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Meg's Mom Enthusiast Posts: 208 Kudos: 435 Votes: 10 Registered: 25-Mar-2004   | I have 6 Otos in my 20 gal. I hardly ever see them. If I disturb everything and search for them, I will find them either hiding deep inside the middle of one of the plants or inside the auto ornament (the Otos  the auto - har har  ). They do not even come out at feeding time. I know they are sensitive to water conditions and all water conditions are pristine. Is this normal behaviour for Otos or should I be concerned ? |
 Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05 |     |
sirbooks        Moderator Sociopath Posts: 3875 Kudos: 5164 Votes: 932 Registered: 26-Jul-2004    | As long as the fish are eating, I wouldn't be concerned. Normally, I see ottos hanging out on the glass or ornaments, searching for algae. Yours should be ok. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05 |  |
| Meg's Mom Enthusiast Posts: 208 Kudos: 435 Votes: 10 Registered: 25-Mar-2004 | Well that's just it. I've never seen any of them eat a thing but I have to assume they are eating because they are all still alive and seem healthy... that is... when I actually DO catch a glimpse of them.  So it's normal to not see much of them then ? I'd heard they were playful and fun to watch. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05 | |
Shinigami     Ichthyophile Catfish/Oddball Fan Posts: 9962 Kudos: 2915 Registered: 22-Feb-2001  | They're catfish. As a catfish fan myself I can tell you it's normal behavior for most catfish. It's the catfish that aren't hiding all the time that are the exceptions.:%) -------------------------------------------- The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05 | |
| girlunderrainbow Big Fish Posts: 323 Kudos: 230 Votes: 0 Registered: 22-Aug-2003 | When I have Ottos in my 20 gal..they aren't very active. Done that twice. Now, I also have 13 ottos in my 125 gal..THOSE guys are extremely active. IT's a very peaceful tank..so I don't know if they are just really comfortable or what? Until my angelfish grows up..then we'll see.. They even suck on the other fish sometimes. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05 |  |
| Calilasseia *Ultimate Fish Guru* Panda Funster Posts: 5496 Kudos: 2828 Votes: 731 Registered: 10-Feb-2003  | Do your Otocinclus have a range of hiding places, like mine do? If not, they'll hide in the next best thing to a cave together until "lights out" unless they have a choice of hiding places and a range of different light intensities provided by floating plants and other shade providers. Mine are active all the time, but then mine have an underwater Disneyland of bogwood and plants to play in   |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05 | |
joe fishy Fish Addict Posts: 605 Kudos: 1355 Votes: 65 Registered: 21-Apr-2003 | Otos tend to be more active when in larger numbers. I've found them to be more active at night, also, similar to other Loracids. If they appear healthy, I wouldn't worry too much. Your oto in the auto should oughter be ok!  |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05 | |
| Meg's Mom Enthusiast Posts: 208 Kudos: 435 Votes: 10 Registered: 25-Mar-2004 | Thanks for the replys, guys. Calilasseia - they have a couple of plants (one of which they like to hide in) as well as a small cave and, of course, the auto which they .I think I may look into adding some bogwood and/or more caves and create a "Disneyland" for them. The platys would love that too.  |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05 | |
| Calilasseia *Ultimate Fish Guru* Panda Funster Posts: 5496 Kudos: 2828 Votes: 731 Registered: 10-Feb-2003 | Meg's Mom, here's some links - give you some ideas - pics of my underwater Disneyland! http://groups.msn.com/CaliLasseiasGiantPhotoCompendium/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=315 http://groups.msn.com/CaliLasseiasGiantPhotoCompendium/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=316 http://groups.msn.com/CaliLasseiasGiantPhotoCompendium/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=317 http://groups.msn.com/CaliLasseiasGiantPhotoCompendium/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=318 Enjoy! |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05 | |
| girlunderrainbow Big Fish Posts: 323 Kudos: 230 Votes: 0 Registered: 22-Aug-2003 | Try some frozen blood worms..or brine shrimp..or omnivore..and drop it by the front glass. All my 13 Ottos come a runnin' for this! (course so does everybody else)..but they're not shy..in my 125 gal. Now in my 20 gal, there's just 6 so far..they are reclusive. Maybe they just feel more comfy deeper? |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05 | |
| Calilasseia *Ultimate Fish Guru* Panda Funster Posts: 5496 Kudos: 2828 Votes: 731 Registered: 10-Feb-2003 | Mine also eat freeze dried tubifex. Put a weight on a piece and watch them start crowding around it !!! |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05 | |
| Meg's Mom Enthusiast Posts: 208 Kudos: 435 Votes: 10 Registered: 25-Mar-2004 | Hmm... tried all the tricks but still I haven't seen them eat a darn thing. I'm not too worried though because when I moved the auto to vacuum underneath it when I cleaned their tank the other night, all six of them piled in a corner on top of each other and they stayed there until I was finished. The second the auto was back in place, it was a race to see who could get in first. Well, at least I got to see of each of them albeit briefly and they all look healthy. Calilasseia - I love your underwater Disneyland. Lucky fishies. Thanks for the ideas. |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05 | |
| DaMossMan Fish Guru Piranha Bait Posts: 2511 Kudos: 2117 Votes: 359 Registered: 16-Nov-2003  | Cal. Awesome use of bogwood and 'basic' plants in your scaping.. I'm sure your otos love their playground.. Meg's Mom - spirulina flakes if not enough green algae in your tank.. I have too much green algae, you will know they're eating well if you see a swollen belly.. The Amazon Nut... |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05 | |
dreamweaver8891 Big Fish Posts: 320 Kudos: 533 Votes: 79 Registered: 25-Apr-2004 | It's funny, but I had the same thing happen... Placed a some otos in my 20 gal tall --- hardly every saw them.... But the otos in my 55 gal are seen almost constantly! Swimming, sucking on the glass, tank ornaments and fixtures (filter, etc)!!!!! ...... Wonder why?  To thine own self be true... |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05 | |
| DaMossMan Fish Guru Piranha Bait Posts: 2511 Kudos: 2117 Votes: 359 Registered: 16-Nov-2003 | Difference in decor, light, water current, oxygen level, tankmates.. [span class="edited"][Edited by DaFishMan 2004-08-27 19:05][/span] The Amazon Nut... |
| Posted 26-Jan-2006 12:05 | |
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