Quick Stats
Minimum Tank Size: 55 Gallons (208 liters)
Care Level: Hard
Water Conditions: 6.0-8.0 pH (Soft to Hard)
Temperature: 71-80°F (22-27°C)
Maximum Size: 11 inches (28 centimeters)
The Chinese algae eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri), also known as the Indian algae eater, or the sucking loach, is a fish with a somewhat misleading name. While they do consume algae when they are young, they tend to eat less algae as they mature – as well as becoming large and territorial – making them a poor choice for most community fish tanks.
Not only do they do poorly in their role as an algae eater, but they also aren’t found in either China or India, making one question where their name originated from. These fish are actually native to South East Asia and are found in the river basins of Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Vietnam.
In the wild, they inhabit clear fast-flowing mountain streams, and their sucker-like mouth allows them to grip onto rocks and other surfaces to stay stationary in the water. They primarily dwell near the bottom of the streams, where they consume algae and other detritus.
Chinese algae eaters are one of the few fish that can breathe without using their mouths, and they have unique gills with two slits. Water is able to enter through one gill, and exit the other – all without them having to release their grip on a surface with their sucker mouth.
These fish can grow fairly large in the home aquarium, and it’s not unusual for them to reach sizes up to 11 inches (28 centimeters) in length. If they are well cared for, they can live up to 15 years in a home aquarium, though 5 to 10 years seems more common.
Housing
These fish can become very territorial and aggressive as they age, and it can be difficult to find appropriate tank mates for them. Bottom-dwelling fish should be avoided, as well as any wide, flat bodied fish like goldfish. If they are kept with slow-moving fish, they will sometimes latch onto the fish’s side and feed on their slime coat, which often leads to infection. Top dwelling fish make the best tank mates for Chinese algae eaters, and larger characins or minnows tend to work best.
While it is usually recommended to keep these fish in a species only tank, their size makes that possible in only the very largest aquariums. Even individuals should be kept in at least a 55 gallon (208 liters) aquarium, and a group would easily need in excess of 100 gallons (380 liters).
Chinese algae eater’s natural habitat tends to be mostly composed of rocky or sandy substrate, with sunken trees and driftwood. This should be reproduced as closely as possible in the home aquarium, and it can be accomplished through a river rock bottom, and the addition of bogwood or driftwood.
It’s important to allow algae to grow on aquarium surfaces, so the addition of plants may be counterproductive as they compete with algae. However, most plants tend to be safe with these fish – even the more delicate leaved ones. But with or without plants, bright lighting is a must with Chinese algae eaters, as it encourages algae growth and allows them to graze.
Being a river species, they need to have their water kept in pristine condition. These fish tend to be more sensitive to poor water quality than most other commercially available fish, and they also need richly oxygenated water.
They also appreciate a fair amount of current in their tank, and this can be accomplished through the addition of a hang-on-back filter. A filter that I highly recommend is the Aquaclear Power Filter, which I currently use on most of my tanks. This filter is durable and long lasting, and has the added benefit of oxygenating the water with its current.
Feeding
In the wild, their diet is a mixture of algae, worms, larvae, crustaceans and insects. Because of this, their diet should never consist solely of algae in the aquarium. They should be offered a balanced diet that is supplemented with heavy algae growth.
Their primary diet should be composed of a high quality sinking food, and I personally recommend Hikari Tropical Algae Wafers, which are specifically made for bottom feeding herbivores. They should also be offered blanched vegetables such as zucchini, cucumber, spinach, romaine lettuce and shelled peas.
These fish will appreciate the addition of live or frozen foods as well, and they can be fed bloodworms, blackworms, daphnia and brine shrimp.
Chinese algae eaters tend to only take their food from the bottom or midsection of their tank, so it’s important to offer them sinking foods. This is especially true in a community tank, where they may not get any food if it doesn’t sink to the bottom.
Breeding
The females tend to be plumper than the males, but it is nearly impossible to sex juvenile fish. However, when the male is preparing to spawn, he will develop distinctive tubercles on his snout.
At this time, there are no reliable reports of Chinese algae eaters spawning in the home aquarium, although there are some people who claim to have bred them in very large setups. They are currently bred commercially on fish farms through the use hormones.
Golden Chinese Algae Eater
There is a golden variant of this fish, and while many are natural, there have been reports that some have been dyed. Needless to say, this is incredibly cruel to fish, and these fish should be avoided by any responsible aquarist. However, at this time it is difficult to obtain information on whether this is wide-spread or not.
