SIP, my big momma shrimp, mother of colonies. Establishing first colony is hard!
- Thread starter AdoraBelle Dearheart
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Just your daily reminder about how cool otocinclus are, and that you need some in your life.
Ahaha, thanks! I almost forgot that I actually had one or two about 12 years ago.. they didnt last long bless em 
How many is a good amount for them to be happy? I'd just be worried I couldn't feed them properly
How many is a good amount for them to be happy? I'd just be worried I couldn't feed them properly
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I think the more the merrier as far as they're concerned, they live in huge numbers in the wild, and they definitely feel more secure in groups, and are often gathered near each other. I can see the white bellies of my oto gang glass surfing right now in fact.Ahaha, thanks! I almost forgot that I actually had one or two about 12 years ago.. they didnt last long bless em
How many is a good amount for them to be happy? I'd just be worried I couldn't feed them properly
But keeping them fed if you have a lot and they get all the algae from the tank could be a problem.
My own minimum would be five; since when I had four, three would hang out, and one was often off on his own. I have seven now, and they eat algae all day, but they haven't made my tank spotless by any means, the algae I leave on the back and one side is still there.
I was worried about feeding them too, lots of warnings online about them not eating algae wafers and starving. Personally I believe the rep they have for starving is mainly from the stress of being wild caught, warehoused, shipped, then put into clean tanks in stores, where they can't graze all day, and probably aren't given a huge amount of supplemental food. They eat constantly, so going from that to one or two meals a day means they lose condition quickly. Then a lot of people buy them as clean up crew rather than a feature in the tank, because they're doing their best to get rid of algae, don't feed the otos themselves, and wonder why the otos died in their now clean tank.
I asked in my LFS how long they'd been in the shop. If you can trust the people in your store and they've been in there for weeks, they must be taking food that's offered, since shop tanks are pretty clean of algae. I still offer some algae wafer fairly often (probably too often, and that's why they're not doing their job and cleaning my glass), and they seem to relish some veggies, I give corgette, spinach or cucumber sometimes, and they like it.
I think if you allow some normal green algae to grow for a few weeks before getting them, and check how long they've been in the store, you'd be fine. Try offering some veg and algae wafers or pellets, so they know it's food and you can confirm to yourself that they will eat offered food and not to starve to death in your tank, you'll be good.
^ like I was saying, check out this shrimp I spotted muscling its way to some grub today
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I'd need to strategically place a wafer for them, they wouldn't get a look in with the corys
^ like I was saying, check out this shrimp I spotted muscling its way to some grub today
I meant to reply after seeing the cory video last night, but fell asleep, I'm sorry
Then I couldn't remember which thread you'd shared it in when I wanted to come back to it today, so I'm happy you bumped it! Man, your tank looks so clean and beautiful. I might hate you a little right now when mine is all algae and cyanobacteria and yuk. lol. It really does look gorgeous, and I love those cories! What type of cory are they? I only know some of the most common species found in the trade, and don't recognise these, but their markings are lovely. Seeing them playing in such a big school is amazing, they clearly love being with buddies, and like loaches, I swear, that behaviour is pure play. How do you do anything but watch the tank?
That shrimp is fearless! She's hungry and she seems to have worked out that they won't hurt her. Love these little guys. I noticed today that every photo I took of the tank, there was at least one shrimp photobombing. So good to see a real colony finally.
Ah thanks, its only been setup a couple of month so not much chance for algae to pay a visit perhaps? Apart from that damn hair algae of courseI meant to reply after seeing the cory video last night, but fell asleep, I'm sorry
It really does look gorgeous, and I love those cories! What type of cory are they? I only know some of the most common species found in the trade, and don't recognise these, but their markings are lovely. Seeing them playing in such a big school is amazing, they clearly love being with buddies, and like loaches, I swear, that behaviour is pure play. How do you do anything but watch the tank?
That shrimp is fearless! She's hungry and she seems to have worked out that they won't hurt her. Love these little guys. I noticed today that every photo I took of the tank, there was at least one shrimp photobombing. So good to see a real colony finally.
They're peppered corys (Corydoras paleatus), and I'm a big fan of them. They prefer a slightly lower temp than most and so I've been looking around for some buddies they can chill with
(considering some barbs at the moment) oh, and Otos obviouslyYeh I wonder if that shrimp was hungry and desperate for food?
is quite difficult to feed them as any wafers tend to sink and be gobbled up by the corys..
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OP
I didn't think that the shrimp might be desperate, having seen how brave they can be, I figured she just knew she was safe. If there's hair algae growing, the tank has been up for a few months, and most of those plants came from your old tanks and weren't bleach dipped, there's probably plenty of biofilm and microscopic algae on all of those plants. But I'm clearly no expert, much newer to the hobby than you are, and I'm even newer to shrimp.Ah thanks, its only been setup a couple of month so not much chance for algae to pay a visit perhaps? Apart from that damn hair algae of course
They're peppered corys (Corydoras paleatus), and I'm a big fan of them. They prefer a slightly lower temp than most and so I've been looking around for some buddies they can chill with
Yeh I wonder if that shrimp was hungry and desperate for food?
