Siamese Algae Eater
OVERVIEW:
Siamese algae eaters (Crossocheilus siamensis) are a member of the carp family within cyprinids.
This means they reside mainly in freshwater habitats with an omnivorous feeding preference for aquatic vegetation and terrestrial animals such as bugs, molluscs, annelid worms, etc., all depending on what's readily available near them to snack upon at any given time!
If you're looking to clean up your tank, the Siamese algae eater is just what you need. These fish are great for beginners and veterans alike because they eat away at pesky green goop in no time!
While freshwater aquariums can be a challenging task when it comes to keeping them clean, having an option like this will make those chores much easier on any pet owner whose passion lies with their aquatic pets. With so many benefits that come with owning one of these little critters, there isn't anything not worth mentioning about them!
BEHAVIOR:
Siamese Algae Eaters are the most social fish in your tank. They love to play with other community aquarium species, and they don't mind when you go on vacation for a week or two either!
Siamese Algae Eaters can get along with just about any of their tank mates as long as they have plenty of room to swim around - which is why an aquarium at least ten gallons should be considered before adding them to your home environment.
HABITAT:
The Siamese algae eater is a type of fish that can be found in freshwater habitats throughout Southeast Asia. They are bottom dwellers and prefer to spend their time near plants or other hiding places on the ground where they feel comfortable and safe.
In Thailand, these fascinating creatures live along riversides and flooded forests during this region's rainy season, which provides them with plenty of food sources for survival like edible plant life, insects, worms, crustaceans, including crayfish & shrimp eggs!
APPEARANCE:
The female Siamese algae eater has a broader midsection than the male fish. This appearance detail is interesting because it creates more of an aesthetic difference between males and females, which can be seen as beneficial for mating or breeding in captivity.
Another interesting trait about these creatures is that they do not have what's commonly called "a swim bladder." If left without any motion, this fish will quickly sink to the bottom of their habitat due to its lack thereof; however, this could also offer some benefit when owning them in captivity since you would need less space with no risk of losing your pets!
Side-by-side comparisons are always fun: The female Siamese algae eaters seem like bigger versions compared to males
Siamese algae eaters are slender and long fish with a bold black stripe running over their entire bodies. These short, brownish-beige colour fish can be easily identified by one eye-catching strip on each side of the body with an almost clear caudal fin at the end of it all.
The Siamese algae eater is most commonly found in aquariums because they do not require much food or water movement to survive but thrive best when given live plants and aquatic animals as part of their diet.
SIZE:
Siamese algae eaters can get a bit larger than most freshwater tropical fish species that you'll find in various tanks. These bottom-loving fish can grow up to approximately 6 inches (16 cm) and sometimes even longer when given a chance, but they prefer smaller spaces with plenty of hiding spots.
Fish owners should plan for at least 30 gallons in size if considering this pet for their tank- it will give them room to swim comfortably or hide from other aggressive neighbours!
Siamese Algae Eaters are rare breeds; unlike many types of freshwater animals who don't need much space, Siamese Algae Eater does best with enough swimming room and places to retreat into safety while being away from predators more.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SIAMESE ALGAE EATERS AND SIAMESE FLYING FOX FISH:
When purchasing a Siamese algae eater for an aquarium, fish owners should be aware of the distinguishing features between this species and the flying fox. For example, the Siamese algae eater has fins that continue onto its back instead of being narrower at its tail end like those found on the flying fox.
In addition, they have 3-4 vertical black lines running down their side while these markings are absent in other varieties such as peacock or guppy, which may confuse purchases.
It can sometimes be difficult to tell if a fish you're looking at is just an ordinary Siamese Algae Eater or it's something else entirely... Like Flying Foxes! These two types of aquatic creatures look nearly identical, but there are some important differences.
The flying fox has a distinctive gold band that can be seen along the top border of their black stripe, not found on true Siamese algae eaters.
The telltale difference between these two species is in colouration. While both may have an orange-yellow tinge to them, only the flying fox's fins are always clear because they don't have a light golden line around its dark black one like you would find with somebody who's also got it coming off their tails and across their body as well.
This animal's appearance varies solely on where it lives; those living near salt water will typically sport lighter colours than individuals from freshwater pools or ponds since they must adapt to prevalent sunlight conditions due to location differences.
CARE:
One of the most attractive facets of owning Siamese algae eaters is that they are not as hard to care for because you can feed them various foods. However, it's important to know what diseases these fish might be susceptible to and how best to prevent sicknesses before committing yourself completely.
Before making your commitment to caring for siamese algae-eaters, do some research into which illnesses could affect this species if neglected or fed incorrectly by researching online from various sources like books on animal behaviour or other websites about aquariums in general.
One word of caution is not to overpopulate the tank with too many Siamese. Even though these fish are amazing for their constant tank cleaning action when feasting on algae, it's important to remember that any fish will create body waste which can dirty up your tanks and environment.
FEEDING:
Feeding your fish the correct food is essential for their health and longevity. If you feed them something that doesn't match what they're used to, it may disrupt their digestive system or interfere with their growth process. For example, a Siamese algae eater eats everything in sight - dead insects, plant matter like seaweed (if available), even other fish!
Like most species of aquarium owners know already, feeding each one correctly keeps them happy and healthy as long as possible. Fish are usually picky about who's giving out the grub but Siamese algae eaters can take pretty much anything thrown at 'em because they're omnivores: They'll scavenge any dead insect bits laying around on land or water just waiting.
TANK SIZE:
Generally, plan to go with a minimum tank size of 25-30 gallons. This will allow them to be active and explore while also having places to hide.
Keep the water pH at 6.5-7 which replicates the slightly acidic conditions these fish encounter in their normal dwelling place in wild streams and rivers that have lower current action when you're keeping Siamese tropical freshwater fish like this one for your aquarium or pond setting set for best results between (25 °C – 26 ° C).
The ideal hardness is 5-20 dH so as not to damage its delicate fins too much against rocks or other hard surfaces it might bump into during an exploratory swim around exploring new waters.
TANKMATES:
When you want to find a fish that can work well with your Siamese algae eater:
Take the time to research what other bottom-dwellers are compatible.
Be careful when selecting which ones go together as not all of them will get along peacefully.
Avoid Cichlids and red-tailed sharks because they can be more aggressive than others!
BREEDING:
Siamese algae eaters are notoriously difficult to breed in a regular aquarium setting. Unfortunately, fish experts don't know as much about successfully breeding this species when not at an established fish farm. As a result, most owners end up relying on the farms to expand their numbers of Siamese algae eaters.
I believe the Siamese algae eater should be trained in self-defense aswell against the Chinese algae eater when it gets out of line