other · freshwater

Chinese Algae Eater: adult size, tank size & tankmates

The Chinese Algae Eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri) grows to about 13 in (28 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 60 inches long and about 80 gallons. It doesn't need a group of its own kind, at 72–79°F.

Try it in the tank builder See tankmates

How big it really gets

Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.

Outgrows most home tanks. Sold as a small algae cleaner; grows to 11 inches, abandons algae eating, and latches onto tankmates to suck off slime coat.

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Quick facts

Adult size: 13 in (28 cm SL)
Minimum tank: 60 inches long and about 80 gallons
Temperature: 72–79°F
pH: 6–8
Hardness: 2–20 dGH
Group size: 1 (solitary or pair)
With other fish: aggressive
With its own kind: aggressive
Swims: bottom of the tank
Diet: omnivore
Care level: intermediate
Lifespan: 15 years

Watch for: eats shrimp · jumps, so keep a lid

Chinese Algae Eater tankmates

Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.

Good tankmates

Use caution

Avoid

All 105 species we checked against the Chinese Algae Eater

Species	Verdict	Why
Angelfish	Compatible	No conflicts found
Assassin Snail	Compatible	No conflicts found
Black Skirt Tetra	Compatible	No conflicts found
Blood Parrot Cichlid	Compatible	No conflicts found
Convict Cichlid	Compatible	No conflicts found
Dwarf Gourami	Compatible	No conflicts found
Electric Blue Acara	Compatible	No conflicts found
Electric Yellow Lab	Compatible	No conflicts found
Firemouth Cichlid	Compatible	No conflicts found
Japanese Trapdoor Snail	Compatible	No conflicts found
Kissing Gourami	Compatible	No conflicts found
Malaysian Trumpet Snail	Compatible	No conflicts found
Nerite Snail	Compatible	No conflicts found
Oscar	Compatible	No conflicts found
Pictus Catfish	Compatible	No conflicts found
Rainbow Shark	Compatible	No conflicts found
Ramshorn Snail	Compatible	No conflicts found
Red-Tail Shark	Compatible	No conflicts found
Three-spot Gourami	Compatible	No conflicts found
Yoyo Loach	Compatible	No conflicts found
Betta	Caution	Chinese Algae Eater grows 4× longer than Betta and may treat it as food.
Buenos Aires Tetra	Caution	Chinese Algae Eater grows 5× longer than Buenos Aires Tetra and may treat it as food.
Mystery Snail	Caution	Chinese Algae Eater (pH 6–8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Chinese Algae Eater (2–20 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness.
Paradise Fish	Caution	Chinese Algae Eater and Paradise Fish only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.
Pea Puffer	Caution	Chinese Algae Eater grows 10× longer than Pea Puffer and may treat it as food.
Serpae Tetra	Caution	Chinese Algae Eater grows 7× longer than Serpae Tetra and may treat it as food.
Tiger Barb	Caution	Chinese Algae Eater grows 5× longer than Tiger Barb and may treat it as food.
African Dwarf Frog	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 10× longer than African Dwarf Frog and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. African Dwarf Frog is peaceful.
Amano Shrimp	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater will eat Amano Shrimp.
Bala Shark	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Bala Shark is peaceful.
Bamboo Shrimp	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater will eat Bamboo Shrimp.
Black Neon Tetra	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 8× longer than Black Neon Tetra and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Black Neon Tetra is peaceful.
Bleeding Heart Tetra	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 5× longer than Bleeding Heart Tetra and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Bleeding Heart Tetra is peaceful.
Boesemani Rainbowfish	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater (72–79°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Boesemani Rainbowfish is peaceful.
Bolivian Ram	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Bolivian Ram is peaceful.
Bristlenose Pleco	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Bristlenose Pleco is peaceful.
Bronze Cory	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Bronze Cory is peaceful.
Bumblebee Goby	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 8× longer than Bumblebee Goby and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Bumblebee Goby is peaceful.
Cardinal Tetra	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 8× longer than Cardinal Tetra and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Cardinal Tetra is peaceful.
Celestial Pearl Danio	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 13× longer than Celestial Pearl Danio and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Celestial Pearl Danio is peaceful.
Cherry Barb	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 6× longer than Cherry Barb and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Cherry Barb is peaceful.
Cherry Shrimp	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater will eat Cherry Shrimp.
Chili Rasbora	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 14× longer than Chili Rasbora and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Chili Rasbora is peaceful.
Clown Killifish	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 8× longer than Clown Killifish and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Clown Killifish is peaceful.
Clown Loach	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Clown Loach is peaceful.
Clown Pleco	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Clown Pleco is peaceful.
Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid is peaceful.
Common / Comet Goldfish	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Common / Comet Goldfish is peaceful.
Common Pleco	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Common Pleco is peaceful.
Congo Tetra	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Congo Tetra is peaceful.
Crystal Red Shrimp	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater will eat Crystal Red Shrimp.
Denison Barb	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Denison Barb is peaceful.
Diamond Tetra	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 5× longer than Diamond Tetra and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Diamond Tetra is peaceful.
Discus	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater and Discus only share 79–79°F. That's a tight window.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Discus is peaceful.
Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish is peaceful.
Ember Tetra	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 14× longer than Ember Tetra and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Ember Tetra is peaceful.
Endler's Livebearer	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 11× longer than Endler's Livebearer and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Endler's Livebearer is peaceful.
Fancy Goldfish	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater (72–79°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Fancy Goldfish is peaceful.
Forktail Blue-eye	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 5× longer than Forktail Blue-eye and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Forktail Blue-eye is peaceful.
German Blue Ram	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater (72–79°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures.; Chinese Algae Eater grows 7× longer than German Blue Ram and may treat it as food.
Ghost Shrimp	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater will eat Ghost Shrimp.
Giant Danio	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Giant Danio is peaceful.
Glass Catfish	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 4× longer than Glass Catfish and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Glass Catfish is peaceful.
Glowlight Tetra	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 7× longer than Glowlight Tetra and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Glowlight Tetra is peaceful.
Gold Barb	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Gold Barb is peaceful.
Guppy	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 5× longer than Guppy and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Guppy is peaceful.
Harlequin Rasbora	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 6× longer than Harlequin Rasbora and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Harlequin Rasbora is peaceful.
Head-and-tail-light Tetra	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 6× longer than Head-and-tail-light Tetra and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Head-and-tail-light Tetra is peaceful.
Hillstream Loach	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 4× longer than Hillstream Loach and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Hillstream Loach is peaceful.
Honey Gourami	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 5× longer than Honey Gourami and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Honey Gourami is peaceful.
Iridescent Shark	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Iridescent Shark is peaceful.
Julii Cory	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 5× longer than Julii Cory and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Julii Cory is peaceful.
Kribensis	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Kribensis is peaceful.
Kuhli Loach	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Kuhli Loach is peaceful.
Lambchop Rasbora	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 9× longer than Lambchop Rasbora and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Lambchop Rasbora is peaceful.
Lemon Tetra	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 7× longer than Lemon Tetra and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Lemon Tetra is peaceful.
Marbled Hatchetfish	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 8× longer than Marbled Hatchetfish and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Marbled Hatchetfish is peaceful.
Molly	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Molly is peaceful.
Moonlight Gourami	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Moonlight Gourami is peaceful.
Neon Tetra	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 9× longer than Neon Tetra and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Neon Tetra is peaceful.
Odessa Barb	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 6× longer than Odessa Barb and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Odessa Barb is peaceful.
Otocinclus	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 8× longer than Otocinclus and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Otocinclus is peaceful.
Panda Cory	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 6× longer than Panda Cory and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Panda Cory is peaceful.
Pearl Danio	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 5× longer than Pearl Danio and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Pearl Danio is peaceful.
Pearl Gourami	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Pearl Gourami is peaceful.
Penguin Tetra	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 8× longer than Penguin Tetra and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Penguin Tetra is peaceful.
Peppered Cory	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Peppered Cory is peaceful.
Platy	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 6× longer than Platy and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Platy is peaceful.
Pristella Tetra	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 6× longer than Pristella Tetra and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Pristella Tetra is peaceful.
Pygmy Cory	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 9× longer than Pygmy Cory and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Pygmy Cory is peaceful.
Rosy Barb	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Rosy Barb is peaceful.
Rummy-nose Tetra	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 6× longer than Rummy-nose Tetra and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Rummy-nose Tetra is peaceful.
Scissortail Rasbora	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Scissortail Rasbora is peaceful.
Siamese Algae Eater	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Siamese Algae Eater is peaceful.
Silver Hatchetfish	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 7× longer than Silver Hatchetfish and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Silver Hatchetfish is peaceful.
Silver Tip Tetra	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 6× longer than Silver Tip Tetra and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Silver Tip Tetra is peaceful.
Sparkling Gourami	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 7× longer than Sparkling Gourami and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Sparkling Gourami is peaceful.
Sterbai Cory	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 4× longer than Sterbai Cory and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Sterbai Cory is peaceful.
Swordtail	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Swordtail is peaceful.
Tinfoil Barb	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Tinfoil Barb is peaceful.
Upside-down Catfish	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Upside-down Catfish is peaceful.
Variatus Platy	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 6× longer than Variatus Platy and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Variatus Platy is peaceful.
Weather Loach	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Weather Loach is peaceful.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater and White Cloud Mountain Minnow only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.; Chinese Algae Eater grows 7× longer than White Cloud Mountain Minnow and may treat it as food.
Zebra Danio	Avoid	Chinese Algae Eater grows 6× longer than Zebra Danio and may treat it as food.; Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Zebra Danio is peaceful.

