Can you put Chinese algae eaters with goldfish?
Rachel Hernandez
Published Mar 29, 2026
Can you put Chinese algae eaters with goldfish?
Additionally, Chinese algae eaters’ temperament and changing diet can make them a poor match for goldfish. When they’re young, Chinese algae eaters tend to eat algae. But as they grow, their diets change. Since a fish’s body slime helps protect it from infection, this can be a serious problem for the goldfish.
Can algae eaters eat goldfish food?
Green peas are not only a great vegetable for supplementing the diet of your algae eaters, they also can help to regulate the digestion of your other fish. Goldfish in particular can benefit greatly from the fiber in green peas.
What can I feed my Chinese algae eater?
Feed them small pieces of lettuce, spinach or zucchini. They don’t need a set diet, as they will feed themselves on algae and scavenge any food their tank mates have not eaten. Just regularly check that they have a supply of algae and occasionally supplement this with live or frozen foods and they will be fine.
Should I Feed My Chinese algae eater?
Food & Diet Recommendations The interesting thing about Chinese Algae Eaters is that their diets tend to change as they get older. When they are young, these fish have no problem feeding off algae. Many owners don’t even feed them because they get ample nutrients from cleaning up the tank.
Can clown plecos live with goldfish?
Both types stay small and shouldn’t bother the goldfish too much. Just remember that plecos eat algae, but you shouldn’t rely on that as their only food source. Putting veggies in the tank for them is good. Also, plecos need driftwood to rasp on so if you don’t have any in your tank already you would need to get some.
Why is my algae eater eating my fish?
There is some evidence to suggest that poorly fed algae eaters are more likely to try to feed on the sides of other fish. Evidence suggests that they attack the slime coat as they are looking for nutrients and will attach to the sides of other fish to try to feed on this.
Do algae eaters need fish food?
The main reason why many aquarists opt for algae eaters in their tank is right there in the name – they eat algae that appears in the aquarium. However, these fish are not self-sufficient when it comes to their diet, so you’ll still have to feed them daily, hence algae wafers.
Do Chinese algae eaters stop eating algae?
The Chinese algae-eater is not from China; it’s from Thailand. Nor is it a good algae-eater, though it will eat some slime algae when young. If not eating algae was the worst of it, it would be no big deal, but it gets worse. Chinese algae-eaters become quite aggressive when they grow.
What fish can go with goldfish?
With these ground rules in mind, here are our top 10 tank mates that we have personally tested and found to be compatible with goldfish:
- Hillstream Loach.
- Brochis multiradiatus.
- Dojo Loach.
- Bristlenose Pleco.
- Rubbernose Pleco.
- White Cloud Mountain Minnows.
- Ricefish.
- Hoplo Catfish.