Otocinclus

[Miah002]

Otos are fine in smaller tanks.

I've had 4 in a 30 litre biorb modified with sand subtrate and an ehiem aqauball 2208.

Three of them have lived in there for a year and months. The other one i got a couple of days ago.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Not everyone loves Otocinclus.

I consider them poor fish for the average aquarist. The vast majority of Otocinclus die within weeks or months of purchase. Being so small, they are half-starved by the time they get into the shops, and few retailers, let alone fishkeepers, have any idea how to care for them. Too many aquarists keep them excessively warm (they need cool water, 22-25 C) and give them not enough to eat (they must have green algae, or viable substitutes such as algae wafers). For every ten specimens sold, I doubt even one specimen lives for a decent 3-4 years in captivity.

What do you do though if they don't eat algae wafers and you don't have any algae left in the tank? I bought some oto's a couple of months back, but unlike some oto's i kept many years ago, they show no interest in stuff like algae wafers- which is a problem since they've eaten all the algae naturally growing in the tank and are now growing thinner again.
Are they just destined to die?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Tokis-Phoenix

Mine seem to be doing well with zucchini, lettuce, kale, etc.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

you can always culture some algae, get a couple of rocks and put them in some water in a sunny spot like a windowcill, algae will grow on them. if you get two you can have a rotation system so one is in the tank and algae ridden and the other is growing some more algae when it runs out.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Thanks for the suggestions Inchworm & Miss Wiggle i will try those .