You can see that the fish, shown in the picture above, have horizontal stripes. Up very close you can see that these stripes have a saw-tooth edge. Also the horizontal stripe extends through the tail fin and when this fish sits on the bottom of the aquarium, it sits on its fins, so it's belly doesn't touch. These are thought by some to be distinguishing characteristics of the so-called True Siamese Algae Eater, Crossocheilus siamensis. There are a couple of other similar looking species that are said to not be as good for aquariums.

Click here to go to another web site and read more about identifying the True Siamese Algae Eater.

Comments
Whatever their scientific name is, Siamese Algae Eaters are good aquarium fish, and they'll eat lots of algae. But the regular Chinese Algae Eater is not a good aquarium fish. Chinese Algae Eaters will often attack other fish. Plecostomus Catfish are also good aquarium fish that eat lots of algae. Click here for information about Plecostomus Catfish. Click here for information about how to reduce the algae in your aquarium. Both the Siamese Algae Eater and Plecostomus Catfish will constantly clean algae off the surfaces of everything in an aquarium. But they are not a substitute for cleaning your aquarium and changing some of the water. Click here for information about cleaning your aquarium and changing some water.

Appropriate Home
An aquarium with an exterior power filter and a bio-wheel, and at most 1/4 inch of gravel. Siamese Algae Eaters usually don't need an aquarium heater, and they seem to well from about 68 to 80 degrees F. We have not had problems with these fish jumping out of the large aquariums in our facilities. But we keep them in groups of at least 100, and that probably makes them feel less like jumping. If you keep a few in a smaller aquarium, you should be sure their aquarium is completely covered. Click here for more information about aquarium covers.

Recommended Diet
These Siamese Algae Eaters are good algae eaters, and they will help remove algae from your aquarium. But if you have a problem with algae or green water, click here for some practical advice about how to get rid of algae. You should supplement the natural algae growing in your aquarium with sinking algae wafers or pellets, such as the Hikari Algae Wafers that are sold in many stores that sell pet fish. But be careful because these wafers may pollute the water, if all of the wafers aren't completely eaten or removed after a few minutes. Click here for more about feeding fish. Siamese Algae Eaters do not seem to be interested in eating Live Black Worms, so we don't feed our Algae Eaters any Lived Black Worms. Click here for more about Live Black Worms.

Compatibility
Keep about one Siamese Algae Eater for each five gallons of water in your aquarium. So, for example, in a twenty-five gallon aquarium keep a group of five Siamese Algae Eaters. When kept together in a group of five or more, they'll quarrel among themselves and won't bother other types of fish. A school of Tiger Barbs, all Danios, all Rainbows, all Gouramis, a school of Bala Sharks, and a school of Clown Loaches. The email sent to us said that Siamese Algae Eaters are not compatible with Red Tail Sharks and Rainbow Sharks. Click here to read more about several other groups of compatible fish.

Size and Life Span
Reported to grow to 6" but rarely bigger than 4" in an aquarium with a life span of several years, probably more than 5 years.