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How can I tell if my Otos are getting enough to eat ? They cleaned my tank of all algae within the first day and I never see them eat. I put in algae wafers, I've put in zuchini (both of which the platys but not once have I seen any of the Otos eat anything. They are always just stuck on the back of the tank somewhere - well except once which like to be upside down in the cave.

hey there,

first off i wanna say that besides corys, ottos are the most peacful and nice fish i know. Secondly, i have bought six ottos i believe, for our 55g and we had same concers as you do. Well its been at least a month and a half and 5 of them are still alive. Unfortunately we've lost one of them, why and how i'm not sure. It was sudden and painless i hope. Anyhow i dont kno how u cant see them, maybe cuz ur tank is full of plants and stuff, cuz we see ours all the time, they're either stuck to the log, glass, plants, heater or the pipe for the filter. I guess thats how they eat, cuz i havent seen them eat any other way or anything else except zucchinis.

So i wouldnt be concerned for now, they somehow find something to eat

tikis hubby

you can also tell if your otto is getting enough to eat by looking at their bellies when they are sucking on the glass. A full otto with have an almost fingerprint like pattern on it's tummy, which is the intestinal tract pushing up against the skin. It looks cool, and it's a good indicator. Mine always has his little protruding tummy

hey guppylove.. i had no clue! that's really cool!!!!!

Meg's Mom - you culd use my trick, the so-called "Otocinclus Pet Rock" method.

Get jars of water, on the windowsill in direct sunlight, pop some small rocks in, when they become covered in green fur, dispense in the aquarium to your Otocinclus. And watch them clean the rocks in about an hour

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

guppylove - that would be sooo cool to see. My guys are always sucking the back of the aquarium glass so I can't see their little tummys (brats).

Calilasseia - I am actually trying your pet rock method. I placed some rocks in a jar with dechlorinated water about a week and one-half ago. Placed it in my living room window which gets full sun from about 1PM until sunset and I'm still waiting for anything to happen. I know... patience... ya ya.

Some of mine take time to develop the fur too, but just lately we've been having a dreadful summer in the UK - Niagara rainfall and precious little sun

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I have an otto, and the funny thing is, before I knew they were sensitive, I moved this otto around my different tanks without acclimating him. There seems to have been no problem with him.

Anyhow, there's so much green algae in my planted tank that I don't feed him anything else, but he's not even enough to keep that tank clear. I'll probably have to get more.

My otos really like lettuce, spinach, and broccoli. I attach it to a small rock.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Try celery tops too. Recommended for many vegetarian fish. Boil for a short period before serving to soften them up for the fish, then feed. Apparently Pacus go nuts over them, and some Loricariids like them too, although I've never tried them with Otocinclus ...

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Here's what I'm trying with my recently purchased Ottos...
Spirulina Algae Tablets made by Nutrafin... Per the instruction options I stuck 1 tablet to the glass at about the height where I've seen my Ottos attach themselves - I did this on each end of the 55 gal tank... I then shut off the lights on one end of the tank - just to determine whether my Ottos had preference.... The tablet stuck in the lighted half attracted every fish around!! From guppy to Angelfish - so with that large of crowd around one little tablet, my Ottos stayed away..... But in the darkened end of the tank - although it took a little time, my Ottos all gathered - more or less taking turns eating the tablet.... One Otto will glide up take a bite or two and then attach to the glass close by - then another, and another....
What really appeals to me about this type of food is the fact that it is not supposed to cloud the water - it's easily handled - and the biggest plus is I can actually confirm that my Ottos are getting enough to eat!
The other option noted is to allow the tablets to merely sink to the bottom - but I don't believe I'll use that method as I find it highly entertaining to watch the Otto "supper crowd"!


To thine own self be true...