Will Siamese Algae Eaters Eat Fry?

Last Updated on January 16, 2022 by cmoarz

(True) Siamese Algae eaters are omnivorous and will do a fantastic job cleaning up algae from the glass and walls of your aquarium.

But is that the only thing they will eat, or will Siamese algae eaters eat fry as well? Is it safe to have them in a breeding tank with other fish or will it pose problems?

So, Will Siamese Algae Eaters Eat Fry?

Yes, as opportunistic omnivores, SAE will indeed eat fry and eggs. In fact, They will eat just about anything that can fit into their mouths and that they think will taste good.

The only time you could have an SAE and fry is if the eggs are hard to find or if you can remove them before the SAE spots them. Sometimes it doesn’t seem possible, but as usual, as soon as you turn your back…it happens. You should be forewarned about this.

Siamese algae eaters will not eat eggs bigger than their mouths, however, And once the fry is large enough they should be safe as well.

Even with adequate cover, your SAE is likely to hunt the fry, as the SAE is fairly small itself, and slim enough to fit into many places that fry could hide.

As a note of interest, clown loaches have been shown to be fairly good protectors for fry and will often scare SAE’s away from the area.

So is it safe to keep SAE in your breeding tanks? Yes, but only if they are breeding tanks and not hatchery tanks.

You should remove any eggs or fry into an appropriate predator-free aquarium or breeders box or else face the consequences of lost fry.

Do Algae Eaters Eat Their Babies?

A true Siamese algae eater will generally not eat it’s own young unless conditions are exceptionally poor and they have no choice.

However, other algae eaters such as the Plecostomus and Otocinclus may, very much so, eat their own young if conditions are bad enough or they can fit them into their mouth or they don’t recognize them as their own.

Chinese algae eaters, which are often confused for siamese algae eaters, are very aggressive and have been known to eat their own young and also kill and injure other tank mates.

The short answer is that some algae eaters will eat their own fry if conditions are bad enough, but generally, it isn’t a problem.

As with any breeding tank, fry is better off being separated from adults whenever possible.

If you plan to keep the fry with their parents, be sure there is plenty of cover in the form of plants and small decorations that fry can get into but the adults can’t.

Be diligent about removing the parents if any signs of cannibalization are happening.

Do Siamese Algae Eaters Eat Other Fish?

True Siamese algae eaters are peaceful and friendly social fish. They are not likely to eat other fish.

They make wonderful community fish (outside of breeding tanks) and are often kept with other peaceful species.

As opportunistic omnivores, SAE will eat just about anything that can fit into their mouths and that they think tastes good.

However, that doesn’t mean they are aggressive in any way, just opportunistic.

They are also small enough to go after smaller tank mates, but not large enough to eat them unless really hungry or there are no other options…which is bad news for the small fish such as fry.

However, if they are kept with fish smaller than themselves or fish that are significantly smaller, Siamese algae eaters will consider them food. As always, everyone is safer when there is cover for them to hide in.

Will Siamese Algae Eaters Eat Guppy Fry?

Yes, If the fry doesn’t seek cover and get noticed by the SAE, they will be eaten.

Siamese algae eaters are opportunistic omnivores and will eat just about anything that can fit into their mouths and that they think tastes good.

Guppy fry is no exception.

Again, they are small enough to go after the fry, but not large enough to eat them unless really hungry or there are no other options…which is bad news for the fry.

As always, everyone is safer when there is cover for them to hide in.