gold algae eater
 

I currently have two tanks with the same water conditions.

In one tank (ten gallon) I have five cardinal tetras and a gold algae
eater.

In the other tank (55 gallon) I have three yoyo botias, five bleeding
heart tetras, a clown pleco and two long finned zebra danios.

I am thinking about taking the gold algae eater out of the ten-gallon
tank (because he is getting a bit big for the tank) and introducing
him into the 55-gallon tank. I have read that they are
semi-aggressive. Currently in the ten gallon tank he generally spends
95% of the time hiding under some fake rock structure, with only his
head peaking out every once in a while. I have not seen any behavior
that I would characterize as aggressive towards the cardinal tetras
(they are considerably smaller than him).

Do you think that aggressive behavior will be on display if I move him
from his home into the larger tank with other fish it is not used to
seeing? With fish that are curious and playful (yoyo loaches) and
fish that tend to hang out in the same area of the tank (loaches,
pleco)?

Any comments are welcome. Thanks.

Kevin

gold algae eater
 

Do you think that aggressive behavior will be on display if I move him
from his home into the larger tank with other fish it is not used to
seeing? With fish that are curious and playful (yoyo loaches) and
fish that tend to hang out in the same area of the tank (loaches,
pleco)?

Any comments are welcome. Thanks.

Kevin


My understanding is that when golden algae eaters (Chinese algae
eaters) are young they are fairly passive, but they become aggressive
as they mature. The size of the tank may have some bearing as the
mature algae eaters' aggression is likely linked to developing
territorial-ness. A larger tank may reduce territorial stress. Being
pestered by tank mates will not. As the algae eaters' dietary needs
also change as it ages, I have heard that ensuring that it is well fed
(not just left to find algae on its own) will also minimize
aggression.

Good luck!