algea eaters and color change

fishbguy · 03-18-2007, 08:29 AM

i have two algea eaters in my 20 gallon long. yes, i know that they are big and aggressive fish. they are going to be traded in for ottos soon. Any way...We have a store in southern michigan called Meijer. it is sorta like a walmart but bigger. they have a pretty decent fish section. they carry regular algea eaters as well as gold algea eaters. I bought two regular algea eaters and now the smallest one is almost all gold. he still has a faint amount of brown on the base of his tail but the rest of him is gold. i bought him as a regular, not a gold and they are kept in different tanks. does anyone know why this happened? thanks and i'll try to get some photos of him.
Andrew

frogman5 · 03-18-2007, 08:41 AM

I dont no y this is but we to have plecos like this at our miejer in Indiana.

Ackerman651 · 03-18-2007, 09:27 AM

Yeah i live in Indiana too and they do have a nice fish selection, almost more than a lot of the petstores around, and at better prices too. Are you feeding it algae wafers? If so, different brands and different types of algae have different effects on them, such as change in color. Many other things can affect the color, such as change in lighting, other substances added to the water, ph, etc. It will most likely be fine, just keep a close eye out for any behavioral problems.

fishbguy · 03-18-2007, 09:34 AM

the only thing it eats is the fish flakes i feed the other fish, blackworms, if it can get them fast enough, and algea that it finds in the tank.

Corydora_FREAK · 03-18-2007, 09:52 AM

Some Algae eaters, like plecostmus can expand and contract chromatifores in there skin to change their appearance to fit their mood(fear, stress, content). Other algae eaters can to, just like humans, look more pale when stressed and become more vibrant when they are happy and content. I am guessing that's what happened with yours.

**Damon** · 03-18-2007, 11:34 AM

They sound like CAEs. There is a albino or "gold" variety of them.

fishbguy · 03-18-2007, 12:54 PM

they are exactly what damon said they are. but when i bought them they were grayish brown, the wild color. but now it is almost all gold and it has been changing color for about 1 1/2 - 2 months now. it seems healthy and swims around eating algea (but it doesn't eat enough..lol).

TigerBarb12 · 03-18-2007, 07:03 PM

here in ohio we have meijer, i think all of the US has meijer

Corydora_FREAK · 03-18-2007, 08:03 PM

New Mexico doesnt that i know of

Ackerman651 · 03-18-2007, 09:17 PM

the only place ive seen meijers in are indiana michigan and ohio that i know of. Anyway, i know you already mentioned this, but i would try to get them back ASAP. I had a golden chinese algae eater for a while and it was a pain. They like to suck the slime coat off of other fish more than eat algae, and thats really bad for the fish. Definitely exchange them for otos, their great tank cleaners and peaceful as you can get, really great fish.

03-18-2007, 08:29 AM	#1
fishbguy I'm watching you Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: michigan Age: 17 Posts: 1,864	algea eaters and color change i have two algea eaters in my 20 gallon long. yes, i know that they are big and aggressive fish. they are going to be traded in for ottos soon. Any way...We have a store in southern michigan called Meijer. it is sorta like a walmart but bigger. they have a pretty decent fish section. they carry regular algea eaters as well as gold algea eaters. I bought two regular algea eaters and now the smallest one is almost all gold. he still has a faint amount of brown on the base of his tail but the rest of him is gold. i bought him as a regular, not a gold and they are kept in different tanks. does anyone know why this happened? thanks and i'll try to get some photos of him. Andrew __________________ I think about you in the summertime And all the good times we had, baby It’s been a few years and I can’t deny The thought of you still makes me crazy I think about you in the summertime Summertime - New Kids On The Block

03-18-2007, 09:34 AM	#4
fishbguy I'm watching you Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: michigan Age: 17 Posts: 1,864	the only thing it eats is the fish flakes i feed the other fish, blackworms, if it can get them fast enough, and algea that it finds in the tank. __________________ I think about you in the summertime And all the good times we had, baby It’s been a few years and I can’t deny The thought of you still makes me crazy I think about you in the summertime Summertime - New Kids On The Block

03-18-2007, 09:52 AM	#5
Corydora_FREAK FIENDING FOR CORYDORAS! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Middle of Nowhere, New Mexico Age: 20 Posts: 267	Some Algae eaters, like plecostmus can expand and contract chromatifores in there skin to change their appearance to fit their mood(fear, stress, content). Other algae eaters can to, just like humans, look more pale when stressed and become more vibrant when they are happy and content. I am guessing that's what happened with yours. __________________

03-18-2007, 11:34 AM	#6
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	They sound like CAEs. There is a albino or "gold" variety of them. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

03-18-2007, 12:54 PM	#7
fishbguy I'm watching you Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: michigan Age: 17 Posts: 1,864	they are exactly what damon said they are. but when i bought them they were grayish brown, the wild color. but now it is almost all gold and it has been changing color for about 1 1/2 - 2 months now. it seems healthy and swims around eating algea (but it doesn't eat enough..lol). __________________ I think about you in the summertime And all the good times we had, baby It’s been a few years and I can’t deny The thought of you still makes me crazy I think about you in the summertime Summertime - New Kids On The Block

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03-18-2007, 08:41 AM	#2
frogman5 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 193	I dont no y this is but we to have plecos like this at our miejer in Indiana.

03-18-2007, 09:27 AM	#3
Ackerman651 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Age: 16 Posts: 67	Yeah i live in Indiana too and they do have a nice fish selection, almost more than a lot of the petstores around, and at better prices too. Are you feeding it algae wafers? If so, different brands and different types of algae have different effects on them, such as change in color. Many other things can affect the color, such as change in lighting, other substances added to the water, ph, etc. It will most likely be fine, just keep a close eye out for any behavioral problems.

03-18-2007, 07:03 PM	#8
TigerBarb12 Tiger Barb Alpha Male Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Milford, OH Age: 16 Posts: 541	here in ohio we have meijer, i think all of the US has meijer __________________ My Tank 38 Gallon: Tiger Barb x5 Serpae Tetra x6 Blue Gourami x1 Bloodfin Tetra x2 Gold Barb x1 10 Gallon: Gold Gourami x1 10 Gallon: 5 Shiners (Wild)

03-18-2007, 08:03 PM	#9
Corydora_FREAK FIENDING FOR CORYDORAS! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Middle of Nowhere, New Mexico Age: 20 Posts: 267	New Mexico doesnt that i know of __________________

03-18-2007, 09:17 PM	#10
Ackerman651 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Age: 16 Posts: 67	the only place ive seen meijers in are indiana michigan and ohio that i know of. Anyway, i know you already mentioned this, but i would try to get them back ASAP. I had a golden chinese algae eater for a while and it was a pain. They like to suck the slime coat off of other fish more than eat algae, and thats really bad for the fish. Definitely exchange them for otos, their great tank cleaners and peaceful as you can get, really great fish.

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