Siamese Algae Eater Identification Guide

Key identification features

• Slender, torpedo-shaped body, silvery-gold to tan in color
• A single bold, straight-edged black stripe running from the snout through the eye to the base of the tail, without curving upward
• No barbels at the corners of the mouth
• Small ventral mouth with fine rasping teeth for scraping algae
• Clear or lightly tinted fins without strong black edging
• Typically reaches 5-6 inches (13-16 cm)

Common look-alikes

• Flying fox — very similar stripe but bordered above by a gold line, and has small barbels at the mouth that Siamese algae eaters lack
• False Siamese algae eater (Garra species) — stripe often breaks up or curves near the tail rather than running straight and solid
• Chinese algae eater — stripe is fainter, blotchy, and tends to fade with age rather than staying bold and continuous

Where you'll see one

Native to fast-flowing rivers and streams with rocky substrates in Thailand and the Mekong basin of Southeast Asia. It grazes algae from rocks and wood in well-oxygenated water and is often seen in small loose groups near the bottom.