{"product_id":"gold-chinese-algae-eater-gyrinocheilus-aymonieri","title":"Gold Chinese Algae Eater | Gyrinocheilus aymonieri","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA golden form of the Chinese Algae Eater — hardy and a keen grazer when young, but it grows large and increasingly territorial with age. Reaching around 25–28 cm, this is not the small, permanent algae crew it is sometimes sold as; it needs a robust tank with space planned well ahead and tankmates chosen with care.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to the large rivers and streams of the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. It lives in fast-flowing, well-oxygenated water, clinging to rocks and submerged wood with its sucker-like mouth and grazing the biofilm.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn elongated, torpedo-shaped fish with a sucker mouth and, in this variety, a bright golden-yellow to pale body instead of the mottled brown wild colour. As it matures it thickens noticeably and develops small tubercles around the snout.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and useful when young, but genuinely semi-aggressive and territorial as it grows. Older fish may harass tankmates and are known to latch onto the flanks of flat-sided, slow fish to rasp at their slime coat. Best kept singly in a spacious tank with fast, robust tankmates, or in a species setup.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn omnivore that grazes biofilm and algae when young but takes more prepared and meaty foods with age. Offer algae wafers, sinking pellets, blanched vegetables and some frozen foods. As it matures it eats less algae, so do not rely on it as your only clean-up crew.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHardy and beginner-friendly to keep alive, but its adult size and temperament make it a long-term commitment. Provide a large tank with strong flow, high oxygen, rockwork and driftwood to graze and hide among, and clean, well-filtered water.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEssentially not bred in home aquaria; commercial stock is produced on farms using hormone induction. Adults are difficult to sex and spawning is not practical in a typical tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGyrinocheilus aymonieri\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGold Chinese Algae Eater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMekong \u0026amp; Chao Phraya basins, South-East Asia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e25–28 cm (up to ~30 cm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–10 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSemi-aggressive (territorial with age)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e300+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (grazer)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–8.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–20 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge, robust community and river-style aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMostly (may rasp at soft leaves)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFast, robust fish that can hold their own — larger barbs, danios, rainbowfish, medium peaceful cichlids and other large, active species in a roomy tank.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSlow, flat-bodied or long-finned fish (angelfish, discus, gouramis, fancy goldfish) that may be rasped at, small delicate fish, and other territorial bottom-dwellers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232873726243,"sku":"AA3660-S","price":7.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232873759011,"sku":"AA3660","price":7.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232873791779,"sku":"BA9333","price":15.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-25cm)","offer_id":55351970693411,"sku":"AA3660-XL","price":20.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/gold-chinese-algae-eater-gyr-43091554304291-lv.webp?v=1790307470","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/gold-chinese-algae-eater-gyrinocheilus-aymonieri","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}