Siamese Algae Eater Care Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

My accompanying blog post for this video - https://glassboxdiaries.com/siamese-algae-eater-care/

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Siamese Algae Eater Care Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Thinking about adding a Siamese Algae Eater to your aquarium? In today’s video, I share my complete care guide based on firsthand experience keeping this fascinating species. Siamese Algae Eaters are best known for their algae-eating abilities, but there’s so much more to these fish than just cleanup duty.

One of the most common issues with Siamese Algae Eaters is getting the right fish. There are many lookalike species—like the Chinese Algae Eater, Flying Fox, and False Siamese Algae Eater—that often get sold under the same name. Unfortunately, these imposters can grow larger, become aggressive, or simply not eat algae as effectively. In this video, I walk you through how to correctly identify a true Siamese Algae Eater, focusing on key features like the horizontal stripe that runs into the tail and the clear dorsal fin.

We also dive into tank requirements, as there’s a lot of conflicting advice out there. These fish can grow up to 6 inches (15 cm), so they need room to swim. I keep mine in a 40-gallon (150-litre) setup, which I consider the minimum for a single individual. If you plan to keep a group, you’ll need a significantly larger tank. I explain how much space they need, why horizontal swimming room is important, and how hiding spots help them feel secure.

When it comes to water parameters, Siamese Algae Eaters are quite adaptable. They thrive in temperatures ranging from 22°C to 27°C (72°F to 81°F), and can tolerate pH levels between 6.0 and 7.5. Mine is kept at a pH of 6.4 with a gH of 4, and it’s thriving. This flexibility makes them great candidates for a wide variety of community tank setups.

As for their diet, these fish are algae-eating machines—especially when young. I’ve seen mine eat black beard algae, biofilm, and even decaying plant matter. They’re also not picky with food and will accept Hikari Micro Pellets, Fluval Bug Bites, algae wafers, and even decomposing leaf litter like oak, mulberry, and Indian almond leaves.

In terms of tank mates, Siamese Algae Eaters are peaceful and easy to house with other community fish. Mine gets along great with Corydoras, tetras, rasboras, Honey Gourami, Medaka, Zebra Danios, and shrimp. Occasionally, it will nudge a Corydoras away from food, but it's never shown real aggression. Just be sure you truly have a Siamese Algae Eater and not one of the more aggressive lookalikes.

Their personality and behavior are surprisingly entertaining. From wedging into plants and filter crevices in search of shrimp leftovers, to sleeping in odd places like filter outlets and lava rock, they’re endlessly curious and always on the move. Mine once vanished for four days and reappeared like nothing happened! These quirky behaviors make them far more engaging than their reputation suggests.

If you're after a fish that contributes to your tank’s cleanliness while also being active, fun to watch, and peaceful with other species, the Siamese Algae Eater might be exactly what you're looking for. Just make sure you're bringing home the right species.

Thanks for watching, and I hope this guide helps you care for your own Siamese Algae Eater successfully!

#aquarium #fishtank #tropicalfish

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro
00:16 - Getting The Right Fish
02:16 - Tank Requirements
04:08 - Water Parameters
05:30 - Diet
07:06 - Tank Mates
08:27 - Behavior

Видео Siamese Algae Eater Care Guide: Everything You Need to Know! канала Glass Box Diaries