Algae eater becoming destructive?

Question

My algae eater, is becoming really destructive in my tank (10gal.) perhaps he's getting too big for it? He's about 5 inches long, looks huge in the tank.We've had him for about a year, and he seems fine, other than the fact that I'm noticing more and more, than he is knocking things over in the tank, plants are coming up out of the gravel,etc. When I can actually catch him out from his hiding spot, I notice that its the way he's swimming off, very vigirously, he's knocked over a treasure chest a minute ago, two plants are floating, and a pretty heavy pirate ship decor, has been moved. Why is he doing this all of a sudden?

Oh no. Well what should I do? Mine is a chinese algae eater!! Here is a link I found, looks just like mine, but mine is much larger.

http://www.petpig.com/fish/Algae_Eater_Chinese.aspx?00d3cd20


can I give him to a pet store? It says they arent suited for community tanks,what would be be useful for? Am I going to keep having to replace them everytime they are fully grown? :(

I would be willing to get a bigger tank. But it says they arent suited for community tanks, doesnt that mean he wont change no matter the tank size? We currently have 6 fish. All small, community fish. He has never done this before, and he's been the same size for about 3 or 4 months now. Yes, he does get Algae disks,I feed him one every night, or every other night. None of the other fish seem to mind when he comes out, and he comes out when the light is on all the time, and if he doesnt see you, he will stay out a long time, but if you come near the tank, ZIP, he's gone in a flash. So, I could keep him if I got a bigger tank? He's terrific at eating the algae, so I'd hate to see him go, plus my kiddos think he is a snake he's so big, they love to watch him,lol.

Answer 1

Chinese Algae Eaters get territorial with age. As they get older they become more aggressive towards other fish. You have a couple options.

The fish can grow to be about 11" so it is going to get too big for your tank. Having a small tank increases aggression because a small tank means the entire tank will be claimed as it's territory. If your keeping it then you need to get a bigger tank. I would suggest going as big as space and money allow. Without getting crazy of course. If you can make space and have money for a 55 Gallon then that is great. I have a friend with a Chinese Algae Eater in a 75 Gallon and it is very tame for the nature of that type of fish.

Another option is to find a friend with a large tank who might be able to take it from you. That friend of mine who has the Chinese Algae Eater, took it from me when I bought one not knowing how territorial they are.

Your other option is to take it to the local pet store. See if you can sell it for cash or in-store credit.

Answer 2

The best algae eater are probably plecos. By they need a pretty large tank, so there are also loaches and coreydora catfish that are good for smaller tanks. Well fish's wastes give nutrients to algae, which makes it grow, along with light, so the fish waste goes into the algae, then it eats it. Normally with a good filter, some decoration, and some gravel, a small piece of poop is hard to find. Gravel is recommended for algae eaters for more algae grows on the rocks, rather than on a bear bottom tank. Good luck, do some research on those fish!

Answer 3

most algea eaters will disturbed plants gravel and decor its just what they do when they start getting cramped chinese algea eaters get huge fast and need to be a larger tank and also they should not be kept with smaller fish because they will attack anything half its size or smaller which in a 10g thats everything. buy abigger tank hell be happier plus its easier to take care of more possibilities for fish happier fish its a win win situation aside from having to spend money

Answer 4

It is hard to understand a thing that only has a memory span of 3 seconds. Also how many other fish do you have in the tank?? For every one inch of a fish should be one gal. of water. So for a 10 gal. tank and a 5 inch Algae Eater that leaves 5 gal. or 5 inches in the tank. He maybe getting stressed that he doesn't have the right amount of room for him due to the other fish. Also Algae Eaters don't like light. So maybe he got a flash of the light into his/her eyes and it scared it. Also there maybe a lack of food supply in the tank for the Algae Eater if so you can buy Algae Disk for food. This is all that I can think of right now to help you out. Good Luck.

Answer 5

Trade him for a Siamese Algae Eater, its a real algae eater and is not agressive. Be carful though some places try to sell the chinese one as a siamese.

Answer 6

Any fish can be aggresive. Even guppies. He gets stronger as he sucks more, so he gets more powerful, causing these accurences. He maybe be stressed or lonely. Some suckers have been known to be destrective of a small area too. Maybe inlarge his tank, lessen the fish #, or, donate him away for becoming too strong. They grow in strength easily, this is normal for an algea eater.
sorry 'bout that.

-hope this helped!

Answer 7

My pleco is very large(10 inches), we have him in a 30 gallon, which he is out growing. We are planing to get a 60gallon in 1-2 weeks to put him and my other fish that are also large. He is very destructive, he is all ways digging my plants up to! I believe this is normal, I would recommend getting a much larger tank, 40-55gallon depending on how large he will get! Good luck!

Answer 8

That's just the start. Wait until he starts attacking your other fish. Chinese algae eaters get really big, really mean and really nasty. Sorry to say that the only solution you have is finding him a new home.

MM

Answer 9

What it boils down to is, if you want to keep him you will have to put him in a bigger tank. As he is getting bigger he needs room to move around and his behavior will not stop until he has a bigger home because he is feeling cramped.

Answer 10

He probably is getting too big for the tank...algae eaters grow really fast because they have a constant food supply.