Above: In the picture above is a premium quality Siamese Algae Eater, swimming in one of our tanks when one of our crew members took this picture.

Comments: This is a Premium Pet Fish, and we never see Premium Fish like this in any of the live fish stores or the online stores that we visit.

Premium Pet Fish are more energetic, hardier, and have brighter colors with a beautiful metallic sheen.

Click here to learn more about Premium Pet Fish.

Origin: The ancestors of this fish were found throughout the Mekong and Chao Phraya River drainages, which includes parts of Viet Nam, Thailand, and Cambodia in Southeast Asia.

But now this fish species is found living in aquariums throughout the world.

Maximum Size: This Algae Eater can grow to be over 5" long, including their tails. Sometimes very old fish can grow to be even longer.

Behaviors: They'll usually move around pretty actively during the day, eating algae off of plants, rocks, driftwood, and ornaments.

If there is food to be eaten, they become very active looking for it.

Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include any community fish, including Danios, Barbs, Gouramis, Rainbowfish, Loaches, and many others.

Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.

Temperature: They live well from about 75 to 82 degrees F., but they're probably most comfortable at about 78 degrees F.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Flakes enriched with Spirulina algae, plus real fruits and vegetables.

But not high protein flakes and pellets.

Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.

Water Conditions: This fish seems to be tolerant of a wide range of water conditions. Probably a pH of about 6.5 with moderate hardness is best.

Most water in the US has a higher pH and is harder but seems to be OK, so it's probably best NOT to adjust the pH or the hardness of the water.

Here in our facilities the water is hard and the pH is usually about 7.8. We ship them in this water.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: It is probably best to house these fish in at least a 30-gallon tank, when they're less than 3" long, but a bigger aquarium is always better.

When full grown they'll need at least a 50-gallon aquarium.

Decor: These Algae Eaters do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

Click here for more about aquarium gravel. Pieces of aquarium-safe driftwood are also nice.

Live Plants are beautiful and improve the water quality, plus these fish love to carefully eat algae off of live plants.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.

A Penguin 200B in an aquarium with 30-gallons of water is OK to start with a few of these Algae Eaters that are less than 3" long.

At 3" long they should be moved into at least a 50-gallon aquarium with at least one Penguin 350B Filter. As always a bigger aquarium is better.

Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.

The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range. Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: These Algae Eaters can live for several years, probably many years provided they are fed premium food and kept in a very large aquarium with very fresh water.

Gender: As they mature, females become plumper than males.

Breeding: There are a few reports of this fish breeding in aquariums with lots of plants.

Popularity: This is a wonderful aquarium fish that is constantly gaining in popularity.

Names: The scientific name is Crossocheilus atrilimes, or it may be C. langei, C. siamensis or even Garra cambodgiensis.

There's been lots of confusion and mistakes in the scientific name of this species, but the species that we sell here is the one that most aquarist prefer to have in their aquariums.

Variations: Apparently this fish species lives across a wide range in Southeast Asia and their pattern of markings vary geographically, or perhaps there are several species or subspecies.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.