Care notes

Needs: Stops eating algae as adult and attacks broad-sided fish to consume protective slime coat and flesh; needs high oxygen

Group: Fiercely territorial benthic solitary fish; attacks conspecifics and similar elongated bottom dwellers relentlessly

Temperament: aggressive toward other fish, aggressive toward its own kind. Lives in the bottom of the tank.

Common questions

How big does a Chinese Algae Eater get?

About 13 inches (28 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.

What size tank does a Chinese Algae Eater need?

At least 60 inches long and about 80 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 125 gallon.

How many Chinese Algae Eaters should be kept together?

It can be kept on its own. Fiercely territorial benthic solitary fish; attacks conspecifics and similar elongated bottom dwellers relentlessly

What fish can live with a Chinese Algae Eater?

Species that passed every check include Dwarf Gourami, Angelfish, Nerite Snail, Electric Blue Acara, Firemouth Cichlid, Black Skirt Tetra.

Gear for a Chinese Algae Eater setup

TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 125 gallon (72 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 2 × 300 W for 125 gallons, holding 72–79°F.Find on Amazon →LidIt jumps. A full lid keeps it in the tank.Find on Amazon →FoodSinking food reaches the bottom before tankmates grab it.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →

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Sources

Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: verified. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.

seriouslyfish.com /species/gyrinocheilus-aymonieri
fishbase.se /summary/Gyrinocheilus-aymonieri.html