Keeping Otto's Alive

[Floyds mum]

Hi i had some ottos and i lost them after about a month, there was plenty of algae and water was perfcectly fine and they were constantly attatched to the tank sides eating algae, i currently have 2 dwarf corys and they perfectly fine.
Im wanting to get some more but does anyone have any advice on keeping them alive?
They are gorgeous little fish and i love them i just want to keep these ones alive

 

[Curiosity101]

What size tank were they in?

Was it cycled prior to adding them?

What were you feeding them other than the algae in the tank?

Did they show any signs of illness before dying, or did they simply keel over?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Floyds mum

The most important thing (and probably the most difficult) is to get healthy otos from the lfs. Otos are different from most other fish in that they need a constant supply of food to survive. If this is interrupted for an extended period, as it often is between the time they are caught and the time they appear at the lfs, they will not be able to digest the food they eat later.

What you want to look for when you purchase them are ones that look plump and have rounded bellies. Only buy them from an lfs that you can trust and ask how long they have had them and if they are eating well. If they have had them for a week or more, are eating well, and look good, they will have the best chance of survival. Look the ones over carefully as they go into your bag and reject any you don't like. Buy a few extras, "just in case," and because they like to be kept in a group.

The do best in tanks that have been established for some time and have algae growing in them. Their diet can be supplemented with a good supply of zucchini, lettuce, kale, butternut squash and cucumbers. It helps to either blanch or freeze them first since this helps to break down the fiber in the vegetable. A good supply can be cut up and one time and stored in the freezer for easy use.

Good luck with them in the future.

 

[Floyds mum]

What size tank were they in?

Was it cycled prior to adding them?

What were you feeding them other than the algae in the tank?

Did they show any signs of illness before dying, or did they simply keel over?

64L
Yes it was fully cycled
Catfish pellets the store sold which they wernt that interested in, the other 2 got them
not really i mean they hung around on the gravel which they didnt do much and one of them was on the glass at the bottom. So they didnt really show signs of illness

Hi Floyds mum

The most important thing (and probably the most difficult) is to get healthy otos from the lfs. Otos are different from most other fish in that they need a constant supply of food to survive. If this is interrupted for an extended period, as it often is between the time they are caught and the time they appear at the lfs, they will not be able to digest the food they eat later.

What you want to look for when you purchase them are ones that look plump and have rounded bellies. Only buy them from an lfs that you can trust and ask how long they have had them and if they are eating well. If they have had them for a week or more, are eating well, and look good, they will have the best chance of survival. Look the ones over carefully as they go into your bag and reject any you don't like. Buy a few extras, "just in case," and because they like to be kept in a group.

The do best in tanks that have been established for some time and have algae growing in them. Their diet can be supplemented with a good supply of zucchini, lettuce, kale, butternut squash and cucumbers. It helps to either blanch or freeze them first since this helps to break down the fiber in the vegetable. A good supply can be cut up and one time and stored in the freezer for easy use.

Good luck with them in the future.

Thanx i shall try supplimenting with fresh greens then as we get alot of cucumber, should i put them in a seperate tank for a few weeks to month first?
I have 2 dwarf corys, 5 white clouds and 1 male betta atm the smaller tank i have hasnt been set up as long as my 64L one

 

[Inchworm]

Thanx i shall try supplimenting with fresh greens then as we get alot of cucumber, should i put them in a seperate tank for a few weeks to month first?
I have 2 dwarf corys, 5 white clouds and 1 male betta atm the smaller tank i have hasnt been set up as long as my 64L one

It's always safest to quarantine new fish. With otos it's a judgment call on whether algae, which they can readily eat, is more important than taking a risk that could effect your other fish. I've added them to established tanks successfully, but I hesitate to recommend doing that to anyone else.

You might try Hikari Bottom Feeder Wafers and Wardly's Algae Wafers as well. If they eat them, so much the better. Your other fish, especially the corys, will probably like them too.

 

[Floyds mum]

Thanx i shall try supplimenting with fresh greens then as we get alot of cucumber, should i put them in a seperate tank for a few weeks to month first?
I have 2 dwarf corys, 5 white clouds and 1 male betta atm the smaller tank i have hasnt been set up as long as my 64L one

It's always safest to quarantine new fish. With otos it's a judgment call on whether algae, which they can readily eat, is more important than taking a risk that could effect your other fish. I've added them to established tanks successfully, but I hesitate to recommend doing that to anyone else.

You might try Hikari Bottom Feeder Wafers and Wardly's Algae Wafers as well. If they eat them, so much the better. Your other fish, especially the corys, will probably like them too.

Ok thanx for the help, will se how much the corys are to so the duo i have can have more friends to play with lol

 

[Floyds mum]

With wafer tabs are hikari the way to go or will local fish stores own brand be ok? as in King british?

 

[Inchworm]

With wafer tabs are hikari the way to go or will local fish stores own brand be ok? as in King british?

I live in New York and have never been able to try the King British products. Hikari seems like the best kind I can find. It won't hurt to give them a try.

Your corys will do better in a group and often it's hard to find the dwarf species. Unless you know for sure that your lfs regularly stocks them, take advantage of the opportunity and get them while you can.

 

[Floyds mum]

With wafer tabs are hikari the way to go or will local fish stores own brand be ok? as in King british?

I live in New York and have never been able to try the King British products. Hikari seems like the best kind I can find. It won't hurt to give them a try.

Your corys will do better in a group and often it's hard to find the dwarf species. Unless you know for sure that your lfs regularly stocks them, take advantage of the opportunity and get them while you can.

Well i bought 4 ottos but only got 2 and got 2 corys lol so yay! will ask them tho, i have a lot of faith in them