New fish :) !!

Dec 14, 2009
421
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England
#1
hello all,

today i decided it was best to trade in my female dwarf gourami as she was getting nipped by some of her tank mates :( but alls well as i traded her for a beautiful but EXTREMELY shy Cosby gourami :) hes so cool !! and while i was there i saw these gold sucking loaches and just had to get one as part of my cleaning crew :) he can be a little annoying and chase the other fish as they have a habit of getting a hold of the sides of their tank members and cleaning them of there mucus coat.. but the fish are big enough to swim away... i also got some beautiful live plants to go with my collection but i cant remember their name.( theres a pic in the photo forum.. its called something like.. my 25g tank lol

thankyou :)
 

JRB__

Large Fish
Oct 24, 2009
285
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Australia
#8
Congrats on your new Gourami.
If the other fish you got is a gold chinese algae eater, which I'm 95% sure it is, then get rid of it ASAP. Especially if it is already aggressive and attacking other fish. Trust me, this fish will only get more aggressive. Plus as misterking said it'll grow to 11inches, so the fish that currently aren't too bothered by it, will be eventually. Also you said you got him to be a part of the clean up crew? well as this fish grows, he'll stop eating algae and just be an aggressive bottom feeder.
Go for oto's or a small pleco.
 

Feb 27, 2009
4,395
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#10
The Chinese Algae Eater (Gyrinocheilus aymoniery) comes in two forms: regular and golden. You have purchased the fish others are warning about.

Algae eater / sucking loach - Gyrinocheilus aymonieri, with pictures / photos

Still an algae eater when small, grows large and aggressive as it gets older and doesn't eat algae if anything else is available (aka, other fish) as it gets older. Known to prefer the slime coats of slower fish. The site above warns not to keep them with Gouramies.
 

Last edited:
Feb 27, 2009
4,395
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36
#11
he can be a little annoying and chase the other fish as they have a habit of getting a hold of the sides of their tank members and cleaning them of there mucus coat..
No fish needs its mucus coat 'cleaned.' If he does get ahold of the sides of his tankmates, he will cause damage. The slime coat is akin to our skin. Removing a chunk of it invites infection.

but the fish are big enough to swim away...
For now, the other fish may be able to get away. But this fish will patrol after lights are out and the other fish are resting. The constant stress of always having swim away to avoid being attacked may mean short lives for the others, especially as the gold sucker fish grows in size.
 

beckyd

Large Fish
Mar 16, 2009
381
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0
#12
I just have to say thanks to all of you that make this forum SO unbelievably informative! I read this to see what Jamie's new fish were, which is fun to see. And was educated again and again by the users who responded. You all take the time to research or share your knowledge to keep other's fish safe and healthy. Its just really a neat group dynamic to witness and be a part of.

Bass, I look forward to pics of the new platies.

What kind of fish is that on JRB's avatar?
 

tonymac

Small Fish
Nov 18, 2009
22
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#14
I second what orangecones has to say. Years ago I had a Chinese Algae eater that kept sucking on the sides of my Angelfish. The Angelfish developed Velvet and died because its mucous coat was gone. I had to get rid of it because it wouldn't leave the other fish alone. For some reason as they get older they stop eating algae and start going after the slime coat of other large, slower moving fish
Interestingly, a close relative of Gyrinocheilus, the genus Garra is the fish used in Turkish baths to treat Psoriasis. Its also the fish seen in National Geographic videos "cleaning" Hippos underwater. Something about this family of fishes makes suck on other organisms. While this may be good for Hippos and victims of Psoriasis, it is deadly for fish.