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Encyclopedia / Algae Eaters / Siamese algae eater
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Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Siamese algae eater

Crossocheilus langei · Crossocheilus oblongus, Sae, Siamensis, Algae eater

Active and peaceful; grows larger than expected.

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15 cmBody length, without tail ✓
24–26 °CTemperature ✓
6.5–7.5pH ✓
304 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • White cloud mountain minnow needs cool water and makes a lot of waste, while Siamese algae eater is tropical.
  • They need different temperatures (24–26 °C vs 14–22 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (24–26 °C vs 10–22 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • Oscar is aggressive and will bully peaceful siamese algae eater.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 24 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

363 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓1–15 dGH
Group size ✓6 or more
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ?Bottom
Care level ✓Moderate
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 3–5 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Active and peaceful; grows larger than expected.

Food

Algae, wafers, flakes.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Mature females are usually thicker-bodied than males; young fish cannot be reliably sexed.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Rarely bred in captivity ·

Not known to have been bred in the hobby; young fish in the trade are assumed to be farm-bred using hormones.

Pairing

Group of adults.

Setup

Pond or hormone-assisted farm setup. Home spawns are very rare.

What starts it

Hormone induction.

Eggs

Many eggs on farms; hatch in about 1-2 days.

Raising the fry

Infusoria and fine food.

Common mistakes
  • Expecting home spawns
  • Water quality
  • Small tanks
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionSoutheast Asia – Thailand, Malaysia & Indonesia
Rivers and lakesChao Phraya and Mekong basins, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Java
HabitatClear, flowing streams with rocks and wood
Native rangeAbout 1,500 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the siamese algae eater

One of the best fish for eating black beard algae (mainly young, soft growths). Several near-identical striped species are sold as 'Siamese algae eater', and it is often confused with the flying fox (Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus) and the 'false SAE' Garra cambodgiensis.

This algae eater was described from Java in 1823, from collections by Kuhl and van Hasselt, Dutch naturalists who worked there. It was long known in the hobby as Crossocheilus siamensis, a name now treated as the same species. Aquarists prize it as one of the few fish that eat filamentous and 'black beard' algae.

First described by Heinrich Kuhl & Johan C. van Hasselt in 1823.

  • It is one of few fish that eat black beard algae.
  • Its black stripe runs into the tail fin, unlike lookalike species.
  • It can grow to about 15 cm.

Sources

14 facts checked with sources