Siamese algae eater is an indispensable assistant to the aquarist, a cleaner and eater of algae in the aquarium. This small nimble fish has become increasingly popular in recent years. No other underwater inhabitant can so thoroughly clean the surface of equipment, glass, stones, ceramic figures and other interior details. The tailed orderly can easily cope even with such aggressive algae as the "black beard", from which neither professional aquarists nor beginners know of salvation.
Appearance of the fish
The Siamese algae eater does not differ in particular brightness or the intricacy of the shape of the fish. Start it most often for practical gain. The body is gray or slightly brownish, a wide black stripe stretches along the body (if you look closely, it becomes noticeable that its edges are slightly wavy). Each flake on the edge has a black edging, so a fishnet pattern is clearly visible on the body of the fish. This adds to its decorativeness and distinguishes it from other aquatic inhabitants.
The size of the Siamese algae eater in captivity differs from its size in wildlife. In the aquarium, fish rarely grow more than 10 cm, and in the wild they can easily reach 16 cm, and this is not the limit. Little helpers live up to 10 years.
Living in nature
The birthplace of this species is Southeast Asia. From there it was brought to us for the first time in the 60s. It is also found in Sumatra, in Thailand and Indonesia. Prefers to settle in fast streams and rivers with a rapid current. The pond must have a hard rocky bottom. Algae-eater is shy, likes to hide among snags, in the roots of underwater plants and mangroves.
For life he chooses small streams and backwaters. The water in them warms up faster, which provokes the development of the main type of feed - algae and other greens, which the Siamese algae eater loves. Keeping and breeding it at home has its own characteristics, but, in principle, is not considered a particularly complicated procedure.
False Algae Eater
Surprisingly, this seemingly unique fish has a double. In nature, they often form common flocks, so they are often confused and brought to us. This double name is Siamese flying fox. They are really very similar in appearance, but you can still distinguish. In a real Siamese algae-eater, the longitudinal strip on the body goes to the very tip of the tail, and in the false - only to the beginning of the tail. The edges of the blackest stripes in the flying fox are even, while in the hero of the article they are wavy and go in zigzags. The mouth of the false cleaner is pink, and two pairs of mustaches go near it. The present has only one pair of mustaches and it is painted black.
Why bother looking for differences if these two fish are so similar in appearance? The fact is that the false Siamese algae eater is almost indifferent to algae in the aquarium. His jaws are arranged a little differently, so that he will not perform the function of a cleaner. In addition, the nature of this fish is more aggressive. A flying fox never gets along with other active fish of the middle layers of water - barbs, neons, scalars, and others. The only inhabitants who can coexist with them are different catfish and superficial zebrafish. They occupy different "floors" in the aquarium and do not interfere with each other.
General conditions of detention
Pure water is the main thing that the Siamese algae eater requires for itself. Its maintenance as a whole does not differ from the care of other inhabitants. The saturation of water with oxygen should be maximum. Therefore, equipment for cleaning and aeration will need good.
The fish is undemanding in terms of water parameters; the recommended temperature is around 24-26 °, as for many other underwater inhabitants. Water hardness should be kept in the range of 10-20 dh, and acidity should be 6-7 pH. Additional lighting for the Siamese algae eater in the aquarium is not necessary, but it is important for the algae that the fish feeds on. Therefore, it is enough to create conditions for the growth and development of greenery, and its “eater” will be pleased.
Aquarium Requirements
This little fish is very active. Algae eaters like to frolic, they are overactive and mobile. But for free swimming, fish need a lot of space. Therefore, the aquarium is preferable to choose a low and long. In it, and algae grow more densely, and the inhabitants feel more comfortable. As already mentioned, purity of water is important for algae eater. Therefore, the filter will have to purchase a good, best external. Some people buy special equipment to create a water current, but this is not necessary.
On the aquarium in which the Siamese algae eater lives, there must be a lid. This fish is very jumping. In the afternoon, she likes to relax on the upper leaves of aquatic plants, periodically jumping up over the water. For this fidget, the presence of shelters is also important - snags, thick stems and dense leaves of plants. It is recommended to plant different types of water moss in the aquarium. Siamese algae eater loves to eat it, along with harmful algae on glasses and equipment.
