Chinese Algae Eater

Native to large river systems in Southeast Asia, particularly the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins, this fish gets sold constantly as a beginner algae-control solution and consistently causes problems because of it. Juveniles look the part: torpedo-shaped, goldish-brown with a dark lateral stripe, small enough to fit in your palm, actively grazing on glass and decor. That phase doesn't last. Adults push close to 28 centimeters, develop a much heavier body, and shift their diet preferences in ways that cause real trouble in community tanks. The sucker mouth that made them useful for cleaning glass gets turned on tankmates instead, rasping the protective slime coat off fish like angelfish, discus, and large cichlids.

0 works fine, temperatures between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius, moderate hardness. They're not delicate fish. They'll eat sinking pellets, algae wafers, blanched vegetables, and whatever else reaches the bottom. Flow can be moderate to brisk, which fits their natural river habitat.

The main problem isn't keeping them alive. It's managing their personality as they age. A five-inch juvenile in a 150-liter community tank seems fine. A two-year-old pushing 20 centimeters in the same tank is a disaster waiting to happen.

If you want to see what a well-planned long-term setup looks like for a fish this size, browsing tank journals from hobbyists who've kept them into adulthood gives you a much more honest picture than the store ever will.