Otocinclus not eating!

[bettafishlover86]

Hi guys,
I have had an oto for three weeks. I never see him eating but there is never algae in my tank anymore. I feed him 1 algae wafer every other day just to be sure, but it always breaks down and I never see him eat it. What is he eating? How can I get him to eat algae wafers?

 

[Colin_T]

Make sure there is driftwood and algae in the tank at all times.

Increase the lighting time to encourage algae on the glass. You can have lights on for up to 16 hours a day but they need 8 hours of darkness.

You can put smooth rocks and ornaments outside in a bucket of water. Have the bucket in the sun and let algae grow on the rocks. then put one in the tank for the fish. Swap the rocks over regularly so there is a constant supply of food for the catfish.

 

[bettafishlover86]

How lo

Make sure there is driftwood and algae in the tank at all times.

Increase the lighting time to encourage algae on the glass. You can have lights on for up to 16 hours a day but they need 8 hours of darkness.

You can put smooth rocks and ornaments outside in a bucket of water. Have the bucket in the sun and let algae grow on the rocks. then put one in the tank for the fish. Swap the rocks over regularly so there is a constant supply of food for the catfish.

how long does it normally take for the algae to grow on the rocks?

 

[Colin_T]

a couple of weeks, less if you use aquarium water

 

[bettafishlover86]

a couple of weeks, less if you use aquarium water

the only problem is it is almost winter and water freezes at night...

 

[foxgirl158]

the only problem is it is almost winter and water freezes at night...

Do you not have a heater? Why is your tank in a place where the water can freeze? Do you keep it on your porch?

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Do you not have a heater? Why is your tank in a place where the water can freeze? Do you keep it on your porch?

Colin advised BFL86 to put some rocks outside in a bucket of water to grow some algae--that's what they're talking about. Colin sometimes forgets that it's winter here in the Northern Hemisphere, and many of us live in decidedly non-tropical places.

 

[bettafishlover86]

My tan

Do you not have a heater? Why is your tank in a place where the water can freeze? Do you keep it on your porch?

My tank is in my room and it has a theater. We were talking about making algae.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

My tan

My tank is in my room and it has a theater. We were talking about making algae.

Ooh fancy -shmancy! Stop bragging about your tank that has its own theatre, you big show off!

 

[bettafishlover86]

Ooh fancy -shmancy! Stop bragging about your tank that has its own theatre, you big show off!

I was just telling her I don't have my tank in a place where water freezes. She thought I had my tank outside.

 

[foxgirl158]

My bad; I'm sorry! I thought you were talking about growing algae in your tank, and that your tank was outside. Many apologies!