Chinese Algae Eater The chinese algae eater is an adequate algae eater until this fish reaches a size of about three inches, when it becomes a scavenger. Also, Chinese algae eaters become aggressive so these fish will work well as scavengers in a larger fish tank, but may not be suitable for small fish tanks. Most Chinese algae eaters come from streams in Thailand, not China. Scientific name: Gyrinocheilos aymonieri Origin: Thailand Max Size: 9 inches Food: Scavanger, flake food, algae eater Shipping Size: Approx. 1 inch