Otocinclus And Groups ?

[Tempestuousfury]

Well, there's also a difference between gregarious and social. I read up on khuli loaches on some website, and the author of the article made a distinction, saying the loaches might interact and be friendly, but did not necessarily need to be kept together, since he kept them singly and in groups and they seemed to do fine either way.

Also the 15 or 9 fish wouldn't really be a good example, IMO, since the general consensus is 3 fish. if you have 3 fish in a 50+ gallon tank, then if they stick together, you know they enjoy the company. However, with 15 or 9 or whatever, there are so many of them that there's no real way for them to not stick around in groups, even if they don't mean to do so.

 

[Griz]

Hmmm... point taken.

I guess I'm trying to say that what I'm seeing is more than just chance encounters. They do seem to hang out and swim together. By choice, not mere chance. Whether they really need to be together is certainly up for debate though. I wouldn't say that they do. I like to see fish in groups whenever possible so perhaps I'm a bit biased.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Being biased isn't always bad... working at Petsmart makes me biased towards pretty much any other lfs, though I liked the chain long before I started workign there.

As for them hanging out together, I did notice the same thing in my tank. Just not sure if it was mere coincidence...

 

[Griz]

I have read accounts of otos being found in large numbers in the wild. This is the best I can come up with at the moment:

"When traveling the Amazonian waterways at, it is common to encounter "floating meadows", large portions of tangled vegetation that have broken loose from the riverbank and aimlessly follow the rivers languid course. Upon close inspection, these mobile green islands are full of fish and are literally teeming with Otos. Local ornamental fish collectors often use these "meadows" to source their catch as they are easier to work with their nets than the tangled shore."

http/www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/178.PHP

edit: sp

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Well, it was a very informative article, I must say.

As for the being kept in groups, there really wasn't anything sited or whatnot.... Hm. *sigh*

Perhaps a poll might work on here, though how to weed out the non-oto keepers?

 

[Griz]

Yes, I'd like to hear some more opinions on this. A 33 gal is a tad small to really get an objective view. They are supposed to be next to impossible to breed so perhaps they are a bit anti-social after all.

 

[lisie]

I have 8 otos in a 55 gallon tank, and they generally hang out together. They seem to enjoy each other's company and like having each other in sight, and I definitely would only keep them in groups.

 

[AndyTaylor]

IME, ottos only shoal if they're in groups of 6 and more......this is not scientific, just my observations based on having 12 at one stage, down to 3 now.
They do like to play together but not in the way that neons do...

There are reports of ottos sucking the slime coats of other fish but i've kept them with a wide variety of fish and never observed this behaviour...

 

[Fella]

When I had ottos, they chased my puffer they were housed with a little bit. They did also spend some time together than not I'd have said.


The thing I've always learnt with fish over time, is they never do what they're supposed to! I had a spiny eel that never dug or hid, a puffer that ate goldfish pellets, multifasciatus who rejected shells and chose to live in rocks. I like to think every fish is different, like people.