While researching my next fish purchase, I came accross a fish that seems like it might suit my needs for getting rid of algae. This fish is the Flying Fox. I can't find much info on them online so I was wondering if any of you have had any experience with them. The fish would go into a 10 gallon tank with some peaceful companions. I know they get kinda long, but I'm planning on getting a smaller one and getting a 55 gallon probably in May or June. Any comments on keeping a Flying Fox would be appreciated.
Flying Fox Info
- Thread starter AquariumBoiler
- Start date
We have two of them (27 gal. tank); when we first got them they were about 1.5 inches, now they're 3...(within about 6 months) - so they DO grow quickly and we were told they would get even larger. They're fun fish to watch and very beautiful, and they do nibble away the algae on plant leaves, rock surfaces etc. Whether they are an effective algae 'control' i'm not sure.
make sure it's actually a flying fox there are several different types that look so alike unless u look closely there's an article at http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/ it has info on the flying fox's and other ones that look alike now not sure about algae control might do on some algaes but if it gets fish food regularly it might not even touch the algae i got a false sae which was labeled flying fox a while ago it's still in my tank and it occoasionally grazes on the algae, i saw some flying fox's (realones) in my lfs today and was thinkin about getin another one
i have one flying fox in my 46 gal bow
I haven't seen it really eat the algae on the glass, BUT i've noticed that the algae on my plastic plants and ornaments are gone. One thing for sure, they are not as aggressive as the CAEs. I lost 3 serpae tetras when the CAE was in the tank. All three tetras had a circular scar on their side.
they (the foxes) are worth it
I haven't seen it really eat the algae on the glass, BUT i've noticed that the algae on my plastic plants and ornaments are gone. One thing for sure, they are not as aggressive as the CAEs. I lost 3 serpae tetras when the CAE was in the tank. All three tetras had a circular scar on their side.
they (the foxes) are worth it
I strongly favour the true Siamese Algae eaters having temporarily tried flying fox and false siamese algae eaters.
My true SAEs were very hard to find and correctly identify because there are several similar fish in the group, but the real things are very beautiful.
They are slender fish and have dazzling silvery undersides, completely clear colourless fins and a zig zag edges black stripe down their sides to the fork of their tail. Their bodies are almost translucent. The taupe scales of their back have black edges so they look like a fine black mesh is stretched over them...and they have a single pair of forward pointing black barbels.
They're loevly, and very active. My otos hide, and don't even eat much of the brown diatoms, the clown plec makesso much poo he's no help...but the SAEs are contantly flitting about nibbling.
They were tiny when I first got them, and still less than an inch long, but they ate all the staghorn algae on the edges of my anubias in a day, and are clearing up a massive black hair algae problem.
I love them to bits and can't recommend them highly enough
You MUST get the right ones though. Every shop in my area was selling either flying foxes or false SAEs as true SAEs so I bet there are a lot of people out there thinking they're not much good because they've in fact got the wrong fish.
My true SAEs were very hard to find and correctly identify because there are several similar fish in the group, but the real things are very beautiful.
They are slender fish and have dazzling silvery undersides, completely clear colourless fins and a zig zag edges black stripe down their sides to the fork of their tail. Their bodies are almost translucent. The taupe scales of their back have black edges so they look like a fine black mesh is stretched over them...and they have a single pair of forward pointing black barbels.
They're loevly, and very active. My otos hide, and don't even eat much of the brown diatoms, the clown plec makesso much poo he's no help...but the SAEs are contantly flitting about nibbling.
They were tiny when I first got them, and still less than an inch long, but they ate all the staghorn algae on the edges of my anubias in a day, and are clearing up a massive black hair algae problem.
I love them to bits and can't recommend them highly enough
You MUST get the right ones though. Every shop in my area was selling either flying foxes or false SAEs as true SAEs so I bet there are a lot of people out there thinking they're not much good because they've in fact got the wrong fish.