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Hi,

I recently bought 6 otos. They are in QT at the moment, but will move into the 40G soon. There is not much algae in QT, so I will add algae wafers to the tank. They are very small, so do they need a whole wafer each day, or would 1/2 a wafer broken into 2 be sufficient.

Thank you in advance.

Cheers
TW

Hey I have a Otto also and I'm trying something that some told me about, getting a rock puttting it in water and putting it in direct sunlight till some alge grows and then putting it in, I'm in the middle of the prosses, but its just on extra thing that they apperently love.

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

Thanks xlinkinparkx

Yes, I've already done that. I had a piece of slate in a container of water outside, since February. I put that in the tank for the otos, but I'm still worried there'll not be enough algae for this sensitive settling in period.

To be sure, I'd like to drop in some wafer at lights out (otherwise, the greedy livebearers eat it). I don't want too much, so as not to pollute the tank. As they're so small, I wonder if a whole wafer is too much for them. Would 1/2 a wafer be enough for 6 otos?

Cheers
TW

What do you have in your aquarium?
I never acctually saw him eating the wafers, there is more alge on the plants, but my 2platies eat what ever there is to eat and also my neons, so I know I wont pollute my tank, but he is very well fed so he must eat some at night, but then agian you have 6.

Sorry to ask a question on your post, but how long did it take to grown the alge on you rock, mines been in direct sunlight for 3 days and nothing has grown???

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

What do you have in your aquarium

They're in QT, which has 2 platys & 2 endlers, who for the moment are the permanent residents to keep it cycled. Sharing QT for a short time are 4 rasboras. There are rocks, wisteria & a piece of driftwood with anubia.

how long did it take to grown the alge on you rock, mines been in direct sunlight for 3 days and nothing has grown

I guess there's algae on it, but I can't see it. I've heard there is algae on the plants in my tank, even if I can't see it, so I guess there is some on the slate too, but I'd feel more confident if I could see it. I have another piece out soaking for swap over later. I had them out soaking since February, which is when I decided I wanted otos. I had it under the awning though, not in direct sun. Maybe that is the problem.



Cheers
TW

I would put in a whole wafer for 6 of them. I have 3 in my 29g tank and I usually put in 1/2 wafer (broke in 1/2) for them...and the cories.

Try it for one night...put in a whole one. If there are lots of leftovers in the morning, then I would just do 1/2.

I have ottos in my 10g and 55g also. They are very different and I have never seen them eat algae wafers. They prefer the DW and glass.

It doesn't hurt to try the whole one...if there are tons of leftovers you can always fish it out of the tank...and do 1/2 the next night. The other fish may clean it up though.

*Kristin*

Thanks Kristen,

I've never seen them actually eat the wafers yet.

While I can't see any algae in the tank, I see them nibbling away, so I'm getting more hopeful that they'll be ok. Tomorrow will be one week since purchase & no deaths. So, then just one more week before they move into their permanent home, which should have a little more algae for them. Fingers crossed they make it through the QT period, as I hear that 50% loss is quite normal.

Thanks for all the replies.

Cheers
TW

Good luck with your new oto's TW, hopefully they will all survive for you.

I would love to get some but they are so hard to come by where I live, the last lot I had only survived around a month and I'm a bit reluctant to try again, they are quite expensive here as well.

Cheers - Crusha

---

Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

Same here, Crusha. I had to get them ordered in specially. I've never seen them in LFS otherwise. LFS had them in his tank for 4 weeks before I brought them hope, so I'm hoping this means they're survivors.

I hope mine make it past a month. So all of yours died in a month - no survivors at all?

Thanks for good wishes for mine.

Cheers
TW

Pity the articles aren't resurrected yet - otherwise you would be able to sample my Otocinclus primer.

Fortunately I keep backup copies. So if you want it, I can mail it to you. Specify the format you want (plain text, Microsoft Word document, HTML, I can even convert it to a PDF for you) and send me an E-Mail. I'll supply it by return post.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Calilasseia, thought I'd update you on my otos. Thanks again for articles. Some of your advice I remembered reading earlier in the year, so I'd had some driftwood & slate pieces soaking outside to build algae. So far, I have only lost one oto and that was in the first week. I never see them nibbling on my pre-soaked slate or driftwood, but hope they do so when I'm not looking. Also, never see them eating the algae wafers I drop in the tank after lights out, but so far so good.

Cheers
TW

Once they learn that you're providing them with algal nibble treats, they'll start queueing up more obviously in the daytime.

It takes them time to adjust if they've had a rough ride at the wholesalers. But once they DO discover that you're laying on treats, they'll seize the opportunities you provide with gusto - admittedly mine have been enjoying the five-star accommodation of the Panda Fun Palace for some time, so they know what to expect, but if you have even just one on its own, it'll start finding food and becoming bolder as it starts to become nicely rounded and happy. A group of them will adjust more quickly, especially if they have Corys or similar playmates sharing the substrate with them. Mine enjoy little tug-o-war matches with the Pandas over Hikari wafers! My Otocinclus also enjoy hoovering algae off the leaves of my luxuriant Amazon Swords, which are probably the ideal plants for an aquarium containing Otocinclus, as the leaves acquire algal growth over time that the fishes dine upon. Mind you, mine have to contend with the Pandas using the leaves swaying in the current like budgie swings, which makes for some amusing moments of visual slapstick comedy!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002