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Would 3 ottos work in a 5g with a few female bettas? Or on thier own? Ive got some algae growing & its a real pain having to clean it only to have the algae come back again...
(the algae is brownish)

Or would a 10g be the min?
(I also seem to remember someone keeping them in a small tank.. Was it falstaf? I cant remember lol )

Last edited by dude_dude at 05-Jul-2005 04:59

I kept a trio in a 6g with dwarf puffers without problems. Just make sure there's plenty of algae available for them.

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well..if ur goin to keep that much in a 5g...just as what theresa said..make sure..theres plenty of algae around...and u should supplement with ...lets say..algae wafers to make them happy...and dont forget to keep the water pristine.

They need alot of Algae to munch on & yes, 3 Otos would be fine.


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Am I the only person here that wouldn't do it?

Personally I don't like to keep them in anything smaller than about 20 gallons. Just because they are so sensitive and picky, they need a ton of algae, and they are way cuter in larger groups. Could it work? Of course, anything could, I just don't advocate it and wouldn't do it myself. An oto species tank in a 10 gallon or so could be cool if you really like them and want to spend a lot of time dedicated to their care but I don't think many people would do that.

Brown algae is definitely a pain in small tanks but there are other ways of controlling it. I have a major pet peeve with just buying fish for problems that are easily solved with better maintenance or husbandry practices. There are a lot of opinionated people who shun quick chemical fixes but essentially do the same thing with quick livestock fixes. I just don't get it. In my opinion you should buy livestock for freshwater because you really like them and want to keep them in your tanks for pleasure rather than just buying because you have some issue that needs to be corrected.

Brown algae or diatoms are very common in new tanks but should be far less of a problem (or even disappear, I don't have any brown algae on my established tanks and to date I haven't seen any of it in over a year) once the tank stabilizes. Try dosing with some bacterial starter, cut down on feeding and the duration of the lighting period in the tank. Also look into getting some easy "nitrate sponges," plants like hornwort or wisteria that will easily outcompete the diatoms. Increase water changes as well, pristine water quality will do a lot for you.

If you want some interesting inhabitants that will munch a little algae and are FAR better suited to a tank of that size, look into getting some amano or cherry shrimp. Cherry shrimp are supposed to be the superior algae eaters and another benefit is that they can be bred in full freshwater. They are also cheaper. Stay away from ghost shrimp, they are mostly scavengers, may eat a bit of algae but not much and especially not if there is other food available. Mine love brown algae and I actually cultivate some of it on rocks in mason jars on the window sill for them. Shrimp are often overlooked but they are one of my personal favourites for freshwater especially in tiny tanks.

You're not the only one. I don't think its good to have 3 otos in a 3 gal. It would work, but they would not thrive. Like putting 3 people in a 14 by 10 room for their whole life. I recommend 1 oto per 10 gallons of water...JMO. Instead why don't you add amano or ghost shrimp.

Last edited by JustinL at 05-Jul-2005 18:12

Hmmm, sorry tryst but shrimp arn't really around in austaralia..

meh.

Thanks for your help, I might so get a magnetic algae scraper or something..

Wellllll, i heard they'd be fine myself, but i have no expirience. -NewBreeder16

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You can call me Newb too, since I'm not nere new any more.

I have three otos in a five gallon with a betta. We have had them there for months and they seem extremely happy...love swimming around and playing and are super fat! So fat that when they lay on the rocks; the only part that touches is their big fat bellies
I say go for it as long as you keep up on water changes and make sure they have plenty to eat.

Should be cool. But where are you getting the Ottos from bro? I cant seem to find any around my area...also would you have a clue how much they are too?

Mango

i have 5 ottos in a 29 gallon, and im looking for more, when ever my small tanks get brown algae i just take everythinhg out (water and all) and throw it in the 29 for about 24 hours....after that, its clean and if that doesnt work, i just float that tank in the 29 with the 29's water in it, and throw all the ottos in it

mango, im not sure to tell you the truth..

I might just get some ghost shrimp from Pets R fun...