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Siamese Algae Eater
Crossocheilus oblongus
Family: Cyprinidae
📍 Mekong & Chao Phraya, Thailand
The Siamese Algae Eater is one of the few fish that will actively consume black beard algae (BBA), making it highly sought after by planted tank hobbyists. It is a streamlined, active fish with a distinctive black horizontal stripe from snout to tail. Unlike the similar-looking Flying Fox, it is a true algae specialist rather than just a grazer. Best kept singly or in groups; young fish are more active algae eaters than adults.
Keeping this species
- diet
- Herbivore – algae (including BBA), spirulina wafers, blanched vegetables
- lifespan
- 10 years
- max size
- 16 cm (6.3 in)
- tank size
- 30 gallons minimum
- temperament
- Peaceful when young; may become territorial as adults
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Water it likes
- ph
- 6.0–8.0
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 5–20 dGH
- temperature
- 75–79°F (24–26°C)
Natural Habitat Temperature
72°F — 84°F seasonal range · (Jan low, May high)