Ever wondered if it was just snails that could help clean your tank?
There have always been sucker-mouth-type fish that also do the job. But sometimes they can be the same old, same old.
If you’re looking for something a bit different that will do the job, the Chinese Algae Eater (Gyrinocheilus Aymonieri) might just be for you.
Sure, they have a reputation. But we’ll cover all of that and show you how to get the best out of these fish.
Confusingly, they are mostly found in the wild in Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Another one of those head-scratching names in the aquarist hobby. (Don’t believe us? Look up a Rainbow Shark.)
These tropical freshwater fish are also known in the trade as Honey Loaches, Honey Suckers, Sucking Loach, Golden Algae Eater, and the Chinese Sucker Fish. They love fast-moving currents in warm rivers that are quite clear.
Let’s check out why they might be a great addition to your tank and cover some of the reasons they seem to have a bad rap.
Chinese Algae Eater Behavior
The Chinese Algae Eater is a fish that likes to keep to itself and is unlikely to bother your tank community if you choose to incorporate one.
They do not, however, like to be kept with another of their kind. In that respect, they are an anti-social species best-left solo to search for food, which is all they do most of the time.
Bottom dwellers, for the most part, these fish will attach to surfaces, tank glass, and anywhere algae are present. Feeding is what consumes them!
They will help keep your tank whistle-clean but can be aggressive towards other species of a similar size, so we’ll cover more on tank mates a bit later in this article.
A semi-aggressive species, they are not usually thrilled about other species of a similar size in their midst. Even less so if they have similar coloring and shape. We can only presume this is because these competitor fish resemble one of their kind, and they feel threatened, deciding to get territorial about the situation.
Another interesting point to note here is that they can be unkind to peaceful natured fish that are larger and latch onto them. They do this to consume the slime coat of these fish, but it can be annoying for the fish, who is the attachee.
This can happen with flatter-shaped fish such as Angelfish, Discus, and Silver Dollars. The interference with their slime coats can make them more susceptible to infection, so if you see this behavior, it isn’t ideal.
The bottom line, so to speak, is that if you decide to house one of these fish, make it your only bottom-dweller to avoid conflict and aggression.
Chinese Algae Eater Lifespan
If you cater to the needs of your Chinese Algae Eater, you could expect them to live for up to 10 years. This is a considerable amount of time, akin to a cat or dog, so you need to be sure you plan on having an aquarium for at least that amount of time.
We will discuss more on tank requirements a little later in this article.
Chinese Algae Eater Appearance
How should we say it? The Chinese Algae Eater isn’t exactly a looker.
With dull coloring of brown tones that range from tan to drab brown, they possess a few spots along their lateral lines.
There is an albino variety that appears solid gold, so if you can manage to source one, which isn’t easy, you can have a more glamorous version of a tank cleaner.
They are long-bodied, torpedo-shaped fish with sucker mouths like a catfish, but they do not possess barbels as those fish do.
Fins are small and short in length of a similar color to the body, so fairly nondescript.
In terms of mature size, they reach a moderate size of about 5 inches, so they will need a fair amount of space to ensure they have enough algae supply and room to roam.
Females are typically larger than males and more rounded. Interestingly, during mating season, the male develops a sort of horn or spike on their heads, making them easy to identify. The rest of the time, it can be quite difficult to sex this species.
Chinese Algae Eater Habitat And Tank Requirements
These fish don’t demand a hugely detailed tank set up with special needs. They tend to get on with whatever decor and setup you provide.
That being said, their environment in the wild is freshwater river basins with fast-moving waters and strong currents. They naturally have stones and rocks on the riverbed, which is where they hover, looking for their food supply.
Let’s look at some specifics that are needed to provide these bottom dwellers with a great quality of life that best suits them for optimum health.
Tank Conditions
Since they don’t ask a lot of their tank habitat requirements, we will suggest what works best and is probably easiest.
Sand or smooth gravel is fine by them for a substrate. Nothing too sharp that might scratch their bodies, inviting injury and infection.
Pop in some smooth, flatter stones that they can swim over and around that will attract algae formation, and easy suction is a nice touch too.
Shelter in the form of caves and driftwood work well to keep them feeling secure despite their reputation. All fish need somewhere to chill out from time to time!
They prefer vegetation, and a fair amount too. Choosing larger leafy plants is ideal for encouraging algae growth, and you won’t need to worry about them eating the plant life either.
Powerful filtration that will mimic strong currents are best, and add air stones or curtains if you think they might enjoy that if your current isn’t strong enough.
Wavemakers are a great option and will encourage latching behaviors too. A heater will be ideal for keeping the temperature reliably high as they need a steady high condition.
Water changes will need to be weekly and at least 25% changed over.
