🐟 Siamese Algae Eater (Crossocheilus oblongus, syn. C. siamensis)
Freshwater Peaceful Algae Specialist • Genuinely the Only Reliable Black Beard Algae Eater • A Genuinely Widely Mislabeled Species — We Verify Ours
 
📋 We want to be genuinely upfront about something important: the true Siamese Algae Eater is genuinely one of the most widely mislabeled fish in the aquarium trade, with several visually similar species — the False SAE, the Flying Fox, and other Crossocheilus relatives — frequently sold under the same name, often without the seller realizing it. The genuine article is identifiable by its jagged-edged black stripe running fully into the tail fin, no golden stripe above it, no dark blotch near the anal fin, and a drab gold-brown-silver body rather than the more colorful lookalikes.
This distinction matters practically: the true Siamese Algae Eater is genuinely the only fish reliably known to eat black beard and red/brush algae, two of the most stubborn algae types in the hobby, which lookalike species generally will not touch.
Genuinely a peaceful schooling fish, this species does best in groups of four to six, and rests in a distinctive propped-up posture on its fins rather than lying flat — a genuine identifying behavior worth knowing.
 
⚫🌿 Highlights
🎯 Genuinely the Only Reliable Black Beard Algae Eater: A real specialist among algae-eating fish
🔍 Genuinely Widely Mislabeled Species: We verify true identification before listing
👥 Genuine Peaceful Schooler: Best kept in groups of four to six
📏 Moderate Size: Genuinely up to 15cm
🌿 Genuinely Plant-Safe: Focuses on algae, not healthy vegetation