Aquarium behavior
As already mentioned, this fish is characterized by increased activity. From the outside it seems that the guest from Siam is constantly on the move, but this is not entirely true. Its air bubble is poorly developed, so the fish have to rest every minute. That's why driftwood, large stones, ceramic decorations in the aquarium are useful. Especially to the liking of a small fish lay on the surface of the water on wide leaves. It is recommended to keep at least one large bush of aquatic plants with dense wide leaves covering the surface of the water.
Aquarists and especially their children watch with enthusiasm how the Siamese algae eater feasts. Photos and videos of this fish, busy eating algae, turned into a kind of meme on the Internet. Moreover, this amazing individual copes even with the most launched green mud, which cannot be eliminated in other ways. The tireless worker as if sticks his mouth to the surface and begins to "vacuum" it until it is cleaned of algae.
Sometimes he can grab a plaque from the leaves or snags directly to the meeting, hanging slightly, but not sucking on his mouth. The sight is fascinating and funny, only Siamese algae eater is capable of this.
Compatibility
The hero of the article is a peaceful fish, you can keep it both individually and in a small flock. Algae eater coexists perfectly in the same aquarium with its neighbors and does not harm them. But there is an important caveat: it is not recommended to keep it with veil fish. Developing fins may resemble algae-eater aquatic plants, and they will want to taste them. For example, slow veil-tails will not be able to protect their chic tail from this nimble lover to try everything on the tooth that sways and trembles. And although algae eater is not aggressive in essence, problems can arise in the maintenance of these species together.
Swift "Siamese" sometimes cause problems for shy fish. For example, dwarf cichlids can be stressed due to their active movements. However, experienced aquarists noticed one fact: in the presence of algae eater, cichlids readily spawn. Stress in this case encourages them to procreate. Some even use this technique to stimulate certain types of fish to spawn: they put the restless neighbors in the mother liquor for a while, and after the process of throwing eggs and fertilization they plant them.
Feeding
It is believed that the Siamese algae eater eats only algae, but this is not true. Many experienced aquarists do not even intentionally feed these fish, and then wonder why they begin to get sick and die. Of course, algae enter the diet, even occupy a large part of it, but still additional food is also required. In wildlife, algae eater feeds not only on underwater greenery. Usually, calves from algae are enough for fry and juveniles, and older individuals prefer live food.
In the conditions of the aquarium, the Siamese will willingly eat spinach, zucchini and cucumbers scalded previously with boiling water. Dried live food - hamarus, daphnia, is also suitable. Even ordinary fish "chips" and flakes will not leave this fish indifferent.
Many inexperienced aquarists believe that if you feed an algae eater, it will not fulfill its main responsibilities - to eat algae. In reality, the opposite is true! A weakened hungry fish with a metabolic disorder will cease to eat at all, and then very soon die. Do not be afraid to overfeed this fish. The Siamese algae eater will not eat excess, and it will become even better to clean the aquarium on a full stomach.
Gender differences
The sex of these fish is extremely difficult to distinguish. In fry and young individuals, this task is generally impossible. In adult representatives, the female is larger, with a rounded belly. Also, if you watch the fish, then the females are less active, they often lie on snags or leaves. If algae eaters are aggressive, they are females. They are more nervous, they can drive away alien fish from their corner with a treat. Males do not even defend their territory, like other types of fish.
Breeding in nature
Siamese algae eater is a migratory fish. During the spawning period, which usually coincides with the dry season, representatives of the species leave in packs upstream. The water level drops sharply, the current is weakening, which only benefits the underwater inhabitants. Shoals of fish overcome considerable distances, reaching the place of spawning. For throwing eggs, backwaters are chosen where the water level is higher. After the marriage ritual, they come back.
Rising water levels contribute to the survival of fry. Throwing a game in shallow water is unsafe. A sharp change in water parameters also plays a role in their reproduction. It is these conditions that are required to continue the genus of Siamese algae eaters.
Hormone dilution
It is believed that in captivity algae eaters do not breed. In fact, it is possible to achieve offspring, but this is a laborious process. For this, special hormone therapy is performed. It is problematic to get drugs on free sale, special access is needed. You can try to get them through a friend's veterinarian who works at a fish farm or a fry farm.
However, hormones alone can not do. It is necessary to significantly change the parameters of water - to make it softer with neutral acidity. But even with all these conditions, it is not a fact that the fish will spawn. In addition, such abrupt changes in parameters can adversely affect the other inhabitants of the aquarium. Therefore, the answer is obvious to aquarists - breeding Siamese algae-eaters in captivity is meaningless. They are not very expensive. It is easier to acquire new individuals as needed.