Golden Chinese Algae Eater is getting spots?

[Corey Andersen]

I have a Golden Chinese Algae Eater that is about 5" now and has been very healthy and active since I got him. In the last week or so though he has gone from completely gold to getting this brown/black discoloration on his scales. It doesn't seem to me like it is a growth on the scales but more like a change in color. Is this natural or is this cause by a lack of or too much of something? Here is the one picture I took but if someone wants a better or different picture I can take another.

 

[FishDad]

How long have you had him?
What size tank do you have?
What are his tank mates?
What are your readings for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate?

Welcome to MFT.

 

[Corey Andersen]

I have had him about 5 months in a 40 gal tank. I also have 2 Balas 5 Danios 1 Senegal Bichir and a total of 5 assorted small cats. This is just a growth tank until I need to get a larger one. It is heavily planted lots of hides and driftwood. My ph is about 7.2 ammonia nitrate and nitrite are all o ppm or unnoticeable levels above.

 

[Marine swimmer]

That's the same thing I had when I had a Chinese algae eater his scales would go brown mine died sadly I will have to tell you it may be something is wrong. R u feeding properly have you seen it eat recently?
Different in behaviour maybe more erratic or lazy than usual, my catfish was quite erratic I think you might have it looked at. Just my opinion. I had trouble with taking a photo of my catfish I finally got one but isn't as clear as yours. It's the other bottom sucking fish forum I made. It's still under investigation.

 

[FishDad]

Has his behavior changed with the color change?

 

[Corey Andersen]

Not that I have noticed he has always been one of the more dominant and larger fish in the tank. Lately he has been a bit less aggressive but that is about it.

 

[FishDad]

Hmm, when was that last time you tested your water or did a water change?

 

[Corey Andersen]

I do a twenty to twenty five percent change weekly

 

[FishDad]

Thats good. And the last time you checked water params?

 

[Corey Andersen]

I did a check yesterday when you asked. It stays pretty constant with those numbers.e

 

[FishDad]

Ok well, you know its not a water quality issue. If all your other fish are normal I would be inclined to say it is a genetic issue with this species. Maybe a bad line or something like that. Does it still eat? What do you feed it?

 

[Marine swimmer]

Well I hope the fish survives do you know anyone specializing with fish illnesses. Because I don't want you to face the same reality I did and the fish died it would hurt a lot.

 

[Corey Andersen]

He still sucks on the glass, rocks, and wood plus I supplement with algae wafers which the balas eat on too. Yes, all the other fish seem to be healthy my pictus cats I think would be the first to catch an illness I believe and they seem as happy as ever. Thanks for getting back too me if anything changes I will make sure to post.

 

[OrangeCones]

In the last week or so though he has gone from completely gold to getting this brown/black discoloration on his scales. It doesn't seem to me like it is a growth on the scales but more like a change in color. Is this natural or is this cause by a lack of or too much of something?

View attachment 11557

Here is the one picture I took but if someone wants a better or different picture I can take another.

Corey Andersen - If you compare your picture to the photo at the top here at this link:

Chinese Algae Eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri)

shows that the 'discoloration' you notice is just the natural color pattern that is seen on this fish. The 'gold' morph is a line-bred variety that has a lot of albinoism so it surpresses the natural color patterns. This is not 100% on all individuals, and I've seen the 'natural' colors and patterns show more often in older fish. The photo you provided does not show any indication of disease or malnutrition. He (she?) looks very healthy.

 

[FishDad]

OC is always on top of it. Well done.

 

[OrangeCones]

My dentist in Florida had one that was almost 9" long..mean bugger too! He loved that fish and moved the angels that were in the 75gallon tank OUT and replaced them with MEANER cichlids that could hold their own with the algae eater.

 

[FishDad]

I've heard alot of horror stories about those things killing fish. I have stayed away from them based on some accounts I read of them killing cichlids. May or may not be true but I just have a bad taste in my mouth for those things. Seems to me those are in the catagory of fish that the chains should not be selling... along with pacus.

 

[Corey Andersen]

As long as they are fed well and your tank isn't over populated they should be alright. They can get aggressive towards smaller fish and can also get territorial in a tank that isn't large enough or doesn't have enough hides. One of the issues is that when they get larger they become more omnivorous so if you don't feed they correctly they will look elsewhere for food.

 

[FishDad]

Maybe. I have zero experience with them so I am no expert but the internet is chock full of regrets of purchasing those things.