American flag fish vs SAE for BBA?

M

Mooch28

AC Members
Dec 24, 2004
809
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Toronto (Brampton)
Hey guys,

As i mentioned a few weeks back, im still batteling with some small amounts of BBA. While most of it has stoped growing, some is still visible and growing on some plants. Anyways to clean it up, i thought about getting some SAE after reading up on them. However, im having trouble finding "true" SAE in Toronto. So i did some more research, and was reccomended American Flag fish by others and the net. My question is, just how efffective are they compared to Siamese Algae Eater, and are they or do they get aggresive at all in a community tank? I havent had trouble finding the AFF so i though maybe one or two for now would be good to keep BBA down until i find true SAE.

Oh and if you do know someone who carries true SAE anyways in Toronto please let me know!
 
I have sae, ottos, and flag fish. The 2 flagfish will yank at long hair algae, (if you keep them a little hungry.)

The sae like little short fresh beard algae. The ottos like anything green and soft.

I happened to buy sae's by mistake. I argued with the salesman that they were algae eaters, but he said "NON, Ils ne mange pas d'algae!" I said oh, ok...I'll take 2.

The algae eaters look like regular flying fox only difference is they have a jagged dark line that extends to the tip of the tale. The fins of the sae have no color, or are whitish. The under body is gold, and the top line is brown with black edges at each scale. The flying fox, has a dark line running along the body and ends at the beginning of the tale.

Just look for the dark stripe of the body to end in a jagged lines right at the tip of the tail, this is the sure give away. Keep your eyes open, they are available here, and I'm sure in TO, as well.
 
Swimfins said:
I have sae, ottos, and flag fish. The 2 flagfish will yank at long hair algae, (if you keep them a little hungry.)

The sae like little short fresh beard algae. The ottos like anything green and soft.

I happened to buy sae's by mistake. I argued with the salesman that they were algae eaters, but he said "NON, Ils ne mange pas d'algae!" I said oh, ok...I'll take 2.

The algae eaters look like regular flying fox only difference is they have a jagged dark line that extends to the tip of the tale. The fins of the sae have no color, or are whitish. The under body is gold, and the top line is brown with black edges at each scale. The flying fox, has a dark line running along the body and ends at the beginning of the tale.

Just look for the dark stripe of the body to end in a jagged lines right at the tip of the tail, this is the sure give away. Keep your eyes open, they are available here, and I'm sure in TO, as well.
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Do you have a pair (male/female) of the Americans, or just two males?
 
Swimfins said:
Male and female, I call them George and Barbara....Bush of course. Since they eat 'bush' algae. :rolleyes: Har har.....errr...har.
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Lol, the reason i asked is because i hear they can get very agressive, especially the male when breeding. Ive read that you should remove the mail during this period.
 
Mooch28 said:
Oh and if you do know someone who carries true SAE anyways in Toronto please let me know!
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Have you tried Big Al's? If they don't have any in stock they may be able to order them in. I got my SAEs at the Scarborough location (Kennedy & Ellesmere).
 
Blinky said:
Have you tried Big Al's? If they don't have any in stock they may be able to order them in. I got my SAEs at the Scarborough location (Kennedy & Ellesmere).
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I have tried the one in Brampton, as that where i live, but not others. Im sure Brampton will get them sooner or later. Ill ask and see if they can order them though....
 
I haven't foound them (flagfish) particularly aggrssive. The male looks like a small cichlid. Same shape. The female is slightly smaller with at black dot on the back of the dorsal fin. I can't remember who, but someone on here put heirs outside in a rubbermaid basin for a few weeks with plants to cover, and found 8 or nine babies. They are quite hardy, will survive bad water conditions and even brackish, and they can be kept with cichlids too as they are mean little *****. But I've found mine to be peaceful...so far. They are fearless and are always at the surface of the water and will nibble my finger. They school together and I can see a school of these in a planted tank would be pretty.

On the other hand, my red rainbow is aggressive and actually bites me if I put my hand inside the tank to do something. I think the environment and stressers has alot to do with fish temperament. I just love the flagfish, they are little personalities and one of my favorites in the tank.
 
I love Arizona Aquatics, what a cool store. I wish they could ship to Canada, but I'm not shelling out 35 bucks for a health certificate and then paying duty too... :(

My mistake, the health certificate (phyto sanitary certificate) applies to plants only. You don't need and import certificate for fish or shrimp. Nice!
 
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