UFO

[FishBubs]

unidentified floating object. Carried out a water change and noticed organic growth but have no idea what it is. I have a centre wood piece and it is just on the underside of the left most branch. There are two tiny thingies attached.
1) is this a form of algae?
2) is it harmful to my fish?
3) my amanos havent touched it so how do i remove it myslf?

I did notice a tiny bit ltwo weeks ago but i just pulled it off and now i see two of them








Thanks for any advice

[Martinspuddle]

1) is this a form of algae?

Yes, dead BBA. (Black bush algae)

2) is it harmful to my fish?

Nope.

3) my amanos havent touched it so how do i remove it myslf?

Because they don't like it. Amano's are very particular about their algae they eat and frankly I don't blame them with BBA, probably tastes disgusting. Just remove it with a knife or clean tooth brush.

[FishBubs]

Thanks Martin. This may seem a dumb question but that grew exactly as you see with that colour. So my question is would this not have been black at some point before it went the colour (dead) as you see in the pic?

[Martinspuddle]

Thanks Martin. This may seem a dumb question but that grew exactly as you see with that colour. So my question is would this not have been black at some point before it went the colour (dead) as you see in the pic?

Yes, black or deep purple in colour. You'll find some in my aquarium until Fred gets to it.



Never any dumb questions on this forum except if you ask what come first, the fish or the egg!

[FishBubs]

Egg! My reasoning is because at somepoint a species laid an egg, mutation / evolution happened whilst in the egg and a fish popped out

Is that a siamese algae eater? I have otos and amanos (which i really love just so much character ) but have considered SAE

That algae i have growing never was black at any point just that translucent colour.

[plankton]

For SAEs you need at least a 4' tank for an absolute minimum of three of them. They do better in a 5'+ with 6+.....
They're a bit like loaches and corys, very gregarious and live in large groups.

[FishBubs]

Cheers plankton. I have just been reading up on them. My tank is only 1m long (200L) so not quite big enough to sustain a healthy group. I will stick to otos and my shrimps .

[YnotFish]

For SAEs you need at least a 4' tank for an absolute minimum of three of them. They do better in a 5'+ with 6+.....
They're a bit like loaches and corys, very gregarious and live in large groups.

Oops I only have one (who I have had for years). He thinks he is the King of the tank, even the Angelfish has to give way to him when it is fresh cucumber time
Time for some quick math... 4' = 48" = 122 cm. Phew, my tank is just big enough. Should I be thinking of getting a couple of mates for him in his old age (he is at least 10 years old)?
(Hope I am not kidnapping the thread here ).

[plankton]

For SAEs you need at least a 4' tank for an absolute minimum of three of them. They do better in a 5'+ with 6+.....
They're a bit like loaches and corys, very gregarious and live in large groups.

Oops I only have one (who I have had for years). He thinks he is the King of the tank, even the Angelfish has to give way to him when it is fresh cucumber time
Time for some quick math... 4' = 48" = 122 cm. Phew, my tank is just big enough. Should I be thinking of getting a couple of mates for him in his old age (he is at least 10 years old)?
(Hope I am not kidnapping the thread here ).

Up to you now, I believe they live 10-15 years. He/she (it's very hard to tell the difference) may be too used to having the tank to itself.

[Martinspuddle]

Make sure if you do buy a Siamese algae-eater (Crossocheilus oblongus) and get the right species. Many dealers list the Flying Fox (Epalzeorhynchus kallopterus) as a Siamese algae eaters.

Note the SAE black bar on the tail is faint, plus lighter back compared to the dark bar through the caudal fin and near dark back of the Flying Fox. Juvenile Flying Foxes tend to have a yellow stripe the length of their body and darker fins.



Incidently, Fred has lived on his (could be 'Fredwina' for all we know ) own for three years now. This fish came from The Fish Den, Rainham and was the only one in the aquarium. They seem OK alone and know of a couple of other local fishkeepers who have these as singles with no issues. Probably best to keep them in groups in no less than 300 litre planted aquarium really.


Click to enlarge