New Otocinclus Catfish

[b125killer]

My 10 gallon tank didn't have any fry in it for a few weeks. It was looking bad with algae.  I was going to clean it last weekend but figured I would do the next best thing. I got a pair of Oto cats to clean it for me. They had the hole tank sparkling clean in a week. I was trying to get them to eat other foods but they just didn't seem to want them. So I put them in the next tank that had a lot of algae. It's a bigger tank and they'll have to compete with the BN fry. They seem to be doing a good Job. They already have the algae off the sword plant. I think the plecos are getting spoiled with  Captain Bob's great fish foods.

[wsantia1]

I like oto's a lot.  They do a really good job of taking care of algae and they are a lot of fun to watch.

[Mugwump]

Cool....they do a good job, and yes it helps to 'fast' the bn's for a couple days in algae'd tanks, to keep their minds on the business at hand....LOL..otherwise they get lazy

[Jdmcfast]

Does anybody else have bad luck with these dying off soon after getting them? Atleast the ones I get from petsmart already die off, I usually lose atleast 50% off them in the first two weeks. This last time I bought 16 knowing that I would lose some and by day 14 in QT I had 2 left! I don't know if it's the store they are coming from or what. Otos are the only fish I buy from petsmart and only when they mark them down to a $1 or so and they have a 14 day guarantee so I get my money back but I hate killing off that many fish!

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[Rjb3]

What are you feeding them?

[Mugwump]

What are you feeding them?

My thought too. They need a lot of algae, etc....I believe they're vegan mostly??..not like typical BN type fish, or cory's....

[Ron Sower]

I have learned that Otos NEED veggie matter.  Specifically algae.  If they clean all the algae from your tanks they could possibly be starving to death.  Most of the algae wafers, it was pointed out to me, start with a high percentage of fish meal and the like.  HBH Algae Glazers was recommended to me because they start with Spirulina algae, dehydrated alfalfa meal, pea powder, soy flour, wheat germ...THEN the fish meal. So you might try supplementing their diet with this to see if you get less die-off.

[BallAquatics]

That's exactly right, their digestive system is set-up for plant matter and when fed normal fish food it causes them many problems.  I read a great explanation of this somewhere, but can't recall where at the moment.....

It's like the agra-business of feeding cattle corn.  They are meant to eat grass, and corn makes them sick so they pump them full of antibiotics.

Dennis

[Jdmcfast]

I feed them algae wafers mostly but maybe next time I'll try strictly fresh veggies and see if it makes a difference

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[b125killer]

At first they where eating the algae out of the 10 gallon. After they had most of it gone I was trying teenie greenie They didn't eat them. When they where done with the 10 gallon I put them in a different tank that had a lot of algae in it. They do seem to love there algae. There new tank is a bigger tank and has more algae. When there done in that thank, there going to the 55 planted tank. The Java moss is covered in algae. I usually clean it off but i'm leaving it on for the Oto's. I Think they will like it in the planted tank more than the fry tanks. But there doing there job.     

[wsantia1]

At first they where eating the algae out of the 10 gallon. After they had most of it gone I was trying teenie greenie They didn't eat them. When they where done with the 10 gallon I put them in a different tank that had a lot of algae in it. They do seem to love there algae. There new tank is a bigger tank and has more algae. When there done in that thank, there going to the 55 planted tank. The Java moss is covered in algae. I usually clean it off but i'm leaving it on for the Oto's. I Think they will like it in the planted tank more than the fry tanks. But there doing there job.   

Maybe I should have checked out Petsmart before I spent the last couple of hours cleaning the algae out of my 40B.  I don't understand why I'm such a good algae grower.

[Mugwump]

Algae may not be pretty, but it shows healthy tanks..unless completely left unchecked..I let a lot of my tanks get algae on a few sides..just for the BN's and BN fry...it's good for them, and they draw neat little pics with their paths through it when eating..

[wsantia1]

Algae may not be pretty, but it shows healthy tanks..unless completely left unchecked..I let a lot of my tanks get algae on a few sides..just for the BN's and BN fry...it's good for them, and they draw neat little pics with their paths through it when eating..

I didn't clean it all out.  I just wanted to keep it in check. They have plenty left on the driftwood that I have in that tank.

[Mugwump]

You're good... ...I sometimes just clean the front glass...but I have to clean it all every week or two or it's hard to get off....

[wsantia1]

I usually just clean the front glass too but when it starts coming off the side and rear glass in sheets I thinks it's time. LOL