This is a flying fox isn’t it?

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Feather_Borb
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I ordered two true Siamese algae eaters Crossocheilus siamensis from “aquatics to your door” and what got delivered to me look just like flying foxes
Epalzeorhynchos sp. The photo on the webpage was a true Siamese algae eater but these guys have all the trademarks of flying foxes. I just want to check that I am not being dim and missing an unusual sub-species or anything!

What I received. Note the colour on the dorsal, the black stripe stopping at the start of the tail and the pale stripe above the black.


Image


Screenshot of actual Siamese algae eater


Image
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black ghost
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Nope. Siamese Flying Fox (SAE).

The SAE usually sold is Crossocheilus oblongus, although the whole genus is rather confused for now. The one pictured is (probably) Crossocheilus oblongus. Yours is (probably) C. siamensis.
The true Flying Fox (Epalzeorhynchos kallopterus) is a different shape. The head is flatter with a wider nose, and a gold stripe above the black. The dorsal, anal and ventral fins are mostly solid black. The body is almost square in cross-section.
Feather_Borb
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black ghost wrote: Wed Jun 10, 2020 21:01 pm Nope. Siamese Flying Fox (SAE).

The SAE usually sold is Crossocheilus oblongus, although the whole genus is rather confused for now. The one pictured is (probably) Crossocheilus oblongus. Yours is (probably) C. siamensis.
The true Flying Fox (Epalzeorhynchos kallopterus) is a different shape. The head is flatter with a wider nose, and a gold stripe above the black. The dorsal, anal and ventral fins are mostly solid black. The body is almost square in cross-section.
Thank you that’s really helpful! All of the easy to find definitions for algae eaters describe oblongus.
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black ghost
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This describes all three, and how to keep them. It’s very good...

http://www.fishpondinfo.com/sae.htm#intro
Feather_Borb
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So now the False Siamese algae eaters have fully coloured up to show their yellow fins they look just like Garra Cambodgiensis as described in the link above and here. https://aquascaper.org/effective-copy-o ... lgae-eater

https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/g ... odgiensis/

I decided to try ordering from Tropco and they managed to send me the correct species today, Crossocheilus siamensis ( or possibly Crossocheilus oblongus can't see them super clearly in the storage box) so at least I finally have what I wanted.
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Martinspuddle
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Gingerlove05
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Martinspuddle wrote: Sat Jun 13, 2020 8:53 am Image

Courtesy of https://aquanswers.com/siamese-algae-eater-guide/
I actually have that image saved somewhere, but i cant find it atm :-/
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Feather_Borb
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Martinspuddle wrote: Sat Jun 13, 2020 8:53 am Image

Courtesy of https://aquanswers.com/siamese-algae-eater-guide/
That's a good image. :D I think that I will use it in my follow up complaint email about being sent completely the wrong species!
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black ghost
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To bring them up to date, Garra taeniata is now a synonym of Garra cambodgiensis, and Crossocheilus/Epalzeorhynchus siamensis are synonyms of Crossocheilus oblongus.

So the SAE is Crossocheilus oblongus, and the “False SAE” is Garra cambodgiensis.
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