From: jj@alice.att.com (jj, curmudgeon and all-around grouch)
Newsgroups: rec.aquaria
Subject: Re: [F] flying fox vs. pl*co
Summary: get the facts, jack!
Date: 22 Jan 93 17:34:42 GMT
Article-I.D.: alice.24686
Reply-To: jj@alice.UUCP (jj, curmudgeon and all-around grouch)
Organization: NJ State Home for Bewildered Terminals


In article <1993Jan21.224434.13939@bsu-ucs> 01mbmccabe@leo.bsuvc.bsu.edu writes:
>I may be wrong, but I bet you're talking about a Chinese Algae-eater, rather
>that a Flying Fox -- they do look similar, but I don't think 'Fox's graze
>algae. 
First, there is the "Chinese Algae-Eater", the "Flying Fox" and the
"Siamese Flying Fox".  Only one kind of flying fox eats algae.
The other kind is a territorial thug.  Looks cute, but bashes the
living expletive out of anything else that wants into its territory.
When I auctioned mine off, it was trying desparately to own half of
the bottom of a well-planted 55.  I didn't have the "right" kind,
in case it's not clear.  The "right" kind is alledged to eat
thread algae.

>Anywho, if this happens to be the case, I'd say a Chinese Algae-eater
>would be the best choice. 
Only if you want to grow it to 18" and then eat it.  They don't eat
very much algae after they start growing up, they are also territorial, they 
think nothing of sucking on slime-coats, and the one I had (also sold)
was the owner of the OTHER half of the bottom of that 55.  It drove
everything away from its territory, including a bloody-huge Bala Shark,
(no, not adult sized, oonly 7" or so SL) a pair of full-grown ancestrus,
and two 4" clown loaches.  It was a vicious little thug. I GAVE it to a
store to get rid of the little thug when it was up to about 6" SL
itself, and growing like a weed.  They sold it as an "xxxxxl" algae
eater for lots of bucks to some poor sod who probably saw his tetras
go for lunch.

>Pleco's eventually get _really_ big (a foot or more)
My ancestrus, and my pekoltia are both less than 6" full grown,
the pecoltia a fat fat fat 3".  They both love algae, eat it like
there's no tomorrow, and don't get any bigger because they're
full-grown.  Now, they aren't plecos, or hypostamus species, just
suckermouth catfish that eat algae and look a lot like them, so you
aren't entirely off base here. Of course, a "Bristlenosed Pleco"
is an ancestrus, and a "dwarf pleco" can be a pekoltia in the
average pet store, too.

>and I don't think any species of Chinese Algae eater get bigger than 5 or 6
>inches, most staying small than that.
In china, as mentioned in Baensh's atlas, as well as confirmed by
by father-in-law, they grow to about 18-24 inches, and are harvested
for food fish.  In my 55, the one I had was well on its way to that
sort of size, and eating everything (including the occasional 
zebra danio and/or swordtail fry) in sight.  My father in law took
one look in the tank and said "are you gonna grow that thing to
full size". I said "No way". He said, "We used to eat them."
We dug out Baensch and confirmed that we were talking about the
same species of fish.

>I have a Chinese algae-eater in my
>5.5gal tank (which grew _LOTS_ of algae/have lots of light) and the glass stays
>crystal-clear now!
Wait until it starts to grow up, and stops being starved for food.
-- 
Copyright alice!jj 1993, all rights reserved, except transmission by USENET and like facilities granted. Said permission is granted only for complete copies that include this notice. Use on pay-for-read services specifically disallowed.
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