Easy
Chinese algae eater black (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri black gold)
22–28°C · pH 6–8 · 200L
£7.99
Golden morph of the Chinese Algae Eater: a hardy, highly visible grazer that grows to 25 cm and needs a 200 L+ tank as a single specimen.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Gyrinocheilus aymonieri gold
Chinese algae eater gold are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour.
Golden morph of the Chinese Algae Eater: a hardy, highly visible grazer that grows to 25 cm and needs a 200 L+ tank as a single specimen.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Gold makes this workhorse impossible to miss. Gyrinocheilus aymonieri gold is the golden morph of the Chinese Algae Eater, a bottom-dwelling species from Thailand whose bright body stays visible even in heavily decorated tanks while it goes about its grazing.
Go in with open eyes about what it becomes. The busy juvenile rasping algae off your glass will grow into roughly 25 cm of territorial muscle with an aggressive adult disposition and a ten-year lifespan — which is why we recommend it only for aquariums of 200 litres and above, stocked as a single specimen. Tankmates need substance: large robust fish and large barbs hold their own, while slow-moving species, flat-bodied fish and anything small should never share its floor space.
Feeding tracks its life stage: algae features heavily in the early months, with sinking pellets and blanched vegetables taking over as the fish matures. Water requirements stay simple throughout — 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–8.0, hardness 5–20 dGH — and overall care is rated easy thanks to sheer hardiness. The common buyer questions have plain answers, too. Will it control algae forever? No — that is juvenile behaviour, and the adult menu moves on. Can two share a tank? The stocking guidance says one per aquarium, and it means it. Is it difficult to keep alive? Quite the opposite; about as undemanding as large fish get. Breeding in home aquaria is another matter entirely, rated difficult.
This golden form is the pick for keepers who want their algae eater seen, not hidden. Match it to a large, robust community from the very start — sized for the adult, not the juvenile — and you avoid the rehoming dilemma that catches out so many impulse buyers. Every order carries our live arrival guarantee and travels via licensed live-animal courier.
22–28°C · pH 6–8 · 200L
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