FishTankSiamese algae eater care: tank size, temperature and tankmates
An algae eater that eats hair algae when young. Siamese algae eaters grow to about 6 inches and become fast and busy.
Quick facts
| Type | Algae eater |
|---|---|
| Adult size | About 6 inches |
| Smallest tank | 30 gallons |
| Temperature | 75–79°F |
| Keep | One in most tanks, a group of 3+ only in 75+ gallons |
| Watch for | Grows to about 6 inches, gets fast and pushy, and can jump. Use a lid. |
How to keep them
Keep one in a 30 gallon or more, with a lid. Older ones eat less algae, so feed sinking pellets too.
Like every fish, they need a cycled tank, a heater set inside their range, and a weekly water change of about 25%. Test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate before you add them. New to this? Start with how to cycle a fish tank.
Tankmates
Good tankmates
Neon tetra · Cardinal tetra · Ember tetra · Rummynose tetra · Black skirt tetra · Serpae tetra · Harlequin rasbora · Zebra danio · Cherry barb · Tiger barb · Platy · Guppy · Endler's livebearer · Molly · Swordtail · Honey gourami · Dwarf gourami · Pearl gourami · Corydoras (bronze or peppered) · Pygmy corydoras · Kuhli loach · Otocinclus · Bristlenose pleco · Angelfish · Amano shrimp · Nerite snail · Mystery snail · Glowlight tetra · Black neon tetra · Lemon tetra · Congo tetra · Chili rasbora · Lambchop rasbora · Dwarf neon rainbowfish · Sparkling gourami · Bolivian ram · Cockatoo dwarf cichlid · Kribensis · Clown loach · Ghost shrimp · Ramshorn snail
Possible, with care
- Betta (male): Siamese algae eaters are large and busy and may stress a betta. Calm, small tankmates suit bettas better.
- Cherry shrimp: Siamese algae eaters eat baby cherry shrimp. Adults usually survive with plenty of moss to hide in.
- Gold barb: They only share 75°F. A good heater and thermometer are a must.
- German blue ram: Only a narrow shared temperature range (78–79°F). A good heater and thermometer are a must.
- Hillstream loach: They only share 75°F. A good heater and thermometer are a must.
- African dwarf frog: African dwarf frogs are slow, nearly blind eaters. Bigger or faster fish take their food, so feed the frogs with a baster or tongs.
Avoid
- White cloud mountain minnow: No shared temperature: Siamese algae eaters like 75–79°F, white cloud minnows 60–72°F.
- Fancy goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish.
- Common goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish.
- Rosy barb: No shared temperature: Siamese algae eaters like 75–79°F, rosy barbs 64–74°F.
Not sure about a mix? See the tankmate answers or the stocking ideas by tank size.
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