Chinese Algae Eater

[Lively]

I've heard when they get older they get more aggressive - I've never had a problem with mine. But, I mysteriously lost a couple of hundred fry... and this is the second "failure" in a row.

Anyone else have any comments on this?

Either way, it's coming out of the tank to go graze on different algae.

 

[toddnbecka]

More lilkely the parents than the algae eater, though I wouldn't have one even if was free. BN pleco's are much more effective for keeping algae under control, and won't even eat thier own fry, much less baby cichlids.

 

[Sonny Disposition]

My dear old dad would pick up one of these from time to time. Almost invariably, it would grow big and start rearranging the tank. They are prolific diggers--doing more to rearrange the gravel than a male centrarchid in spawning mode.

 

[Lively]

This guy isn't supposed to get that big, he's about 6" and from what I've read on them, fully grown. I've had him for about 2 years now and never had issues with him, but lately have noticed him being a bit more agressive. He isn't a common pleco - my brother in law made that mistake for us when he was keeping our tanks. Thing outgrew the 55g tank within a year.

I have a couple of bn's now - much happier with them!

 

[UNCLERUCKUS]

This guy isn't supposed to get that big, he's about 6" and from what I've read on them, fully grown. I've had him for about 2 years now and never had issues with him, but lately have noticed him being a bit more agressive. He isn't a common pleco - my brother in law made that mistake for us when he was keeping our tanks. Thing outgrew the 55g tank within a year.

I have a couple of bn's now - much happier with them!

they get to be 12" Stacy. check this out.
http://www.aquariumlife.net/profiles/asian-loaches/chinese-algae-eater/100056.asp

 

[Lively]

Another case of too much misinformation on the web - now I'm certian that he's the cause of my missing fry. My cat might have a fresh fish dinner tonight! Sigh, I'll put him in with the bigger growouts, he can't eat them and there is tons of algae in there.

I have to break down the tank to catch him, he's extremely hard to catch even in a basically empty tank. That tank is getting a good cleaning today...