How Many Otocinclus?

[Gurglar]

How many otocinclus would you recommend for my 5 gallon? it has a fair bit of alage growing all over the glass. I was thinking 2 would do the job.

 

[n3ont3tra]

I would think 2, but you can't really have any other fish than that. Otos grow to 2 inches long...
I'm sorry to hijack, but how many otos do you think would be good for a 250g tank?

EDIT:: Sorry, typo, meant 2.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

i would say about 3, they dont really produce much waste or move much. they also like to be in groups. when you are buying them, keep your recept and buy them from a place where they accept returns because they have a bad habit of dying for no reason the first week or 2. after that, they are fine. instead of buying fish to get rid of the algae, why not find out whats causing it and prevent it from coming back? after the algae is gone, whats going to happen to the otos?

 

[n3ont3tra]

In my huge 250g tank I'll eventually be getting, I don't think I'll ever stop the algae because I won't have many plants and I"ll have fairly high lighting. But in a 5g it is usually quite easy to keep algae from coming back, bacause it's only 5g, whether it's planted or not. Do you have any lighting? If so, how many watts are the bulbs?

 

[goldfish]

If you're going to get any, get 3. But with them on top of the BN and gourami, expect to do regular water changes. I.E. every 3 days or so. Any less and the otos and the gourami will die - in my experience, both tend to be very sensitive to big water quality changes. Which can easily happen in a 5G.

And keep an eye out for bullying from the gourami.

 

[SamUK]

hmmm.


i think the tanks a bit overstocked as it is.


its red honey gouramis or sparkling gouramis (i think) that are suitable for smaller tanks but even then i think a 5 is pushing it.


i see you kno about the BN but the dwarf id say needs upwards of 16 gallons.

 

[Gurglar]

If you're going to get any, get 3. But with them on top of the BN and gourami, expect to do regular water changes. I.E. every 3 days or so. Any less and the otos and the gourami will die - in my experience, both tend to be very sensitive to big water quality changes. Which can easily happen in a 5G.

And keep an eye out for bullying from the gourami.

I do regular water changes every 2 days emptying 20% all ready so that won't be a problem.

The Dwarf and BN will be moved to my 35 gallon once I can find a home for the electric blue which will prolly be tomorrow as i'm seeing if the pet store will take it.

In my huge 250g tank I'll eventually be getting, I don't think I'll ever stop the algae because I won't have many plants and I"ll have fairly high lighting. But in a 5g it is usually quite easy to keep algae from coming back, bacause it's only 5g, whether it's planted or not. Do you have any lighting? If so, how many watts are the bulbs?

I don't have any lighting its just buy a window to get some light into the tank so I can see the fish.

 

[goldfish]

Excellent news on the gourami and BN. As soon as they're out, go for it.

Nice one with the water changes, too.

 

[catxx]

hmm i don't know if i would put otos in a 5g. i have a pair in a 7.5 (was a trio, but i lost one ) and i feel bad just for that! whoever said they weren't active, nope, mine are always swimming about all over the place, then stop to rest and snuffle some algae, then they're off again. they play cat and mouse with my betta!

how about a snail instead for your algae? nerites don't breed in freshwater and look pretty, or apple snails will breed but lay their eggs above water so can be removed if you don't want swarms of snails.