Water conditions should be noted and maintained as follows:
- pH of 5.8 – 8.0
- Water carbonates between 8 -10 dKH
- Water hardness between 3 – 12 dGH
- Temperature between 74 – 80ºF (24 – 27ºC)
- Lighting should be bright to encourage algae growth for food supply
Tank Size
The minimum tank size for a Chinese Algae Eater is 50 gallons. There isn’t much point in discussing the amount needed for added specimens since we already know that they don’t like to be around others of their kind.
Choosing a longer tank size is best to keep a strong current and flow.
If you choose to do so, do this at your peril and expect to be disappointed when one doesn’t survive the aggression.
However, 50 gallons is the minimum, so getting something larger is even better to keep them active, curious, and healthier.
Choosing Tank Mates For Chinese Algae Eaters
When it comes to finding friendly species for your Chinese Algae Eater, you need to make some careful considerations.
Of course, you need fish that share similar water parameters, but you should avoid anything that is a bottom-dweller or remotely resembles this fish. They tend to think even a resemblance to themselves in terms of size alone is competition. Add in a similar color, and it could be an all-out war.
So finding tank mates are not as easy as it sounds. You really want them with a community of smaller fish only to keep the vibe peaceful.
Some tank mate pairings that really would work well include:
- Platies
- Tiger Barbs
- Mollies
- Clown Loaches
- Dwarf Gourami
- Swordtails
- Zebra Danios
- Cherry Barbs
- White Cloud Mountain Minnows
- Emperor Tetras
Others to avoid are flat fish like Angelfish, Discus, and Silver Dollars that might attract your Chinese Algae Eater to latch onto them.
Always avoid other bottom-dwellers, as note above, and this includes invertebrates like Amano Shrimp.
How To Feed Chinese Algae Eater
As juveniles, these fish want nothing more than algae, all day, all night. As they mature, their interest in algae-only as a diet declines, and they need more variety in their diet which is fair enough. Who wants one meal their entire life?
Adding in protein is a must, and things like Brine Shrimp, Tubifex, and Bloodworms work well, whether frozen or live.
Algae wafers can also encourage eating more algae in the tank, but if they aren’t eating much of it, you’ll need to remove it to avoid fouling water.
Chinese Algae Eater Common Health Issues
Most freshwater fish are susceptible to Ich (White Spot Disease), which, as the name implies, is easily distinguished by white spots on the body due to a parasitic infection.
Ich is treatable when caught early and suitably medicated. If left untreated, Ich is usually fatal.
Fin Rot is another bacterial infection that affects their fins, just as the name implies. They may appear to disintegrate, and it is highly contagious through physical contact. If you suspect your fish has it, it’s important to quarantine it.
Fin Rot is commonly associated with poor water conditions, overcrowding, and stress which is due to both of the aforementioned issues.
These issues can be minimized with a strict water cleaning and change schedule along with regular checking of your water parameters. Remember, your tank is a living biome, and it isn’t just fish that are living inside it.
How To Breed Chinese Algae Eaters
As has already been pointed out in full, we think it’s inadvisable to keep more than one of these fish together in one community.
Breeding them in captivity is quite rare and would be an exception to the rule for even the most experienced hobbyist.
The majority in the supply chain is from vast commercial hatcheries that have the required space to manage this.
Anyone wanting to try to breed these fish would need an extra-large tank setup and a lot of plant life. This should enable the fish to coexist without the usual aggression seen.
It is difficult, however, to know if you have a male and female as they look virtually the same. The male will only be more easily identified once mating as their ‘horn’ or tentacle-like protrusion develops, but only then.
As with most fish, an elevation in temperature tends to trigger spawning behaviors.
Regardless of how thorough you are in replicating what is needed, it’s still rare to have successful spawning of the Chinese Algae Eater.
Conclusion
Do Chinese Algae Eaters deserve their reputation as somewhat belligerent fish? Most would agree. This fish doesn’t like to have fish around that even remotely resemble itself. They want to be the star of their own dull brown-colored show.
Fair enough. But, if you want something a bit different and already have a tank of smaller fish that like to school and shoal that create quite a bit of waste perfect for algae, it just might be the ticket to a cleaner tank.
They are an alternative to the typical snails that sweep up algae and are interesting to watch in their own right. Plus, they have a long lifespan compared to snails. If you happen to snag an albino one, well, then they are actually quite a bit more glamorous than the common version and snails too.
It’s worth a punt on the Chinese Algae Eater if you have no other bottom-dwelling creatures in your tank.
Even if it isn’t readily found in China.
And even if it doesn’t exclusively live off of algae.
Another one of those fun fish names that love to be cryptic and keep us guessing in the world of fish keeping!
