Chinese algae eater care
Gyrinocheilus aymonieri · Chao Phraya, Mekong and Mae Klong basins and the northern Malay Peninsula
Chinese algae eaters graze algae hard when young, but grow to about 11 inches and turn territorial as adults, and some latch onto flat-sided, slow fish to rasp at their slime coat.
- Tank size
- 75 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 72 to 82 °F (22 to 28 °C)
- Group size
- Alone or in a pair
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Adult size
- 11 in (standard length, without the tail)
- pH
- 6 to 8
- Hardness (GH)
- 5 to 19 dGH
- Lifespan
- 10 to 15 years
- Diet
- Herbivore when young, omnivore as adults
- Care level
- Easy
In a 75 gallon
48½ × 18½ × 21⅛ in outsideHow to keep Chinese algae eaters
Chinese algae eaters graze algae hard when young, but grow to about 11 inches and turn territorial as adults, and some latch onto flat-sided, slow fish to rasp at their slime coat. One suits a 75 gallon or larger tank at 72 to 82 °F with fast, sturdy tankmates.
Diet: Herbivore when young, omnivore as adults: algae wafers, vegetables, sinking pellets. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Bottom of the tank.
Chinese algae eater tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
Kissing gourami
12 in · 75+ gal · 72–82 °F
Uaru
9.8 in · 75+ gal · 79–86 °F
Blood parrot cichlid
8 in · 55+ gal · 76–80 °F
Severum
8 in · 55+ gal · 75–84 °F
Giant danio
6 in · 55+ gal · 72–79 °F
Rosy barb
6 in · 29+ gal · 64–77 °F
Denison barb
6 in · 55+ gal · 64–77 °F
Three-spot (blue) gourami
6 in · 29+ gal · 72–82 °F
Keep apart
- Golden pencilfish: Chinese algae eaters nip slow fish such as golden pencilfish.
Guppy: Chinese algae eaters nip slow fish such as guppies.
Betta: Chinese algae eaters nip slow fish such as bettas.
Angelfish: Chinese algae eaters nip slow fish such as angelfish.
Discus: Chinese algae eaters nip slow fish such as discus.
Pygmy corydoras: Chinese algae eaters nip slow fish such as pygmy corydoras.
What a Chinese algae eater tank needs
A tank of 75 US gallons or more (such as the 75 gallon) with a tight lid (they jump), and the equipment below.
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Aqueon QuietFlow Canister Filter 300
Rated by the maker for 55–75 US gal, which covers a 75 gallon Chinese algae eater tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Marineland Penguin PRO 375
Rated by the maker for up to 75 US gal, which covers a 75 gallon Chinese algae eater tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Aqueon Pro 200
Chinese algae eaters need 72 to 82 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding Chinese algae eaters.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 72 to 82 °F.
More choices, each with the reason it is in or out: Filters for a 75 gallon tank · Heaters for a 75 gallon tank. We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common Chinese algae eater problems
- Adults may attach to slow fish such as angelfish, discus or goldfish and damage their skin.
- They eat less algae as they age; feed algae wafers and vegetables.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name, origin and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Gyrinocheilus aymonieri. Temperature, pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- Chinese algae eater Pseudogastromyzon, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Kissing gourami 5snake5, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Uaru Brent Tibbats, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Blood parrot cichlid Citron, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Severum Trisha M Shears, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Giant danio Faucon, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Rosy barb Kkonstan, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Denison barb Anandarajkumar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Three-spot (blue) gourami Peter Jung, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Guppy Marrabbio2, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Betta ivabalk (Pixabay), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Angelfish Citron, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Discus Patrick Farrelly, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Pygmy corydoras Birger A, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Kuhli loach Iidkk, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Clown loach Vlad Butsky, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Dwarf chain loach Stefan Maurer, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Reticulated hillstream loach Spiketooth, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