If you're worried they're not finding enough to eat, you could try breaking the wafer into three or four pieces then dot it along the front. I do this since greedy guppies will eat algae wafer and the hikari shrimp pelllets, so spreading it out along the front gives everyone a chance. I do it on water change day or the night before a water change, so food doesn't get leftover. Same with blanched veggies.
The only shrimp food I use that the fish don't go for, is the snowflake pellet shrimp food, and the shrimp do like it. Or Maybe a shrimp lolly would be worth a try, I wonder if the cories would bother with it if it's sticking up out of the substrate and too long and thin to really perch on? I haven't tried those myself yet, and I mainly want to try one for the novelty
I see what you did there, some buddies to chill with
The cories - they've made the list of cories I want to keep some day when I have a big enough tank! Those, and panda cories. I've only really seen panda and bronze in person I think, and google image photos of fish really doesn't do them justice. None of those photos really capture the lighter silver on these guys, so seeing the video is a whole different matter, and in person probably even better. Stunning, especially in a large group and in such a beautiful tank. 
I don't know whether otos would be good with barbs or at the same temps, but I know you'd do your research before trying it. I do know that this upside down oto tummy wants you to have otos
My new annoyance with second hand tanks is that this one has a fair amount of scratches on the outside of the glass, as you can see here. Not obvious enough in person to really bother me, but it does trip the camera up sometimes and draw the autofocus.
First and only tank I've had in about 10 years actually! Moved house a few times and the first time (10 years ago), I gave the tank (a 125l) and everything to my dad, and then I wasn't partaking in the hobby until about 4 months ago. Luckily I remembered my login details for this place so didn't need to re-register.most of those plants came from your old tanks and weren't bleach dipped, there's probably plenty of biofilm and microscopic algae on all of those plants. But I'm clearly no expert, much newer to the hobby than you are, and I'm even newer to shrimp.
A shrimp lolly you say!?Or Maybe a shrimp lolly would be worth a try, I wonder if the cories would bother with it if it's sticking up out of the substrate and too long and thin to really perch on? I haven't tried those myself yet, and I mainly want to try one for the novelty
whatever next lolI've seen food that sticks to the glass.. all worth trying i suppose.
Apparently.. the etymology for "Paleatus" is:
palea = chaff (strips of metal foil) alluding to wild-caught specimens colouration
So it's certainly positive to see mine are showing colouration of wild specimens
I've kept bronze before (had eggs/fry from them too), they do have the metallic sheen, but mostly only on their gill plates.
The daily reminder is doing the trick haha, but yeh, will make sure they'll be able to thrive before taking the plunge
I hear ya. Mine is (at least) 2nd hand from someone who had it as a marine setup, so I think the scratches are probably from the live rock he's maintained in it. I looked on how to repair scratched glass but would involve stripping the tank down I think, so I'll live with it for the time being. Might be something you can look at when you start mucking about with yours!?
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R.e: Shrimp lolly - scan down to see photos of shrimp all over one - I want to see a tower of shrimp!First and only tank I've had in about 10 years actually! Moved house a few times and the first time (10 years ago), I gave the tank (a 125l) and everything to my dad, and then I wasn't partaking in the hobby until about 4 months ago. Luckily I remembered my login details for this place so didn't need to re-register.
A shrimp lolly you say!?
I've seen food that sticks to the glass.. all worth trying i suppose.
Apparently.. the etymology for "Paleatus" is:
palea = chaff (strips of metal foil) alluding to wild-caught specimens colouration
So it's certainly positive to see mine are showing colouration of wild specimens
I've kept bronze before (had eggs/fry from them too), they do have the metallic sheen, but mostly only on their gill plates.
The daily reminder is doing the trick haha, but yeh, will make sure they'll be able to thrive before taking the plunge
I hear ya. Mine is (at least) 2nd hand from someone who had it as a marine setup, so I think the scratches are probably from the live rock he's maintained in it. I looked on how to repair scratched glass but would involve stripping the tank down I think, so I'll live with it for the time being. Might be something you can look at when you start mucking about with yours!?
https://ceramicnature.com/en/p/shrimp-lolly-bee-pollen-10-pcs/Ah, so salt and pepper cories and peppered cories are different species, cool. I'm trying to start remembering latin names so I can learn more about different sub-species and identifying them. There are two bronze cories in my dad's tank
no: I know) but I don't find bronzes as appealing to me as many of the other cories. In the longer term, once I've managed to persuade my dad to part with more fish since it's overstocked already, I'd like to overhaul the tank and add at least three more bronze ones so it's a small school at least. Or, even better, find a new home for them with someone who already has a school of bronzes, but that depends on whether my dad will let me. It's a 55 gallon, and I'm in a hardwater area. There are also only two botia, but sub species unknown (and I've tried to ID them) but those two have also been in there for at least eight years, which is apparently pretty old for a loach. Better not to add more, even if I could find out which botia they are and get my hands on more of the same type, and let these two pass away and not be replaced, as sad as that is.Glad you found your way back to the hobby! You've been brilliant with helping me and I appreciate it. I never bothered with getting a tank of my own since I have moved a fair amount myself, and I already had a dog, cat and parrot which are pretty time demanding, and I knew just enough from growing up with tanks in my parents house to know that tanks are more work than people imagine, and I deliberately didn't get 'into' fish, since as you've probably seen so far, I tend to get a bit obsessive when I find a new hobby I like... lol. I knew getting a tank wasn't practical in my 20s and early thirties with the other pets and moving around.
