Chinese Algae Eater & Koi/GF

[Snooze]

Has anyone ever introduced a Chinese Algae Eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri)
into a pond? with koi and goldfish? According to a few websites, they are
herbivores, but apparently develop a taste for small fish as they grow
larger and are fairly territorial.

I'm curious develop a taste for the slime coating of the their tank/pond
mates the way plecos (Hypostomus plecostomus) do? Koi-lo don't bother
responding, I can google just as well as you can.

References:
http://species.fishindex.com/species_3707gyrinocheilus_aymonieri_algae_eater.ht ml

[Roy]

Snooze. I have a few fairly large chinese algae eaters in some
preforms outside which we put tropicals in as wel as some ornamental
goldies and small koi during the warmer months and they do fine. Even
when we move tropicals indoors along with the CAE they have not been a
proble, We did find out that there is a fish that looks just about
like the CAE and is commonly called the flying fox (its from India
IIRC) that eats algae and does a good job of it, and gets along with
everything that they have shared a tank or preform with. Never seen em
on or try to get on another fish.

On Thu, 02 Mar 2006 05:26:17 GMT, "Snooze" > wrote:
>><>Has anyone ever introduced a Chinese Algae Eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri)
>><>into a pond? with koi and goldfish? According to a few websites, they are
>><>herbivores, but apparently develop a taste for small fish as they grow
>><>larger and are fairly territorial.
>><>
>><>I'm curious develop a taste for the slime coating of the their tank/pond
>><>mates the way plecos (Hypostomus plecostomus) do? Koi-lo don't bother
>><>responding, I can google just as well as you can.
>><>
>><>References:
>><>http://species.fishindex.com/species_3707gyrinocheilus_aymonieri_algae_eater.ht ml
>><>

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The original frugal ponder ! Koi-ahoi mates....

[Steve]

Roy wrote:
> Snooze. I have a few fairly large chinese algae eaters in some
> preforms outside which we put tropicals in as wel as some ornamental
> goldies and small koi during the warmer months and they do fine. Even
> when we move tropicals indoors along with the CAE they have not been a
> proble, We did find out that there is a fish that looks just about
> like the CAE and is commonly called the flying fox (its from India
> IIRC) that eats algae and does a good job of it, and gets along with
> everything that they have shared a tank or preform with. Never seen em
> on or try to get on another fish.
>

I have Siamese alge eaters in my plant aquarium and they're peaceful.
The two of them even hang out together. Previuosly I had 6 of the
similar-looking flying fox, and they fought among themselves a lot.

I've not had Chinese Algae eaters, but a relative had a big one that
attached itself to his Discus. The CAE went after that.

Steve

[[email protected]]

I tried this with my own tank, and the result was not good. The chinese
algae eaters can and will take a shot at your goldfish. Don't know why they
do it . . . Don't know what other people have said about it (mostly not
good) . . . But I do know what I have witnessed first hand. These little
suckers are extremely fast when they attack, and a goldfish doesn't stand a
chance. My two GF have gained a lot of size since it happened, and both of
them still bear the marks from it.
I personally advise against it. They seemed friendly at first, but within a
few days, they started to attack the GF.

--
Kevin

[Roy]

Just get an indian flying fox. They look just like a chinese algae
eater, but without any bad habits. They may chase off intruders but
thats about all they will do, and I have never seen em do what a lot
of folks have seen the typical chinnese algae eaters do...

Look for the kallopteris (sp?) species of the fish which is from
Northern India .....and there is also a lookalike from Thailand and
malaysia which are somewhat more agressive.

On Sun, 5 Mar 2006 07:03:30 GMT, wrote:
>><>I tried this with my own tank, and the result was not good. The chinese
>><>algae eaters can and will take a shot at your goldfish. Don't know why they
>><>do it . . . Don't know what other people have said about it (mostly not
>><>good) . . . But I do know what I have witnessed first hand. These little
>><>suckers are extremely fast when they attack, and a goldfish doesn't stand a
>><>chance. My two GF have gained a lot of size since it happened, and both of
>><>them still bear the marks from it.
>><>I personally advise against it. They seemed friendly at first, but within a
>><>few days, they started to attack the GF.

--
\\\|///
( @ @ )
-----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------


oooO
---------( )----Oooo----------------
\ ( ( )
\_) ) /
(_/
The original frugal ponder ! Koi-ahoi mates....