6 inches
The Pleco is of the Loricariidae family. The Chinese Algae Eater is of the Gyrinocheilidae family.
It depends on what you are calling an "algae eater." A pleco is considered a scaleless fish. A Siamese or Chinese algae eater does have scales.
Yeah.
Because when a Algae Eater becomes fully grown it likes to eat the slime coat off the other fish. ( NOT all Algae eaters though) for example the Chinese Algae Eater WILL eat the slime coat off the other fish when it is fully grown.
Yes
Chinese algae eaters are known to be more aggressive and territorial compared to Siamese algae eaters. Siamese algae eaters are generally more peaceful and can coexist with other fish in a freshwater aquarium. Additionally, Chinese algae eaters can grow larger in size and may not be suitable for smaller tanks. Siamese algae eaters are better suited for community tanks and are more effective at controlling algae growth.
Chinese algae eaters and Siamese algae eaters are both popular choices for controlling algae in aquariums, but they have some key differences in their effectiveness. Chinese algae eaters are known to be more aggressive and may not be as effective at controlling algae as Siamese algae eaters, which are more efficient and dedicated algae eaters. Siamese algae eaters are also known to be more peaceful and compatible with other fish in the aquarium, making them a better choice for maintaining a balanced ecosystem.
It is probably getting into fights with some of the other fish in the tank.
It depends, if your goldfish are smaller than your algae eater, and big enough to fit in it's mouth, then very much so. If the goldfish are small, but too big to fit into your algae eater's mouth, then he might just injure them. But your algae eater shouldn't be so small that your goldfish could eat it. The rule with fish that I always go by is, if it can fit into it's mouth, it will be eaten.
around 2 to 2 and a half years.
Try aquatic snails, like apple snails.
Either the Chinese Butterfly (hillstream loach) or the Chinese algae eater. Both eat algae, both stay smaller than standard plecos and both are live plant safe.