Now, sadly, my parents are elderly and have some health problems so I've needed to move into their house to help them a lot more with day to day things. When there was a problem with dad's tank, I quickly bought this first 15 gallon tank to use as a hospital tank to try and save a golden gourami. Poor little guy didn't make it, and I decided I'd like to turn it into a cute little guppy tank, and you know the rest!
I hadn't even thought about trying to repair the scratches, and this would be the time to do it, while I'm organising and tearing down, but before I've situated and filled a new one. I will look into that. I like taking photos now that I have a decent camera, so being able to fix those scratches would be great. Thank you again!
Speaking of the dog and new set ups though, her she is, checking out the wood I found on our walk yesterday, and plan to see whether it's okay to prepare and use as tank decor. I couldn't resist snapping a photo, but it wasn't as amusing when she decided to snap a bit off of one, so they're in a safe place away from her reach right now.
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Oh oh oh! I also meant to ask you where you got your sand from? I only have a very small bag of aquarium sand which won't be enough to do even a thin layer on the ten gallon, let alone a thicker layer on a 15. It's not cheap in my LFS or online, and you know my budget is tight. Have heard play or pool sand can be great and far more cost effective, but I'm not sure of safety or where to get it in the UK, and I really love the colour of the sand you have.I meant to reply after seeing the cory video last night, but fell asleep, I'm sorry
It really does look gorgeous, and I love those cories! What type of cory are they? I only know some of the most common species found in the trade, and don't recognise these, but their markings are lovely. Seeing them playing in such a big school is amazing, they clearly love being with buddies, and like loaches, I swear, that behaviour is pure play. How do you do anything but watch the tank?
That shrimp is fearless! She's hungry and she seems to have worked out that they won't hurt her. Love these little guys. I noticed today that every photo I took of the tank, there was at least one shrimp photobombing. So good to see a real colony finally.
She's gorgeous, springer spaniel? I had a cocker spaniel growing up, very intelligent dog but bonkers haha
Very jealous you've found some wood, I'm constantly on the look out.. i begrudgingly cross my fingers for you that its suitable
Yeh I heard about the botia on another rather entertaining thread where byron and someone were debating water hardness, i grabbed the popcorn for that one
That tower of shrimps on the stick
Very jealous you've found some wood, I'm constantly on the look out.. i begrudgingly cross my fingers for you that its suitable
Yeh I heard about the botia on another rather entertaining thread where byron and someone were debating water hardness, i grabbed the popcorn for that one
That tower of shrimps on the stick
Sand was from my lfs, its a Maidenhead Aquatics, i think its this one .. not the cheapest but at the time i was getting impatient and it was lockdown blah blah
My last tank i had play sand from argos and it was great, @Byron swears by it (play sand, not necessarily the argos one). Its not quite as natural looking as what i have now, this has quite a nice speckled look to it. But with play sand you could easily mix in a smaller bag of dark sand to get the colour you're after. Have the majority of the sand made up of cheaper play sand, then blend in a small bag of some darker probably more expensive stuff?
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Thank you, I think she's gorgeous too! She was nine weeks old when I 'rescued' her, and yes, very intelligent and bonkers. She was clearly mostly Springer, but something else mixed in there too, so had a cheap DNA test done just to satisfy my curiosity. She's mostly Springer, with a large dose of Border Collie (making her even smarter and more high energy) and the rest is supermuttShe's gorgeous, springer spaniel? I had a cocker spaniel growing up, very intelligent dog but bonkers haha
Very jealous you've found some wood, I'm constantly on the look out.. i begrudgingly cross my fingers for you that its suitable
Yeh I heard about the botia on another rather entertaining thread where byron and someone were debating water hardness, i grabbed the popcorn for that one
That tower of shrimps on the stick
Less than 5% Pointer, Whippet, and a few others I can't remember off the top of my head. She's my heart and I adore her.Haha, I rather enjoyed the debating happening on that thread too. Things like that are letting me pick up more and more information too, so helpful as well as entertaining.
The dog also helps in getting me out into woodlands, with a lot of dead branches lying around. You're more than welcome to borrow her
and go exploring yourself, she'd be happy to help, and will run around for eight hours or more without seeming tired, but will sleep like a log when she gets home. You could always check some woodland out by yourself of course, but that's more boring, lol. Hopefully this wood I picked up will work, I'll concentrate on making sure the tanks are set up, scratches gone if possible, and substrate found before I start worrying about that. Mixing play sand with pricier sand is a great idea, thank you for yet another tip!You know you wanna see a tower of shrimp on a stick.
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