others.
Strange what changing tanks can do to a fish's behavior. I have seen
an aggressive male in one tank become the chased fish in another.
If you have another tank you could try moving the SAE.

I probably watch my fish more than most people have time to do. I see
their behavior change with time. The fish are different in different
tanks. If your SAE isn't damaging the other fish, I would wait and
see what happens. If the tank is large enough you could add more SAEs
as they are like Clown Loaches in being gregarious.

dick