lgb wrote:
In article ,
says...

How many SAEs should one have at a minimum? I'm not thinking about how
much algae they can eat but if they are a fish which should be kept in
groups? Is 2 or 3 two few for them to do okay behaviourally or
socially?


I understand that they do like company, but I have one in each of two
tanks and they seem to be thriving without other SAEs. The one does
sometimes hang out with the cory cats.

I have a solo SAE as well. It's fine, and hangs out in midwater with
the rasboras. I would keep more if my tank were larger as SAE are
definately social. Two can sometimes lead to one picking on the other,
so I'd go with three if you have tank space.

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

On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 20:14:24 +0200, Derek Benson
wrote:

On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 04:31:17 -0500, Dick
wrote:

One caution about adding SAEs in a 20 gallon tank. They get big! I am
worried about mine in 29 and 75 gallon tanks. After only 2 years they
are now larger than my Clown Loaches and seem to be still growing. The
larger ones are over 5 inches and they live long lives. I bought a
total of 15 because I found them so attractive. They were only a
couple of inches in length 2 years ago. I agree with the sentiment,
they are fun fish, but they can become large.

dick

How many SAEs should one have at a minimum? I'm not thinking about how
much algae they can eat but if they are a fish which should be kept in
groups? Is 2 or 3 two few for them to do okay behaviourally or
socially?

-Derek

They are very social in my opinion. Although, I have 1 in a 10 gallon
community tank and it gets along fine. In 2 larger tanks I have 6 in
a 29 gallon and 8 in a 75 gallon tank. They tend to "rest" in a
community group often settling on large leaves of the same plant.
They school often leading a community shoaling. In my experience they
are gentle fish, but others have different experiences. Whether the
one that is in the 10 or the 8 in the 75 gallon tank, I have never
seen one bully other fish.

dick