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Moondog,

The false will eat algae, but not as many varieties as the true. They will also be more inclined to eat other types of food if available. There's a theory that they munch algae not for the algae itself but for other organisms lurking in the algae.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Actually Keith, getting back to your tank. There was always something about it I liked but couldn't quite put my finger on it. Then I suddenly realised what it is ! How wide is your tank ? The reason I ask is that looking at it head on, there is no sign of a background or even the back of the tank. The tank is laid out in such a way that it could be a foot wide or it stretch back into infinity, it's almost impossible to tell. Like it Was that something you planned deliberately or did it just kind of work out that way ? To my mind it's one of the most difficult things to create in an aquascape, the illusion that what you are looking at could stretch way beyond what you can actually see. Also I notice from your set up profile, you have a lot of stuff in there, 2 UGf's, Spray bar and air stones, yet there is never an indication in your photos of a single piece of equipment, or even a bubble, all looks serene.

What's the secret ? (Don't disappoint me and say you switch everything off or take the equipment out for photos!)

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Hello Bernard
No it is very informitive to get some reliable correct infomation here.

Thanking you

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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Keith,

Sorry, sometimes these threads have a tendency to go off on unexpected tangents.

I would be 99.99999% certain you have true SAE's, Crossocheilus siamensis. As they get older they will get more of a taste for prepared food you put in the tank and less of a taste for algae.They will always eat algae, but the deliciuos titbits you put in will always be number one choice.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Dont confuzz me please

I would like some comments on my tank please.

What do I have??????????????
I know I have four fish with marks along the sides that eat everything that goes into the tank and usually first there even when it is a new and totally different food.

Confussssssed Keith

[span class="edited"][Edited by keithgh 2004-08-09 04:59][/span]

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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Told you it would get complicated

When I refer to False SAE, I am NOT talking about either the Flying Fox or The Chinese Algae Eater. These two fish are often mis-labeled as SAE's in stores, when in fact they look nothing like them, so people sometimes end up referring to them as False SAE's.

Natalie is correct in that neither the Fox or the CAE have barbels. The False SAE Epalzeorhynchus Sp. in fact has 2 sets of barbels.

There is an excellent article heredetailing the differences between the 4 fish.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

An easy way to quickly determine if they are true SAEs:

If they have a pair of forward-facing barbels (like Keith's do), then they are the true SAE. None of the other closely related species have this characteristic.

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

This is where it all gets confusing. The Flying Fox and the "False" SAE are 2 completely different fish. But he is correct in that they are definately not Flying Foxes.

To answer your question Keith, I don't know (that doesn't really answer your question does it !?). The guy I bought mine from is a designer of planted tanks, sets them up and maintains them for the rich and lazy. He told me he uses 1 SAE for every 25lts of water to control algae. To be quite honest I found that difficult to believe, bearing in mind these get to 4-6 inches, it would mean the tank would be fully stocked just with the SAE's and no other fish (if you use the inch per gal rule). I've heard people who keep Otto's say 1 per 10gals. Maybe if you try the question on the Bottom Feeder forum somebody there might have a better idea.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

those are definatly true SAE. false SAE, or the flying fox, have a gold band above the black band

My SAEs seem more concerened with being fed especially all the extras rather than keeping the algae under control.
How many do you think I can put in my tank?

I suggest you have a look in My Profile first.

I am open for any good advice.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

I have found that the Anubias do the best in my tank aslo I can get a good selection/supply from three different Aquariums. The large ones at the rear of the tank could be at least 10 yld (thats how long I have had them) and they were large plants then. They are not fixed to anything they just sit there and move a bit as they grow. The smaller oner are either tied to driftwood or rocks with 15lb fishing line.

I do not and never have used Co2. The fert is use is a no name brand made by a local importer.


keithgh attached this image:
[img]http://www.fishprofiles.net/attachments/408247.jpg"]

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

i thought that even the false SAE will eat algae, but prefers a different variety of algae than the true SAE.

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

Hi Keith,

There are two SAE's commonly confused and difficult to tell apart(and a couple of others often mislabelled but very easy to identify - the Flying Fox and Chinese Algae eater). The "True" SAE Crossocheilus siamensis and the "False" Epalzeorhynchus sp.. There is very little physical difference between the 2, one of the big physical clues is that the black band extends into the tail on the "True" and stops at the tail on the "false". Behaviour wise the false will not be as good a muncher of algae and they get aggressive to their own kind as they get older. I been thrown because while in every other way they look like a true but the black band doesn't quite go into the tail. They are still young so that may change. I noticed in your pic one fish definately had the black run into the tail and the other didn't so I was just curious.

Anyway, if they are false somebody forgot to mention that to the fish as they've done a bang up job of getting rid of the algae and they get on fine with each other and the rest of the fish , so all good.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Bernard

To be honest that is what I bought them as. True or false??? There could be several varieties with in the species. Mine are always eating the algae on the plants and the wood. It would take an army of them to keep my tank algae free. Have you tried a Google search?

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
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Keith,

Great pics as always

Question about pic #1. Are they real SAE's are False SAE's.
I picked up a couple which are identical to those. They've got all the signs of SAE's but the black band doesn't extend into the tail very far so I'm thinking false. Don't really mind either way they've done a top notch job and after only 2 weeks I'm almost completely algae free, just like to know what I've got. (BTW there's a good pic I posted on this board if you want to have a look). http://www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/thread.asp?id=44370

Cheers

[span class="edited"][Edited by bensaf 2004-08-03 21:02][/span]

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Cool thanks. I have 3 Anubias Nana and they have done very well in my new tank. Their roots are sunked well into the gravel. I like them and might buy more because they are so sturdy.

Photo No4

Keith
keithgh attached this image:
[img]http://www.fishprofiles.net/attachments/408255.jpg"]

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Photo No3

Keith
keithgh attached this image:
[img]http://www.fishprofiles.net/attachments/408252.jpg"]

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Photo No2
Keith
keithgh attached this image:
[img]http://www.fishprofiles.net/attachments/408249.jpg"]

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW