American-Flag Fish   Jordanella floridae

Size: up to 2.0 inches, pH: Slightly alkaline 7.1 up okay, (our waters range from 6.5 and up to 8.0 and they are fine here.)  Temp: 21C or 70F, or higher for spawning.  Origin:  Peninsular Florida north to St. Johns and Ochlockonee River drainages.

Food: Green Hair or Filamentous Algae, Some black and brown algae.  See description bwlow for more info.  Supplement with New Life Spectrum "Community Formula" found at Fish Foods

Our company is one of the largest suppliers of this magnificent algae eating fish in the U.S.  Flagfish are ideal for consuming Brown, Black Beard Algae, Green Thread Algae, Hair/String Algae, and Blanketweed.  Good with most fish except bettas or small frilly-finned fish as they will pick on them.  They will do great with larger-sized fish, and other fish of same size.  They are not interested in eating snails, but they will eat small shrimp.  We have heard numerous stories from customers of Flagfish being territorial in small aquariums but not in ponds.  In larger groups (like we have them here) we have never seen this behavior.  Basically, if you have a horrific algae outbreak and you don't have small fish or shrimp, these will come in and fix the problem, fast. Ideal for any sized pond or lake with a hair algae problem.

Rule of thumb stocking: About 1 or 2 Flagfish per 5 to 10 gallons of aquarium water. or 2 flag fish per sq. foot of surface pond area.

Above: American-Flag Fish pair.  Great photo  provided by Randy Mickiewicz. 

Juvenile  YOUR COST 3.29 each

Adults  YOUR COST 4.99 each

MORE FLAGFISH INFO

Due to the popularity that has become of these fish just in the past years, we will continue to offer them.  These are great little fish that look like a platy/cichlid cross (Biggest we've grown is 1.5 and up to 2"), we have them in the same pools of water with our Singapore Shrimp and SAE's, and they all get along fine.  We have also had them with other Platys, Mollies, and South American Cichlids too.  However, they seem to hate frilly, or long-tailed fish, we had some bettas in a pool for just one evening. and by morning a school of flag fish had eaten every one of them including most of their skeleton so this showed how aggressive they can be.  These fish are ideal for eating blanketweek or hair/string algae in ponds and will NOT be a problem with other pond fish, the flags are just too small to try and gang up on a larger koi.

All of our algae Eating "Janitors" combined together will combat any and all algae!  These shy little fellas like to hide in the plants, and are not a nuisance.  They are actually quite calm, and rest on the bottom of the aquarium or will stay near the sides of a pond where the blanketweed grows.  We have really enjoyed keeping and selling them.  Fast though!  We have a real tough time catching 'em!  

We have heard from many different people that they have added Flags to African, Asian, South American, and even Discus type tanks with no problem of the fish getting along.  Try a few with your next order.   PS  They have been real hard for us to get, so they may not always be available.  Also, we'll always try to get you a mixture of sexes (males + females), not guaranteed though, but there's no need to request it.  Males are in abundance so you're sure to get them, and consider yourself lucky to get a female!  Males are sold faster in a IPS (Independent Pet Stores) due to the colored flag pattern, females are not as pretty but have some color, and probably wouldn't sell as well in a pet store environment.  A true hobbyist will appreciate both sexes.

Click here to read info on this fish from "The Krib" website

Click here to read info on this fish from another website

Click here to read info on this fish from another website

Chinese High Fin Banded Shark  Myxocyprinus asiaticus

a.k.a. Chinese High Fin Sucker, Sailfin Sucker, Topsail Sucker, Asian Sucker, Chinese Sucker, Wimple Carp, Freshwater Batfish, Hilsa Herring, Rough Fish, Entsuyui (Japanese).

Size: up to 39" in it's wild pH: versatile 6.4 - 7.8 kH: 4-20, Temp: 55-85F Origin: SE Asia

Food: Green Hair or Filamentous Algae, Black Brush Algae, supplement with New Life Spectrum "Community Formula" or "H20 Stable Wafers" found at Fish Foods

The "Shark" appellation is a fanciful trade name due to some slight resemblance to a shark. This is a temperate (not tropical) water bottom feeder native to the Yangtze river in China.  The mature length up to a meter (39 inches) only in it's wild, but it is not known if aquarium kept individuals will survive long enough to reach this size.  We have many customers across the country who have raised them in their ponds for many years.  The largest we have seen personally is about 18".  Here is a picture of some very large Hi Fins at The Beijing Aquarium. 

These are very slow moving fish, graceful and peaceful.  They are Omnivores (but strongly herbivorous). They feed on benthic (bottom-dwelling) invertebrates and also rasp algae from rocks and logs.  But the best thing about these fish is they handle cold water wonderfully, and they eat allot of algae.  We highly suggest this fish as a beneficial part of any ecosystem.  Now obviously these fish will not get huge in an aquarium, unless your aquarium is huge, but many people will raise them from young in the house and move them outdoors when they reach  perhaps 6" or more.  This is done when the waters outside are above 65 degrees, then let them acclimate naturally to the normal seasons outdoors, they will be fine. 

Body shape and coloration changes radically with maturity.  Native to moving, cool water streams and rivers, so provide some water movement and well oxygenated water. Feed with sinking algae and plant matter containing foods (algae wafers and pellets, sinking pellets). These are a schooling fish, therefore it would be best to keep them in groups (likelihood of survival without a school not known). 

Chinese Hi Fin Banded Shark  24.99 each

24 Pack Chinese Hi Fin Banded Shark only   19.99 each  (total 479.76 a savings of 120.00)

Garra pingi pingi    Discognathus pingi

a.k.a.  Pingi Log Sucker 

A very rare bottom-dwelling fish, grows to about 5" in its native quick-flowing waters of Eastern Asia.  Should be kept in a well-planted aquarium with lots of driftwood!  A scavenger that will eat a wide variety of foods including sinking algae wafers and of course, algae!  Stock about 1 per 30 gallons 

Food: Green Hair or Filamentous Algae, Algae on  Glass, Plants and Rocks.  Supplement with New Life Spectrum "H20 Stable Wafers" found at Fish Foods

Garra pingi pingi  ONLY 9.99 each limited time   This is a GREAT price!

Golden Algae Eater  Gyrinocheilus aymonieri

Common Adult Size: usually around 4", (there is talk about them getting up to 12"),  pH: Versatile,  Temp: 74-79°F; pH 6.8-7.4;  Origin: Northern India

Food: Algae on Glass, Plants, Wood and Rocks.  Supplement with New Life Spectrum "Community Formula" or "H20 Stable Wafers" found at Fish Foods

Great algae eaters especially for glass, they will NOT harm your plants, but they can be aggressive toward other fish like Discus and Angels.   Ideal tank mates include: Cichlids of similar size, Rainbowfish, Barbs, Danios, Gouramis, larger Livebearers, Plecos, and other scavenger Catfish.  They co-exist with all fish/Shrimp we sell.  Not many of these are needed, typically 1 Golden Algae Eater per 20 gallons.  Excellent for cleaning glass!  Size at shipping: about 1.5"+ 

Food: New Life Spectrum "Community Formula" or "H20 Stable Wafers" found at Fish Foods

2.49 each (no min)

Hillstream Loach  Beaufortia kweichowensis

a.k.a.  Chinese Hillstream Loach, Borneo Sucker

Size: up to almost 2.5"  pH: 6.7  GH: 5  Temp:72 - 80 F,  Origin: China

picture credit by: Martin Thoene

Chemicals: Freshwater Essential found at Aquarium Chemicals

Food: Algae on Glass, Plants.  Supplement with Community Formula" or "H20 Stable Wafers" found at Fish Foods

This is a rare member of the loach family  At first glance it might look like a flounder of sorts, but in fact it is a very peaceful omnivore algae eater that will clean debris and algae from rocks, wood, and glass.  Males are typically larger than the females, and when they are cleaning the glass you can see their little hearts beating.  It is very beautiful to watch these fish swim across the middle of a tank.  They are small fish and stay small only to about 2.5 inches.  Click here for a side view, and for a top view.

Size at shipping: about 2" 

Hillstream Loach  YOUR COST 12.59 each

Otocinclus Algae Eater  Otocinclus affinis - LDA 23

Size: up to 2 inches, pH: versatile   Temp: 74-84°F; pH 6.8-7.5  Origin: South America

Food: Green Hair or Filamentous Algae, Some Brown Algaes. Algae on Glass, Plants and Rocks.  Supplement with New Life Spectrum "Community Formula" or "H20 Stable Wafers" found at Fish Foods

Good rule of thumb for stocking: No more than 1 per 3 gallons of water depending on your plant load.   Ideal tank mates include: Livebearers, Angels, Discus, Tetras, Barbs, Danios, Rasboras, Rainbowfish, Gouramis, Loaches, Plecos, and other scavenger Catfish.  Very  sweet, not aggressive!  These cute little fellas will gently pick algae off leaves without hurting your plants and scavenge the bottom of your tanks as well!   Size at shipping: about 1.25" 

Food: New Life Spectrum "Community Formula" or "H20 Stable Wafers" found at Fish Foods

2.99 each (no min)

Piper Shark  Labeo boga

aka:  Violet-Gilled Shark, Violet-Blushing Black Shark

Size: documented up to 8" commonly or 11" in wild.  A typical Piper Shark will stay about 4 to 5" in most aquariums.  pH: versatile 6.8 - 7  Will do great in slight alkaline water for breeding.  7.4  GH: 10, Temp: 25C or 78F Origin: SE Asia

Food: Green Hair or Filamentous Algae, algae on gravels and wood or on plants, supplement with New Life Spectrum "Community Formula" or "H20 Stable Wafers" found at Fish Foods 

Piper Shark 4.99 each (no min)

Redline Shark  Puntius denisonii

a.k.a. Roseline Shark, Red Line Barb, Red Comet

Size: up to 6"  pH:6.8 7.9  GH: 3 to 8  Temp:64-77^oF  Origin: India 

above photo credit: Thomas Zoologiska

Food: Green Hair or Filamentous Algae, Algae on Glass, Plants and Rocks.  Supplement with New Life Spectrum "Community Formula" found at Fish Foods

This gorgeous relative of the SAE-Siamese Algae Eater (Crossocheilus siamensis) is a peaceful shark that prefers a high-flow current in a robustly planted tank.  The Redline is now considered endangered in the wild but is making a big comeback in the aquarium trade due to farm raising.  Water conditions can be a little versatile with fairly soft, to slightly hard, around neutral (pH 6.5-7.5).  This species may nibble on some plants that are soft-leaved, but is not interested in intimidating plants like anubias, swords, or grasses.  It adapts best to a heavily planted tank, and instead of eating those plants he will use the plants as more of a territorial border or refuge.  The redline is an omnivore that from our experience will definitely eat some hair algae.  Click here to see a pic of a small school of Redlines. 

Size at shipping: vary about 2 - 5 ".  SHIPS GREAT!

Redline Shark  18.99 each    Amazing price! Compare at 34.99 to 59.99 with other competitors

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING UNUSUAL? We are always interested in what kind of fish you are looking for. We mainly want to hear about more rare species of fish, or fish that you don't commonly find in your local pet store. Please let us know through our email at w e b m a s t e r  @ a z g a r d e n s . c o m  (REMOVE THE SPACES FIRST)and we will post the results at this bulletin board, plus we will try and offer "the most requested" at this site in the near future. Thanks for taking the time to email us.

WHAT TO FEED YOUR ALGAE EATING FISH? For starters remember that the main reason you hired these little janitors is because they needed to clean your tank or pond up, so let them work on that first.  Most algae eater are scavengers, so they'll not only eat algae, left over foods and other waste, but also meat.  If you have a loss in the middle of the night, it won't be surprising to see Mr. SAE sucking on the corpse of your fish the next morning.  Hey man, they gotta get their protein from somewhere!  So, to make sure that your algae eating fish are getting the proper amount of nutrients and protein, we suggest using New Life Spectrum Foods.  Click here for the link.