Chinese Algae Eater
Gyrinocheilus aymonieri
Gyrinocheilidae
FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
About
Despite the trade name, the Chinese algae eater comes from the Mekong, Chao Phraya and Mae Klong basins of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, not China. It is an elongated, brownish fish with a dark, bumpy lateral stripe and a powerful sucker mouth used to cling to rocks in flowing water; gold and albino strains are common in shops. Sold small as an industrious algae grazer, it grows to around 28 cm, becomes territorial with age and may latch onto the flanks of slow, flat-bodied fish such as angelfish or discus to rasp their slime coat, so it is largely unsuitable for a general community tank.
Care
Needs a large (300 L+, 150 cm long), well-oxygenated tank with current, rockwork and a tight lid; keep singly with fast, robust tankmates and never with angelfish, discus or other slow flat-bodied fish.
Diet
Juveniles graze algae and biofilm effectively; adults eat far less algae, so offer algae wafers, blanched vegetables (courgette, spinach, peas) and occasional frozen foods like bloodworm or Daphnia.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (75)
African Butterfly CichlidAgassiz's CoryAmano ShrimpAssassin SnailBamboo ShrimpBanjo CatfishBlack Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBlack Ruby BarbBlackline RasboraBladder SnailBleeding Heart TetraBloodfin TetraBlue Velvet ShrimpBolivian RamBristlenose PlecoBronze CorydorasCelestial Pearl DanioCherry BarbCherry ShrimpClown PlecoCochu's Blue TetraCongo TetraDiamond TetraDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Orange CrayfishEmerald CoryEmperor TetraFlame TetraForktail RainbowfishFreshwater ClamGhost ShrimpGlass CatfishGlowlight TetraGolden Dwarf CichlidGolden PencilfishGolden TetraHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraHoney GouramiJulii CoryKeyhole CichlidKribensisLemon TetraLittle CorydorasMalaysian Trumpet SnailMystery SnailOtocinclusPenguin TetraPictus CatfishPlatyPurple Emperor TetraPygmy CorydorasRamshorn SnailRed Whiptail CatfishRosy TetraSalt and Pepper CoryScarlet BadisScissortail RasboraSiamese Algae EaterSilver Tip TetraSkunk CorySparkling GouramiStriped KribensisStriped Raphael CatfishThai Micro CrabThick-lipped GouramiUmbrella Dwarf CichlidUpside-down CatfishVampire ShrimpVenezuelan CoryWrestling HalfbeakX-ray Tetra
Possible with care (158)
Acei CichlidAfrican ButterflyfishAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAltum AngelfishAngelfishAuratus CichlidBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Black Skirt TetraBlood Parrot CichlidBlue AcaraBlue Dolphin CichlidBlue Tiger ShrimpBoesemani RainbowfishBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Borneo SuckerBrevis Shell DwellerBrichard's TeleogrammaBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Buenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidBumblebee CichlidBumblebee GobyButterfly Hillstream LoachCalvus CichlidCardinal TetraCelebes RainbowfishCheckerboard CichlidCheckered BarbChili RasboraChocolate CichlidChocolate GouramiClown KillifishCobalt Blue ZebraCockatoo Dwarf CichlidColombian Ramshorn SnailCompressiceps CichlidCongo Dwarf CichlidConvict CichlidCuckoo CatfishCylindricus CichlidCyprichromisDemasoni CichlidDenison BarbDiscusDoctor FishDogtooth CichlidDojo (Weather) LoachDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Pea PufferDwarf Petricola CatfishDwarf RasboraElectric Blue AhliElectric Yellow LabElephantnose FishEllioti CichlidElongate MbunaEmber TetraEndler's LivebearerEven-spotted SynodontisFeatherfin SqueakerFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 PufferFiremouth CichlidFive-bar CichlidGerman Blue RamGlowlight DanioGold BarbGolden JulieGolden Wonder KillifishGreen DiscusGreen Neon TetraGreen TerrorGuppyHeckel DiscusHongi CichlidJack DempseyJapanese Trapdoor SnailJewel CichlidJohanni CichlidKenyi CichlidKissing GouramiKuhli LoachLambchop RasboraLeast KillifishLemon CichlidLeopard DanioLivingstoniMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMaingano CichlidMalawi EyebiterMarble HatchetfishMarlieri CichlidMasked JulieMedaka RicefishMollyMoonlight GouramiMultifasciatus Shell DwellerNeon TetraNerite SnailOcellatus Shell DwellerOdessa BarbPanda CorydorasParadise FishParaguay EartheaterPeaceful BettaPeacock CichlidPearl DanioPearl GouramiPeppered CorydorasPolka Dot LoachPort CichlidPowder Blue CichlidRabbit SnailRainbow CichlidRainbow SharkRed DevilRed EmpressRed RainbowfishRed Zebra CichlidRed-Tail SharkRedhead CichlidRegan's JulieReticulated Hillstream LoachRosy BarbRubber Lip PlecoRummynose TetraRusty CichlidSailfin MollySalvini CichlidSand-sifting XenotilapiaSaulosi CichlidSerpae TetraSeverumSimilis Shell DwellerSpotted HoploStar SapphireSterbai CorydorasStrawberry RasboraSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpSunshine PeacockSveni EartheaterSwordtailT-Bar CichlidTaiwan Reef CichlidTexas CichlidThreadfin AcaraThreadfin PetrochromisThreadfin RainbowfishThree-spot GouramiTiger BarbTurquoise RainbowfishUaru (Triangle Cichlid)Venustus (Giraffe Cichlid)White Cloud Mountain MinnowYoyo LoachZebra DanioZebra MbunaZebra Pleco
Avoid (38)
Adonis PlecoBala SharkBlack Moor GoldfishClown LoachComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCommon PlecoCrystal Red ShrimpDemon EartheaterDuboisi TropheusEndlicheri BichirFantail GoldfishFrontosaGoby CichlidGreen Spotted PufferfishIridescent SharkJaguar CichlidKoiMalawi HawkOranda GoldfishOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPike CichlidRanchu GoldfishRed TerrorReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRosy Red MinnowRoyal PlecoRyukin GoldfishSailfin PlecoShubunkin GoldfishSilver ArowanaSilver MoonyTelescope GoldfishTropheusWolf Cichlid
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
There is no reliable way to sex this species by eye. That is the honest answer, not a gap in our data.
All the methods, with diagramsAlso in these lists
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Chinese Algae Eater need?
- A Chinese Algae Eater needs an aquarium of at least 300 litres (79.3 US gallons) with a footprint at least 150 cm (59.1 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Chinese Algae Eater need?
- Chinese Algae Eater does best at 20–28 °C (68–82.4 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 2–20 °dGH.
- Is the Chinese Algae Eater suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Chinese Algae Eater is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.
Sources
Water & tank
Temperature20–28°C
Optimal temp.23–26°C
pH6–8
Hardness (GH)2–20°d
Carbonate (KH)2–15°d
Adult size28 cm
Min. volume≥ 300 L
Min. tank length≥ 150 cm
Swimming zoneBottom
TemperamentSemi-aggressive
Water typeFreshwater
FlowModerate
Lifespan~15 yrs
Try in the calculator