All fish / Cyprinidae

Burmese Algae Eater

Crossocheilus burmanicus

Also known as crossocheilus cobitis, burma algae eater, burmese flying fox, false siamese algae eater, indian flying fox, garra

No free-to-use photo of this fish yet. Took one yourself? Send it to us and we will credit you.

A slim, torpedo-like cyprinid with a dark band running from snout to tail on a silvery-brown body. Like the better-known Siamese algae eater, it grazes algae and biofilm off rocks, glass and plants, so people keep it to help keep tanks clean.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more

Diet

Omnivore: algae, biofilm, sinking wafers, blanched vegetables and small frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 8 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Myanmar, northeast India and possibly Bangladesh (Brahmaputra and Irrawaddy basins)

Breeding

It scatters eggs, but breeding in home aquariums has not been reliably recorded. Fish sold in shops are mostly wild caught or bred on commercial farms using hormones.

Good to know

Crossocheilus cobitis is a poorly defined older name. Most trade fish sold under it are probably C. burmanicus or a related species, and are easily confused with the Siamese algae eater (C. oblongus) and flying foxes. Give it a tight-fitting lid and well-oxygenated, flowing water.