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View Full Version : Ottos or chinese algae eaters?


Daniel Morrow
September 20th 05, 02:24 AM
So, I finally looked up ottos in my 1966 book and found that they are the
ones I used to know as chinese algae eaters! Imagine my surprise after
reading all about how chinese algae eaters become aggressive when older, and
then reading that the very fish I was always told in the shops is the CAE
whereas the fish was really the otto. Weird occurrence since that is a major
mistake to make with newbies (i.e. all of those good ottos not selling
because they are labeled the dangerous chinese algae eater.).

So let me get this straight - ottos are not chinese algae eaters - right? I
will check with a search or two just in case, I will see what a chinese
algae eater really looks like. Given this information I have had ottos
before and loved them despite them going into shock in my 1st tank when I
was 11 years old and they went into shock because I netted them and put them
into a jar while I cleaned (one of the only times I cleaned the tank back
then) the tank. My friend also caused one of his to go into shock and was
rather uncaring because he flicked the fish with his finger to "knock the
life" back into him (I know - that friend was a quack) and he seemed
successful at it but I am sure it did more damage than leaving the poor
thing alone to come back to life in its own time, so to speak.. I am sure
that it was just playing dead.

Later all!

Mean_Chlorine
September 20th 05, 09:40 AM
Thusly "Daniel Morrow" > Spake Unto All:

>So let me get this straight - ottos are not chinese algae eaters - right?

CAE's are loaches, here's a pic of a CAE:
http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=12298

Otos are very small catfish, typically looking like this:
http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=50462

CAE's are more commonly confused with Siamese Algae Eaters, which is a
smaller & more peaceful loach than CAE:
http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/Photos/PicturesSummary.cfm?StartRow=3&ID=50435

Elaine T
September 20th 05, 08:09 PM
Mean_Chlorine wrote:
> Thusly "Daniel Morrow" > Spake Unto All:
>
>
>>So let me get this straight - ottos are not chinese algae eaters - right?
>
>
> CAE's are loaches, here's a pic of a CAE:
> http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=12298
>
> Otos are very small catfish, typically looking like this:
> http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=50462
>
> CAE's are more commonly confused with Siamese Algae Eaters, which is a
> smaller & more peaceful loach than CAE:
> http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/Photos/PicturesSummary.cfm?StartRow=3&ID=50435

Actually, CAE are not loaches (family Cobitidae). They belong to the
family Gyrinocheilidae, a small family with only three species. Among
other differences between Gryinocheilids and loaches, CAE have scales,
no eye spine, and no barbels. They also show different behavior,
including the territorialism that makes them such a problem fish in the
aquarium.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

Daniel Morrow
September 20th 05, 11:50 PM
Bottom posted.


"Mean_Chlorine" > wrote in message
...
> Thusly "Daniel Morrow" > Spake Unto All:
>
> >So let me get this straight - ottos are not chinese algae eaters - right?
>
> CAE's are loaches, here's a pic of a CAE:
> http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=12298
>
> Otos are very small catfish, typically looking like this:
> http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=50462
>
> CAE's are more commonly confused with Siamese Algae Eaters, which is a
> smaller & more peaceful loach than CAE:
> http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/Photos/PicturesSummary.cfm?StartRow=3&ID=50435
>
>

Thanks mean chlorine!

September 22nd 05, 11:00 AM
Thank you. I was not aware that gyrinocheilids went under a different
common English name than cobitids.