Thank you this information, I bought two of these fish because I asked the pet store person about needing an algae eater. The person said get these two algae eaters and they will keep your tank clean. I didn’t know what I was buying, no information on the fish. One of my Chinese algae did die, about three week after I got them, about a year and half ago.They were small when I purchase them, a little less than 2 inches. The one I still have now is about almost 4 inches, if not 4 inches. I have him in a 55 gallon tank now with 4 small Danos, two shark like fish, (cat fish breed about 4 inches), one Angel fish, and two tetras (red eye tetras). I am going to move the Angel fish to another tank, but now I’m thinking of moving him. I’m in process of buying a 100 gallon tank, so I will move him there, with the proper tanks mates!!!
It sounds like you’re going to give the fish a great home. They’re actually interesting fish to keep – just don’t expect the adults to be friendly or to eat algae. 🙂
I have Two Chinese algae eaters… in a 55 Gallon tank with Guppies, Shrimp, Cory Catfish and a lot of aquatic plants. Recently one of my Algae eaters started digging a cave under some lava rocks. After some research I discovered.. I have about five human made caves for my fish…. However, it sat there for about 2 days not moving.. almost to the point I thought it had died. I come in after the weekend and it is no longer in the cave and I see small clear orbs… They look like eggs… However, I have read that they do not bread in captivity… Could they be eggs or something else? What do their eggs look like I have not found any pictures of them online.
It definitely sounds like eggs in the cave. And ‘not breeding in captivity’ is really quite broad and can mean several different things. Sometimes it means the fish don’t even spawn, while other times they may spawn, but it’s virtually impossible to hatch the eggs or raise the fry.
But I’d be very interested to hear if the eggs hatch. Please keep me updated.
I too have eggs
I bought a golden algae eater from the store, placed him in my tank with 4 tetras . The first day he moved around a lot, today he is not feeding. Could he need a food wafer? thank you.
Try feeding him a sinking wafer closer to when you turn the lights off. Also, are there any other symptoms? Like bloating? Little white specs on it?
Hi I bought a Chinese algae eater for the tank of my son now 2 months on he(the fish) looks like a rugby ball the tail doesn`t reach the gravel nor does his head other than that he looks fine and doesn`t show any discomfort at all if needed we can send a picture to you if you email your number to pieterherbst17@gmail.com
My question is:is it a problem if he looks like that or can it be a problem to worry about he is currently around 2 inch long?
It sounds like it might have bloat. Can you e-mail some pics to info@aquariumtidings.com ?
I have had the same issue repeatedly.
I recently got 2 baby Chinese algae eaters. They started off fine but are now chasing all the other fish and one is sucking on a goldfish much bigger than it until it gets shaken off. I know it’s really best to separate them but My question is it there anything I can do to keep both with less aggression, even for a little while. Eg better food, temp, hiding spots etc
The best thing to do is to create breaks in the line-of-sight in your aquarium. Add some plants and ornaments to create separate areas in the aquarium. When a Chinese algae eater can’t see the other fish, it will often busy itself doing something else. It also allows for places for the other fish to hide and this method is often used to deal with overly aggressive fish.
After my bristlenose plecostomus died the algae in my 20 gallon community tank began to spread. I have made a couple attempts to add Chinese Algae Eaters. Each time they start out lively, then their abdomens get distended (over eating), they become lethargic and eventually die. I am going to try to try another bristlenose plecostomus an give up on Chinese Algae Eaters.
I am concerned about my Golden Chinese Algae Eater as it has developed a kink in its tail (fold line on left side and bulge on right side). I fear it may have been hurt as it often spurts across its 55 GAL tank whenever I approach. It otherwise seems healthy as there are no other visible signs of disease or disfunction. The fish is 4.5″ long the tank is over a year, water kept at 78F, healthy plant growth, regular chemistry cycles, water changes every five days shares community with several Koi Angles, a Clown Loach, and a few Gold Snails. All other fish are normal in behavior and appearance. This physical anomaly appeared a week ago. The fish seems to be breathing OK and there is no visible signs of internal injury.
I bought a golden Chinese algae eater a month ago. I recently noticed some black strips on it. Tank mate are 3 cloud minnow, 3 black phantom tetra. I also notice he seems to be drunk and his body tilting but not a rolling. Nitrate 10,nitrite 0, ammonia 0, ph 7.8. Temp 78-80 ⁰f. Anyone have an idea what might be going on with him?