[Ebook] The New Guide to Aquarium Fish – Cypriniformes – The Algae Eater
Gyrinocheilus aymonieri is sold under various names: Indian Algae Eater, Chinese Algae Eater, and Sucking Loach. To the newcomer it seems to be the answer to all his problems – a fish that will eat algae. Small specimens are fine in the community aquarium, but it is potentially a large fish (25 cm/10 in plus) and it grows quickly, becoming more and more boisterous, digging out depressions in the gravel, and even sticking itself on to the sides of larger fishes much to their annoyance. Damage to the victim’s protective mucus (some sucking loaches even develop a taste for this “food”) may result, creating a potential site for infection.