Added otto's to my cycled tank but both died

[wonger]

I recently finished a fishless cycle on my 18 ltr planted tank about a week ago and added the first fish on saturday, i added

2 ottos'
4 Black neon tetras
6 neon tetras

On sunday evening the largest otto died and on monday morning i find the smaller otto has died, the tanks been running for about 40 days and there is a small coating of algae, when i put the otto's in they seemed very happy eating the algae

The day before i put the fish in i did a 60% water change which reduced the nitrates from 25 - 7 ppm, ammonia and nitrite are still zero

Ive read that these otto's can die for no apparent reason when added to a new tank, so is this the case here or have i done something wrong, should i have waited longer for the tank to establish before adding these fragile fish? also the lfs that the fish came from did not have his otto's in a planted tank

 

[keane]

Hi,

all your readings seem fine.

i guess the otos just weren't hardy enough.

apparently this is a common problem. . there is a thread i have read on here somewhere that explains the otos' "weakness"...something about bacteria in their tummies!?

hopefully someone who knows more will be along soon!

sorry couldn't help more.

steve B)

 

[Dubby]

I am sorry to hear that. Otos are a tricky fish (especially to start a new tank). Wait for the tank to settle down before you try otos. I would suggest using algae eating shrimp or SAEs to start off. These are more hardy.

BTW, What is your average nitrate reading now?

 

[GSD]

i was told to only start with one or 2 hardy fish even after cycling

 

[Discomafia]

Is that your betta in your avatar germanshepherdlver?

SIMPLY GEORGEOUS!!!!

Oh yea, ottos need an established and mature tank. Your nitrates being 25 didn't is what concerns me. They're a pretty fragile fish and don't do well when water params. take a turn for the worse. Most of them are WC. Also sensitive to meds. in the water, one of mine died a few days after I treated my old tank for ich, but 2 others survived and so I bought 1 more to make a trio, and they're all doing fine now.

HTH

 

[Johnny V]

yeah, they are very finicky and fragile. my friend bought 2 ottos, for his 20 gl tank and they both died in 10 hours. I bought mine for my 55 gl tank 2 months ago and they are both fine. go figure

 

[yvez9]

otos have bacteria in their stomach that helps them digest the algea

since otos are wild caught, they are shipped for a few days. If they do not eat, the bacteria in their stomach slowly die off. If too much diie, they can't digest algea anymore at all, which causes them to die.

when you buy otos, you should ask the lfs if they've had them at least one week and make sure there stomach is fat when you get them. That should greatly increase the chance they will survuve in your tank.

 

[corykitty516]

I think you have the most trouble when you add otos to a freshly cycled tank. Wait and "grow some algae" first so they will have fresh food to munch on..let it accumulate on the glass and such ... after they take care of that make sure they have some fresh zucchini or algea tabs to suppliment.
I have 6 and they are all doing great. I lost one within 24 hours when I first brought them home but it was looking not so hot to begin with.

I also second what yvez9 said about waiting until the LFS has had them a while. I'd also try to pick the biggest fattest ones if you can.

good luck

 

[OohFeeshy]

Your tank isn't very big, though. 18 litres is not an awful lot, so waste accumilates more quickly.

 

[Slyspy]

Otos can be tricky apparently. Mine were fine, but many others have had problems. Then mine were the last in the shop so they may have been tough and acclimatised to the local water.

Although the joy of fishless cycles is being able to stock a tank all at once maybe you should wait before trying again with the otos.

 

[daza]

same bad story with me and Otos...

Added four and lost them all over the course of 5/6 weeks, despite waiting about 3 months after cycling and having loads of brown algae and feeding algae tabs and cucumber after most algae had gone, etc. Seemed that they came along, cleaned up and left!

My girlfriend wants to get some more of them, but I've been put off them (not that I can think of an alternative).

 

[FrAnK3333]

Sorry but 18L is only 5 gallons, you are way overstocked. You cant have all those tetras. Infact you cant have any. The only thing Id put in a 5 gallon is a betta. Plus the otos need a mature tank.

 

[wonger]

I have 6 neon tetras each body measures 3/8" giving 2 1/4" of neon tetra
I have 4 black neon tetras each body measures 3/4" giving 3" of black neon tetra
I had 2 ottos each body measuring 3/4" giving 1 1/2" of ottos

2 1/4" + 3" + 1 1/2" = 6 3/4" of total fish

My tank is 18 ltr/4 uk gallons, ive read that the theoretical maximum for a tank is 2" of fish per gallon, giving me 8" of fish, therefore at 6 3/4" im stocked at 85% of theoretical maximum leaving 15% for growth until i have to set up a larger tank

As for not being able to have any tetras in a 4 gallon, can you explain further?

ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 7

Thanks for all replies regarding the otto's, yesterday i added another two black neon tetra so i now have a shoal of 6 of each and im back to 85% of stock

The highest reading i had on nitrates was 25 and a week after fishless cycle finished which was the day before i added fish i did a 60% water change which reduced them to 7, they are remaining at 7 so far

 

[steelhealr]

Hi...here was a recent link on this topic. SH

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...40&hl=dead+otto

 

[OohFeeshy]

I have 6 neon tetras each body measures 3/8" giving 2 1/4" of neon tetra
I have 4 black neon tetras each body measures 3/4" giving 3" of black neon tetra
I had 2 ottos each body measuring 3/4" giving 1 1/2" of ottos

2 1/4" + 3" + 1 1/2" = 6 3/4" of total fish

My tank is 18 ltr/4 uk gallons, ive read that the theoretical maximum for a tank is 2" of fish per gallon, giving me 8" of fish, therefore at 6 3/4" im stocked at 85% of theoretical maximum leaving 15% for growth until i have to set up a larger tank

As for not being able to have any tetras in a 4 gallon, can you explain further?

Ok.... I'll try to explain
The inch of fish per gallon is for ADULT length. Neons grow to 1.5 inches each, black neons grow to 1.75 inches each. Otos grow to 2.5 inches.
So-
6Xneons = 9 inches
4x black neons=7 inches
2xotos=5 inches
TOTAL=21 inches roughly

And its generally 1 inch per gallon.