Description
Chinese Algae Eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri)
Overview
Gyrinocheilus aymonieri, commonly known as the Chinese Algae Eater, Sucking Loach, or Golden Algae Eater (in its yellow variant), is a freshwater fish from the Gyrinocheilidae family, native to Southeast Asia, including the Mekong, Chao Phraya, and Xe Bang Fai river basins in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Despite its name, it is rarely found in China. Valued for its algae-eating abilities as a juvenile, this fish has a slender, elongated body with a sucker-like mouth, growing to 7–11 inches (18–28 cm) in aquariums, though smaller than in the wild. Its temperament shifts with age, making it a challenging addition to community tanks. Suitable for intermediate to experienced aquarists, it requires careful planning due to its size and behaviour.
Care Requirements
Tank Size
- Minimum: 30 gallons (113 liters) for juveniles; 50–75 gallons (189–284 liters) or larger recommended for adults to accommodate their size, activity, and territorial nature.
- Long, shallow tanks maximize bottom space for foraging.
Water Parameters
- Temperature: 72°F–82°F (22°C–28°C), ideally 75°F–79°F (24°C–26°C).
- pH: 6.0–8.0, slightly acidic to neutral preferred.
- Hardness: Soft to moderately hard (4–18 dH).
- Ammonia/Nitrite: 0 ppm;
- Nitrate: Keep below 30 mg/L, as they are sensitive to high nitrates.
- Use a water conditioner to remove chlorine/chloramine.
Tank Setup
- Substrate: Smooth, fine sand or small, rounded gravel to protect their soft undersides; avoid sharp substrates that may cause injury.
- Plants: Hardy species like Java fern, Anubias, or Cryptocoryne attached to decor, as they may damage soft leaved plants. Plants encourage algae/biofilm growth.
- Decor: Driftwood, smooth rocks, and caves provide hiding spots and grazing surfaces. Ensure ample open space for swimming.
- Filtration: Moderate to strong flow filter (4–5 times tank volume per hour) to mimic fast-moving rivers and ensure oxygenation. Canister or hang-on-back filters work well.
- Lighting: Moderate to strong to promote algae growth, their primary juvenile food source. Dimmable LEDs help balance algae and aesthetics.
- Lid: Tight-fitting lid required, as they are capable jumpers.
Maintenance
- Water Changes: 25%–30% weekly or 40%–50% biweekly to maintain low nitrate levels and high water quality.
- Testing: Monitor ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and temperature weekly with a test kit.
- Cleaning: Vacuum substrate during water changes to remove waste; rinse filter media in tank water monthly to preserve bacteria. Clean algae from glass selectively to leave some for grazing.
- Feeding Control: Remove uneaten food within 5 minutes to prevent water fouling.
- Plant/Decor Care: Clean decor in tank water to maintain grazing surfaces; trim plants to prevent overgrowth.
Diet
- Natural Diet: Primarily herbivorous as juveniles, grazing on algae, biofilm, and periphyton; adults become omnivorous, favoring meatier foods.
- Aquarium Diet:
- Staple Foods: Algae wafers, spirulina flakes, or sinking pellets for juveniles.
- Vegetable Matter: Blanched zucchini, cucumber, spinach, or shelled peas to supplement algae.
- Protein (Adults): Live/frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, Daphnia, or shrimp pellets (1–2 times weekly).
- Feeding Frequency: 1–2 times daily, ensuring food reaches the bottom. Juveniles graze continuously; adults need varied diets.
- Variety: Rotate foods to meet changing nutritional needs and prevent aggression from dietary deficiencies.
Behaviour and Compatibility
Behaviour
- Activity: Bottom-dwellers that use their sucker mouths to attach to surfaces, grazing or resting. Juveniles are shy, hiding often; adults are bold, territorial, and fast swimmers.
- Temperament: Peaceful as juveniles but increasingly aggressive with age, especially in small tanks. May latch onto flat-bodied fish, damaging their slime coat, or harass similar-looking species.
- Social: Prefer solitary living or large groups (5+ in 100+ gallon tanks) to diffuse aggression. Small groups (2–3) lead to bullying, with dominant individuals harassing others.
Compatibility
- Ideal Tankmates: Active, robust, fast-swimming fish like barbs (e.g., Tiger Barb), danios, or rainbowfish that occupy mid-to-upper water columns. Avoid bottom-dwellers like Corydoras or small cichlids.
- Avoid: Slow-moving fish (e.g., angelfish, discus, gouramis), long-finned fish, or similar-looking species (e.g., Siamese Algae Eater, Garra, Crossocheilus) due to aggression. Avoid small fish as adults may eat them.
- Introduction: Add Chinese Algae Eaters last to established tanks to reduce territorial disputes.
- Sexual Dimorphism: Difficult to sex; males may have more pronounced tubercles (small bumps) around the mouth during spawning, while females appear plumper when egg-laden.
Breeding Behaviour
Breeding Behaviour: Egg-layers, but breeding in home aquariums is extremely rare and poorly documented. Most specimens are wild-caught or commercially bred using hormonal injections.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Either come in store to view available stock or request pictures to be sent to you.
Please Note: Due to variations within species resulting from age, region, sex, etc., the actual livestock may not look identical to the image. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimens.
