Fishing Information

Spawning the Chinese Algae-Eater


Gyrinocheilus aymonieri
Common name: Chinese algae-eater
Family: Gyrinocheilidae (Algae eaters)
Order: Cypriniformes (carps)
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Max size: 30 cm/ 12 inches
Water conditions: pH range: 6.0 - 8.0, temperature 25 - 28°C/ 77-82°F

I would like to say a few words about one of the bigger surprises I've had as an aquarist. A few years ago I was cleaning out a 50 gallon holding tank in which I kept fishes that were going to a new aquarium when the new aquarium was ready. I also used it for keeping fish I didn't know what else to do with. At this time this aquarium was home to twelve blue discus of about 10 cm, and four albino Chinese algae-eaters that were about 20 cm. The aquarium was overgrown with lots of C. Demersum since it had been neglected a little during the previous months. Now the time had come to clean this aquarium and try to weed out the jungle that had formed. To my big surprise I found a small (1.5 - 2cm) Chinese algae-eater fry. After looking around a little more I found a total of seven fry. I stopped the cleaning and left the aquarium as it was, since the water quality was good and I didn't want to change too much. I didn't see any reason to move the fry since they seemed big enough to !

be safe from the discus which I was moving to a 120 gallon Amazon tank in a few days anyway.

The fry survived and grew relatively fast on a diet of what they could find in the well-planted aquarium, and boiled lettuce. But I never got the parents to spawn again, and the fry themselves never spawned either. However I would like to say a few words about how the Chinese algae-eaters had been kept before the spawning, and which waters they spawned in, to see if I can help anyone else have success where I failed - to breed Chinese algae-eaters and figure out what triggers them to breed.

When I found the fry their parents had been in the holding tank for about 2-3 months. Before that I had kept them in a 50 gallon tank which was heavily circulated and contained very few plants. Temperature was 25°C/ 77°F. They were kept with clown loaches and various barbs. I've been wondering if the fact that they were kept in a heavily circulated aquarium and then moved to an aquarium with close to no circulation and warmer water (28°C/ 82°F) may have simulated a natural change in conditions that precedes spawning.

The breeding tank was as I said before, heavily planted, and had little or no circulation at all, due to the vegetation. The water was old and clean. Dh about 4. I can't say the exact water conditions as I don't know exactly when the spawning took place. However the water conditions had been relatively stable and it is reasonably safe to assume that the stated water conditions are correct.

The Chinese algae-eaters had been fed a varied diet which consisted mainly of boiled lettuce and broccoli, Hikari sinking algae wafers, and shrimps. They also ate the leftovers from the food I gave the barbs and loaches, which consisted mainly of different frozen foods.

Sexing the fishes I assume is simple. I believe it's done in the same way as Corydoras catfishes. Some fish have much broader bodies and I assume them to be females; males are more slender especially if well fed.

Getting the fish into spawning condition seems to be quite simple if they are fed a good diet. However the problem seems to be triggering them to spawn. As I said, I never got them to spawn again. Maybe you will have better luck!

By William Berg of Sweden, for http://www.aquaticcommunity.com

About The Author

Article by William Berg originally published at http://www.aquaticcommunity.com. Article may be reproduce as long as it is not edited and a live link to http://www.aquaticcommunity.com is placed in the article header. (java links and PHP links are not allowed) Included this resource box "as is with live links" on the bottom of the page.


MORE RESOURCES:

Walleye Central

Fantasy Fishing tries to hook anglers
Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN - 2 hours ago
Irwin Jacobs' new enterprise aims to promote fishing to people who don't necessarily follow pro fishing closely. It already has attracted players in 122 ...
Potoczny catches sixth in first Fantasy Fishing finals Chicago Sun-Times
Minnesota man wins $1 million for fantasy fishing | KXNet.com ... Reiten Television KXMB Bismarck
Player in Columbia "fantasy fishing" league wins $1 million WIS
FOX 9 News - FOXBusiness
all 144 news articles


The Associated Press

Man uses Barbie fishing rod to make record catch
The Associated Press - 4 hours ago
Alyssa's father had bought the pink Barbie fishing rod for Christmas and she had caught a few bluegill before her grandfather hauled in the catfish. ...
Record-breaking fish caught with Barbie Doll toy fishing pole AZFamily
Barbie fishing rod reels in record-setting catfish Madison Messenger
The Nooz: Record fish caught with Barbie rod MSNBC
News & Observer - Burlington Times News
all 129 news articles


Fishing | Coho salmon fishing picking up in Puget Sound
Seattle Times, United States - 21 hours ago
"Coho fishing is starting to pick up at Sekiu, and [Tuesday] our sampler there checked 11 boats with 20 [hatchery-marked] coho, so it looks like they're ...
Slow fly fishing blamed on full moon The Olympian
all 2 news articles


Part of Skyway Fishing Pier State Park to close
Bay News 9, FL - 6 hours ago
In order to maintain public safety, FDOT and FDEP will close the eastern portions of the fishing piers which were built in 1954 and can no longer be safely ...
Outdoors news and notes Tampabay.com
East sides of Skyway Pier to close Tampa Bay's 10
all 3 news articles


Brothers Enjoy Luxury Of Weekly Fishing Trips
WCCO, MN - 8 hours ago
(AP) ― It must seem easy for the Barber brothers, fishing this way. Driving up to Wild Rice Lake north of Duluth. Putting the 14-foot aluminum boat in at ...


King Salmon fishing season now open on Lake Sammamish
Sammamish Review, wa - 6 hours ago
Fishermen must have a fishing license and catch card, the minimum size must be 12 inches, and there is a limit of two kings per day. ...
It's prime time to see salmon and nature up close The Olympian
all 4 news articles


As summer ends, fishing habits must change
Newsday, NY - 5 hours ago
As sure as big yellow buses will be chugging down the street within a fortnight, the fishing season will take on a fall flavor during the coming weeks. ...


Two fishing boats rescued within two hours off Nantucket
Cape Cod Today, MA - 6 hours ago
The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Flyingfish is working to assist two New Bedford-based fishing vessels that are disabled about 30 miles east of Nantucket. ...
Coast Guard assists disabled New Bedford fishing boats South Coast Today
all 3 news articles


Fishing report
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA - 27 minutes ago
By The Tribune-Review Anglers fishing the Monongahela River have been picking up good numbers of flathead catfish, smallmouth bass and saugers using shiners ...
Fish Report: August 22, 2008 Allentown Morning Call
all 2 news articles


The Virginian-Pilot

Fishing Report
The News Journal, DE - 12 hours ago
Bottom fishing around the DB and DA buoys is providing up-and-down fishing for a mix of black sea bass, flounder and ling. Bottom bouncers also reported ...
Fishing forecast for week of Aug. 21-27 The Virginian-Pilot
all 2 news articles

Fishing - Google News

home | site map | Ocean Photography
© 2006