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Chinese Algae Eater, Gyrinocheilus aymonieri (Tirant, 1883)
This Algae Eater belongs to family Gyrinocheilidae, although it resembles both loaches and Algae Eating barbs. Its English name isn't very accurate, because it comes from Northern India and Thailand, not China. It is also called the Indian Algae Eater. There are still some unclear points in the systematic classification of this genus and it is possible that the species most often imported isn't G. aymonieri but G. kaznakovi. There are also two other species (G. pustulosus and G. pennocki).
Description: Chinese Algae Eater is a bottom-dweller. The most prominent feature is a big suckermouth, which it uses for scraping algae and clinging to objects. There is a special opening on the upper part of the gill cover for the water intake so the fish can breath without using its mouth. This same feature is seen on Suckermouth Catfishes. The fish is light brown and there is a dark grey or brown horizontal pattern on its side, which can be either a zig-zag edged solid stripe or a row of separate spots or anything between these two. Young specimens are more colorful. There are some dark patches at the back and small brown spots at the tail. All the other fins are transparent or slightly brownish. Maximum length is 27 cm (11") but normally it doesn't exceed 15 cm (6") in an aquarium. Females are larger and fuller, adult males might show spawning tubercles on the head.
Behavior: It moves along all the surfaces of the tank scraping green algae with its suckermouth. Older specimens prefer artificial foods and are rather aggressive.
Needs: Chinese Algae Eater is not very demanding on water conditions: pH may vary from 6.0 to 7.5 and the temperature from 22C (72F) to 28C (82F). Water should be well oxygenated, as it comes from streams. It eats all kinds of foods, but must get enough algae or plant food. It is reported that it will stop eating algae if the temperature drops below 69 degrees F (20 deg. C). It has not been bred in captivity. Minimum tank size 100 liters (25 gallons).
Compatibility: Young Chinese Algae Eaters can be kept in community, but adult specimens can be aggressive to other fish. They most often attack slow-swimming, flat-bodied fish and shouldn't be kept with them.
Tema: AYMONER (Posjeta: 1304 vremena)