AboutRon Coleman Expertise I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish. Please do not ask me questions about why your goldfish are sick -- they are almost always sick due to the way that they are sold). Also, please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen
eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. Thanks.
Experience I teach at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>. I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I am editor of Cichlid News magazine. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.<BR><BR><B>Organizations belong to</b><BR>American Cichlid Association, Pacific Coast Cichlid Association, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, etc<BR><BR><B>Publications</b><BR>Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes<BR><BR><B>Education/Credentials</b><BR>PhD (Toronto, 1993) MSc (Simon Fraser, 1986) BSc (British Columbia, 1983)<BR>
Expert: Ron Coleman Date: 3/24/2008 Subject: sick chinese algae eater
Question QUESTION: My algae eater was fine and today I found he is struggling to move and looks like he is trying to go belly up. I have had him in a 10 gal tank with 3 old neons (the 4th died two days ago I think from old age) and a mickey mouse platy. He had kept my tank so clean, but I moved the tank from work to home last Thurs, and since then the algae is worse than I have ever seen it. Should I put him out of his misery or is there any hope. I got him about 4 months ago or so and he never seemed to get any bigger. I heard this type of fish was supposed to get bigger, but I don't know how fast...
ANSWER: Hi Kim,
I wouldn't "put him out of his misery". BTW, they grow very slowly.
The algae could be much worse if the tank is now getting more light. Is that a possibility?
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I did find him dead this morning. The tank is probably about a year old and the lighting remains on about 8 hours a day. I think he must have slowed his eating after moving the tank home. I just guess it was the shock of the 30 minute drive. The fish that are in there now all seem healthy enough. I am going to the fish store today to find another algae eating member to add. Any recommendations?
ANSWER: Hi Kim,
I'm sorry to hear that he died.
Personally I like suckermouth catfish (plecostomus).
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I have had them, but found they make just about as much mess as they clean... I will probably go back that route though because they were much heartier than other things I've tried. Do you know if I should treat for algae while raising a couple of mickey mouse platys?
Answer Hi Kim,
You shouldn't really think of algae eaters or plecostomus as doing the work for you. You still have to clean the tank regardless of whether you have these in there or not.
I never "treat" for algae. Do you mean add a chemical to kill the algae? If so, I never do that. Algae is a natural part of any aquatic system.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
