Baby Otocinclus

[Mondego]

I found some baby Otocinclus in my fish tank. i mistook it for planaria at first, since it is totally colorless and about 1/8" long. i got really close and noticed it had fins and as soon as i saw how it moved across the glass, i knew what it was.

How many babies usually come out?

I was thinking of getting rid of the tank due to a multi-worm infestation (so far 3 different kinds; and airborne fly-looking things across the top of the water and sides of the glass) but i don't want to kill the Otocinclus; oh and the snails omg. If i knew how many there might be i can probably save most of them. There just can't be any counting something so very tiny (about the same size as the worms i just found) in a heavily planted 75 gallon tank with rocks and driftwood.

 

[bunjiweb]

Doesnt quite add up... the worms and flys you describe are down to dirty water and excess food most of the time..

Yet you managed to breed ottos?!?!?

Congratulations are due if this is correct, and I would seriously let them grow up as its an achievement to breed a little catfish such as this in a community tank!

Good luck..

Ben

 

[Mondego]

thanks bunjiweb. i agree i don't clean the gravel that often (hardly ever). if you have an easy way of cleaning it with so many rocks/driftwood/and lots of large and small plants i'd love to hear it (i'm all out of ideas ). i run a busy schedule and don't have time to take out decorations to clean the gravel (which does in fact look dirty). the water itself should be clean. it is very clear. despite a slow filter (used to be real fast, gotta find out why it slowed down so bad), the plants really take care of most of the dirtyness, and i have the canister filter emptying into 2 8" biowheels as well.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

A reasonable water pump/hoover thing will suck up plenty without being in direct contact with the gravel, so long as it's reasonably close. I do mine at least once a week in every tank in use. Some areas are very hard to reach, especially in my 55 deep tank.
I suspect the filter needs a clean if it's not working as well as it was. Easy to do when doing a w/c as the media can be washed in the dirty water then put back. Sometimes the tubes (if it has tubes being an external) can get clogged with too much gunk too so may be the prob there. Just remember to turn off the filter first. And shut off inlet/outlet pipes as directed in the filter guide or you'll have a very wet floor.
Hugs,
P.