Siamese Algae Eater tank mates
One of the few fish that genuinely eats black beard algae. Grows to 15 cm and becomes territorial with age. Not a low-maintenance algae solution.
Common mistakeBuying two or three SAEs for algae control in a 60–100L tank is how keepers invent territory fights and idle adults. They grow toward 15 cm, often stop prioritising algae once well fed, and quarrel with their own kind in short footprints. One fish in a larger planted tank beats a cleanup crew fantasy.
Each name below opens a pair check with Siamese Algae Eater. That check is the decision, not the list itself.
Usually safer companions
Conservative shortlist from this profile. Open a pair page before you buy.
None listed here. Use the pair checker with species you are considering.
Risky or situational
May work with more water, a mature system, or a species-only setup. Read the pair page before you experiment.
Angelfish is flagged predatory. Equal-size adults usually coexist, but the moment one is stressed, sick, or smaller after a moult, it becomes prey. Angelfish is rated semi-aggressive, so expect chasing, fin damage, or display behaviour directed at Siamese Algae Eater. Run the pair checker before stocking.
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Marked risky or situational on the profile. Tank length and group size change the outcome more than a temperament label does.
Fish to avoid with Siamese Algae Eater
Predation, aggression, or space rules on this profile. Treat these as poor default mixes.
Jack Dempsey is rated aggressive and Siamese Algae Eater is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Oscar reaches 35cm and is flagged predatory. Siamese Algae Eater at 15cm is prey-sized for it. Oscar needs at least 300L, far above the 100L minimum for Siamese Algae Eater. The tank that houses one stresses the other. Oscar is rated aggressive and Siamese Algae Eater is rated peaceful. No community-style planning carries that gap.
Tank size and groups
- Published minimum for Siamese Algae Eater: 100L. Group minimum 1 .
- Compatibility changes when the tank is too short for turning, too little for a real school, or too warm for one species and not the other. That is why pair checks include tank context, not only temperament.
- Nearest litre hub to this minimum: 100L hub.
Easier alternatives to consider
Hardier first-tank names from the library. Still read the profile. Not a substitute for reading this one.
Plan before you buy
Start a pair check with Siamese Algae Eater, or open a starter plan with the top safer companions in the builder.
Tank hubs: 100L
Related reading
Guides that list other fish with the same trait, so you can plan around the group rather than one row.
- Beginner-friendly freshwater fish →
Siamese Algae Eater is on this list. Hardier options for a first stock.
- Peaceful community fish →
Other peaceful species to shortlist beside Siamese Algae Eater.
Filtration & heating
A 100L minimum tank for Siamese Algae Eater needs a filter rated for at least 400L/hr turnover and a heater maintaining 24–28°C.
Similar fish (same category)
- Clown Pleco · min 110L
- Bristlenose Pleco · min 80L
- Otocinclus · min 60L
- Royal pleco · min 500L
- Common Pleco · min 600L
Related (care + temperament)
Other species that list Siamese Algae Eater
Reverse lookup: these profiles reference Siamese Algae Eater under safe or “best with” lists.
Featured compatibility checks
Curated pair pages for Siamese Algae Eater. Each opens a full verdict — not just a list label.
Siamese Algae Eater tank mates — quick answers
- What fish can live with Siamese Algae Eater?
- This hub has no “usually safer” (GOOD) companions for Siamese Algae Eater. Workable neighbours sit in caution — for example Angelfish, Cherry Barb, Harlequin Rasbora, Neon Tetra. Treat every name as a pair check, not a shopping list.
- What tank mates should you avoid with Siamese Algae Eater?
- Avoid Jack Dempsey, Oscar based on size, temperament, or predation risk on this profile.
- What size tank do Siamese Algae Eater need for a community?
- 100L is the planning floor for adult swimming space and bioload. A 122L+ tank is the more comfortable long-term footprint. Length and depth matter as much as raw litres for active or territorial fish.