55 gallon...updated and wanted to share

[thrujenseyes]

I too witnessed the rough chasing of the Oto's when I got some, a long time ago, at Pet Smart. Last fish I got at that particular store and I won't be getting more of any type of fish there. Now there is a Pet Smart in another city where they are not rough with their fish. They are even old school when it comes to bagging. They introduce air into the bag with an airtank, something I have not seen done since I was a kid. And the fish survival rate from this store is good. It has become my store of choice for getting fish. So I may try some Otos from there.

My LFS still does the air in the bag as well, which is nice. But man, they need to work with their people about being more gentle! To be fair most I've seen are really skilled and good but I think this one was frustrated at how quick and nimble the otos can be.

 

[julielynn47]

It makes one want to say "give me that net and get out of the way!"

 

[Mark Z.]

I've always had trouble with otos and agree with Jen that the trick may be to get them past a certain time period...but that is the trick! My last otos had a very hard trip...the frantic scooping from the store tank and then the bag had a hole in it and when I got home, they actually squirted out into the cold, dark winter street! I managed to find them and get them into the tank, needless to say without gradual acclimization. I still have three after about a month (had two before, so I'm not sure who the survivors are- one is one of the street survivors.)

I have to try giving them zucchini! I never had done that yet, but the algae is getting sparse in my tank. Mine always seem to be hanging out at the far right of the tank, near the filter intake tubes and heater.

 

[Mark Z.]

It makes one want to say "give me that net and get out of the way!"

Me too!

 

[thrujenseyes]

I've always had trouble with otos and agree with Jen that the trick may be to get them past a certain time period...but that is the trick! My last otos had a very hard trip...the frantic scooping from the store tank and then the bag had a hole in it and when I got home, they actually squirted out into the cold, dark winter street! I managed to find them and get them into the tank, needless to say without gradual acclimization. I still have three after about a month (had two before, so I'm not sure who the survivors are- one is one of the street survivors.)

I have to try giving them zucchini! I never had done that yet, but the algae is getting sparse in my tank. Mine always seem to be hanging out at the far right of the tank, near the filter intake tubes and heater.

OMG....in the street?!?! Jezus!!! Poor things! Did you get yours from Aquarium Center? That's where mine came from.
And I think the trick to the veggies is having them really soft. I blanch mine in boiling water for a few minutes and then I drag a cerated (spelling?!) knife over the top a bunch of times to rough it up for them. I have the most luck with zucchini and broccoli stalks.

 

[Mark Z.]

Yep, in the street. And in the car. And everywhere. I had to search for them and my other fish. And they stuck to things with their mouths. The red swordtails were not too hard to find. The otos were very hard to find in the dark. They came "spraying" at me as I lifted the bag up and went right out the door of the car. I did lose one oto. I was pretty upset.

I got them from Pet Smart. I don't get down to the Aquarium Center that often, but am thinking of a trip soon. The Pet Smart near me actually has pretty nice fish.

I saw four otos in my tank last night! Until recently, I only saw one. I will get zucchini tonight, thanks for the tip! I don't have much algae left in the tank.

Mark

 

[thrujenseyes]

Yep, in the street. And in the car. And everywhere. I had to search for them and my other fish. And they stuck to things with their mouths. The red swordtails were not too hard to find. The otos were very hard to find in the dark. They came "spraying" at me as I lifted the bag up and went right out the door of the car. I did lose one oto. I was pretty upset.

I got them from Pet Smart. I don't get down to the Aquarium Center that often, but am thinking of a trip soon. The Pet Smart near me actually has pretty nice fish.

I saw four otos in my tank last night! Until recently, I only saw one. I will get zucchini tonight, thanks for the tip! I don't have much algae left in the tank.

Mark

OMG...that is a total horror story! Every fish keepers nightmare! So sorry it happened to you!
Keep us posted on your veggie experiment!

 

[julielynn47]

This has never happened to me but I am always afraid it will. I had a bag leak a couple of times. So I bought some of the little styrofoam chests that the Dollar Tree had. Now I can put the bags down in them and if the worst happens they will be in the chest.

 

[Mark Z.]

Good idea!

Also, mine were not double bagged, which they usually do.

Tried the zucchini today. It was almost gone in a half hour. But the otos never even got near it!

 

[julielynn47]

LOL, I started putting in zucchini for my pleco, and I have never seen him touch it. But every other fish in the tank eats on it. The albino cories especially love it.

 

[thrujenseyes]

So I bought some of the little styrofoam chests that the Dollar Tree had

What a great idea!

Tried the zucchini today. It was almost gone in a half hour. But the otos never even got near it!

This is how my first few attempts at veggies went also.
My endlers are far more feisty and aggressive than the chill otos.
So I would put something in the tank that they couldn't resist that would fall to the bottom (where the otos never go) like a piece of an algae wafer or a shelled pea. This would attract all of the inhabitants ...including my shrimp and allow the ottos to find the veggie that I slyly added to a top branch of the spider wood far away from the mayhem of the rest of the tank. Once the otos learn where you put their favorite treat ...they'll look for it and quickly claim it as their own. Even when the other fish find it the otos don't move.
It took trial and error to get it right.

 

[Mark Z.]

I put the zucchini on a seaweed clip suction cupped RIGHT NEXT to the otos, near the top right corner of the tank. They never stray far from there. ALL the other fish in the tank ate it but them. I did even see one oto cleaning the suction cup!!! Then he swam away. Never got to the zucchini!!

I'll keep trying.

 

[thrujenseyes]

I put the zucchini on a seaweed clip suction cupped RIGHT NEXT to the otos, near the top right corner of the tank. They never stray far from there. ALL the other fish in the tank ate it but them. I did even see one oto cleaning the suction cup!!! Then he swam away. Never got to the zucchini!!

I'll keep trying.

awwww....it's frustrating for sure! They don't know to look there...but they will (hopefully). Next time maybe distract the others with a treat that falls to the bottom to give the ottos time to notice the snack. Oh and also...you can do it when lights are out for the night. Apparently that helps too.

 

[Mark Z.]

That's a good idea! I'll try it when the lights are out.
Thanks!