Beard algae (hey StirCrazy)

[StirCrazy]

Originally posted by Bob Ipema:
Yes Tony there is a fish that will eat that algae. It is the SIAMESE Flying Fox (Epalzeorhynchos siamensis) It has to be siamensis NOT kallopterus, which is much more common. They are hard to tell apart. I know Pisces has had them in the past.
Bob :D

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Just what I was going to recomend myself Bob [img]smile.gif[/img]
only they are not that hard to tell apart if you know what you are looking for. they are sold in stors as a "siamese flying fox" "flying fox" "SAE" (siamese algae eater) ... I think that nails down the most commen ones. as delphinus mentioned the mean one was most likely a chinease algae eater (comenly mistaked for SAE.) the easyest way to tell them apart is by the black stripe. the SAE (the one you want) has the stripe extending right to the end of the tail fin. also there is a normal mouth with barbles NOT a suction cup. here is a pic of one whare you can kinda see what I am talking about with the stripe

they are a very good algae eater and are very delicate on the plants [img]smile.gif[/img]
as for sailfin pleco's they do not harm plants, but as they get bigger they like to pull them out on ya.. I swear mine dose it cuz it knows it bugs me :D

as for OTO's I personaly don't like them, they only eat film algae and not much for there size.. they also have the problem of being finiky to water conditions.

if you already have 2 bristle noses I woulden't get a sailfin, Real SAE are what you need now.. be aware that a little 1" SAE will be a 4" SAE by the end of a year. they like to lay around and they look lazy but they probaly eat more than a pleco with out the sausage poop :D :D

Steve