SAE difference

[Guest]

Hi guys,

I'm thinking of getting a SAE and I want to be sure it's a SAE not a flying fox. So I want to know how do you tell the difference between a SAE and a flying fox.

Cam

[Adrienne]

The SAE and the Blackline Flying fox are the one and same fish. How do you know? IMO go to a person or go with a person who knows what they are talking about, its really the best way.

[Guest]

So it's pretty hard to tell? I heard that one of them has clear fins and the other has a stripe on it's tail or something like that?

[MarkLB]

Hi Cam. I found this here.... http://www.fishpondinfo.com/sae.htm

Siamese Algae Eater or SAE:

The true SAE has a jagged black horizontal stripe that goes all the way to the tip of the tail. All of the SAE's fins are clear. The black and white and their contrast are more intense than with the other algae eaters below.

False Siamese Algae Eater or false SAE:

The false SAE if usually found in shipments of true SAE (or the other way around). Unlike the SAE, the black stripe ends at the beginning of the tail. Often, if one goes to buy SAE's in a US aquarium store, they may in fact be all or mostly false SAE's. False SAE's may have some red around the mouth and a yellow tint to the fins. My false SAE had some nice gold and red on the dorsal fin. Mine was sold as a flying fox.

Flying Fox:

Just like the true SAE, the flying fox has a black horizontal stripe that goes all the way to the tip of the tail. Unlike the SAE, the edges of the stripe are smooth and not zagged. The flying fox may have some rainbow-like coloring on the fins. It is more pretty than the other fish mentioned on this page. The black horizontal stripe extends to the end of the tail like the SAE but it is much stronger and broader.

Chinese Algae Eater or CAE:

The Chinese algae eater is Gyrinocheilus aymonieri. Unlike the SAE, false SAE, and flying fox, the CAE does not have a distinct black horizontal line. It is more mottled. The fish is more brown than black and white. The tail fin lacks any striping. The CAE also does not have any barbels unlike the other three fish. If you go to the average pet store that carries fish and ask for a fish that eats algae, probably half the time, you would have a Chinese algae eater foisted upon you. While these fish are a delight like the above fish, they have only a low to moderate desire to eat any algae. If fish food is available, it will compromise most of their food intake. Also, as Chinese algae eaters grow older, the may become nasty to other algae eaters or even other fish in the tank. Some may try to latch onto fat-bodied fish. Sometimes, though some individuals get along well with their tankmates. There is a very common albino (or gold) CAE which may be sold even more often then the regular gray CAE. The CAE does not zip around as much as the SAE, false SAE, and flying fox. It tends to do more sucking. CAE's normally stay under 6 inches but have the ability to grow to almost twice that length.

HTH

[RochelleMay]

Will FLying foxes eat algae like a true SAE?

I was sold 3 flying foxes from Anitmates and was told they was exactly the same but they arent eating my black beard algae.

Frankly Im a little annoyed as I wanted specific SAE.

[kiwipete]

I also found this info from the following site, fwiw.

http://www.petresources.net/fish/article/sae.html

And a Picture too.

Siamese Algae Eater (SAE)

* Two forward facing whiskers

* Black lateral stripe, going into tail

* Clear fins with no white, or yellow markings

* No pronounced suction mouth

* Hovers in place while cleaning leaves, schools with like kind

False SAE

* No Visible whiskers

* Black lateral stripe, not continuing into tail

* Gold stripe above lateral black stripe

* Yellow-red fins, not tipped in white

* Sucker mouth when at rest

* Very spastic in nature, very rarely still or hovering, semi-aggressive to like kind

Flying Fox

* 2 forward whiskers, 2 others

* Black lateral stripe into tail

* Gold stripe above lateral black stripe

* Yellow-red fins, tipped in white over 2 inches

* No sucker mouth

* Semi-aggressive with everything, not a schooler when older

Chinese Algae Eater (CAE)

* no whiskers, sucker mouth

* brown pattern or line on side, mimicing lateral stripe

* Yellow-olive green body color

* Fins marked by spots, stripes

* Sucker mouth

* Semi-aggressive, very energetic

[alanmin4304]

In my experience none of these fish will eat black beard algae if there is other algae or food available. Saes are better at eating algae when smaller.

[Adrienne]

In my experience none of these fish will eat black beard algae if there is other algae or food available. Saes are better at eating algae when smaller.

absolutely! Once mine discovered what pellets tasted like they got fat and lazy really fast.

[RochelleMay]

Well peace of mind thanks for that cam. ( I now I stole your thread sorry)

Mine are Sae from all the characteristics that you said. But were labelled as Flying Foxes.

and about eating algae or not. Mine havent really found the algae yet well one of them has a munches away but the other 2 still have to catch on that they not getting fed unless they eat my algae first lol.

[Guest]

I saw some algae eaters at Hutt pets. They had a stripe like a SAE and 2 wiskers like a SAE but they had a faint yellow at the base of their fins. What do you think this would be?

[Caper]

Great pics and descriptions for the SAE

Caper