I have a 15 gallon tank with five otocinclus in it, no other livestock except a few pest snails. Tank has been established for a year, well planted. Water parameters still great, 0/0/5, nitrates rarely go over 5ppm. Otos look healthy, and still have nice rounded tummies whenever I see them. But they're not touching things like algae wafers anymore.
Until recently, I had guppies and shrimp in the same tank, so they also ate the algae wafers, while the otos are doing just fine on what they find around the tank. I certainly have plenty of algae in there -too much, but I know they only eat some soft algaes, not the problem ones like hair algae. Since moving the guppies and shrimp out last week, have become aware that the otos aren't really eating any extras I drop in for them. Although I haven't tried any blanched veg recently, maybe they would go for that since it's a rarer treat?
I just became aware of it because now when I drop an algae wafer or something in for them, I end up syphoning most of it out the next day. I never used to need to do that since guppies and shrimp would polish it off. I don't know whether the otos pick at it overnight, or if it just breaks down as it gets soaked and they're not touching it at all. They used to come and eat these algae wafers sometimes, but then, the shrimp were also competing with them for algae, so maybe they're just not feeling the need for it now the shrimp are gone?
I feel silly worrying about this, they're clearly eating well or they wouldn't have those rounded tummies. But it just feels wrong to have a tank with fish in it that I apparently don't need to feed... It just sits there and nitrates stay low, otos do their thing and I change 50% of the water once a week. I don't want to keep dropping food in that they don't want just to suck it back out again, but I can't just... not feed them either!
Obviously I still need/want to offer extra food. But how often should I be offering it?
Should I try offering more vegetable matter? I've seen them sit on courgette and things I've given in the past, but in general, the shrimp were more interested in it than the otos were.
Should I wait until lights out then drop food in, and look for activity? Try every other day, then every third day etc, until I figure out whether to offer food once or twice a week or something?
@seangee, and @Russjw I'd really appreciate your thoughts since you keep otos! And anyone else who has thoughts or suggestions, would be appreciated!
Until recently, I had guppies and shrimp in the same tank, so they also ate the algae wafers, while the otos are doing just fine on what they find around the tank. I certainly have plenty of algae in there -too much, but I know they only eat some soft algaes, not the problem ones like hair algae. Since moving the guppies and shrimp out last week, have become aware that the otos aren't really eating any extras I drop in for them. Although I haven't tried any blanched veg recently, maybe they would go for that since it's a rarer treat?
I just became aware of it because now when I drop an algae wafer or something in for them, I end up syphoning most of it out the next day. I never used to need to do that since guppies and shrimp would polish it off. I don't know whether the otos pick at it overnight, or if it just breaks down as it gets soaked and they're not touching it at all. They used to come and eat these algae wafers sometimes, but then, the shrimp were also competing with them for algae, so maybe they're just not feeling the need for it now the shrimp are gone?
I feel silly worrying about this, they're clearly eating well or they wouldn't have those rounded tummies. But it just feels wrong to have a tank with fish in it that I apparently don't need to feed... It just sits there and nitrates stay low, otos do their thing and I change 50% of the water once a week. I don't want to keep dropping food in that they don't want just to suck it back out again, but I can't just... not feed them either!
Obviously I still need/want to offer extra food. But how often should I be offering it?
Should I try offering more vegetable matter? I've seen them sit on courgette and things I've given in the past, but in general, the shrimp were more interested in it than the otos were.
Should I wait until lights out then drop food in, and look for activity? Try every other day, then every third day etc, until I figure out whether to offer food once or twice a week or something?
@seangee, and @Russjw I'd really appreciate your thoughts since you keep otos! And anyone else who has thoughts or suggestions, would be appreciated!
Will add some nano fish eventually, so that'll make me feel better about it I'm sure. Still undecided on what species to add though.
