Otto passed away

[simer]

Hi

I bought half a dozen ottos a few weeks ago and while I don't see them every day, they seemed ok up until but unfortunately one of them died today.

The reason I bought them was to keep the algae down. Well, they seemed only partially successful so I decided to increase the amount of plants and to help with these I installed a couple of CO2 diffusers. This has bought my pH down from 7.8 to 7.0. Could it be this that has killed my poor Otto? I have read that ottos sometimes die for no discernible reason.

Thanks

 

[rdd1952]

It depends on how fast the pH dropped. if it dropped from 7.8 to 7.0 in a day, it could have killed him but it probably would have had an effect on your other fish too. If the drop was over several days or weeks, it wouldn't be a factor.

What kind of algae do you have? Otos won't eat all types (actually no fish eats all algae). If it is blue green algae, nothing will eat it. Otos are very fragile. I lost so many in perfect water conditions that I decided not to get any more. I went with algae eating shrimp instead. A good way to tell if otos are healthy is to look at their bellies. If he is plump and fat, he's healthy. If not, he probably isn't getting enough to eat. Try feeding them some cucumbers or zuchini (boil it for about a minute and cool before putting in tank).

 

[illusion54]

Your otos were caught in the wild most likely and most of them have damaged organs from the tranquilizer used to capture them.

If you have seen the oto that died eating, then it may have been your tank conditions, however if it wasnt eating since you got it then it was a result of the catching/shipping process.

You bought 12 so my statement above may be hard to determine. I bought 2 otos and only 1 survived the first week. Theyre a great fish if you can get them past the first month.

 

[rdd1952]

As illusion54 stated, the otos were most likely wild caught (actually I think all otos are live caught). When you go to get otos, it's best to ask the fish store how long they've had them. If it's less than 2 weeks or if they tell you they don't know, wait before you buy. Because of the stress of traveling, most lfs experience a pretty big die-off of otos in the first 2 weeks. After that, you have a pretty good chance of getting otos that will live.

 

[simer]

Thanks for the reply.

The pH appears to have dropped over the course of a week or so. The otos are pretty fat actually. I appear to have two types of algae - a brownish covering on the rocks and some of the plants and a few of the plants have a green hair like algae. I might just ditch the affected plants and scrub the rocks.

I throw in half an algae wafer every day for the otos as well, but all the other fish seem to attack these before the otos are able to ger to them.

 

[simer]

If you have seen the oto that died eating, then it may have been your tank conditions, however if it wasnt eating since you got it then it was a result of the catching/shipping process.

You bought 12 so my statement above may be hard to determine. I bought 2 otos and only 1 survived the first week. Theyre a great fish if you can get them past the first month.

[snapback]916483[/snapback]​

I had 6 of them (half a dozen) and I've seen all of them sucking on algae covered leaves, but as I say, never eating the algae wafers. I have had them for 3/4 weeks now - do you think it was the avelling?

 

[andywg]

Your otos were caught in the wild most likely and most of them have damaged organs from the tranquilizer used to capture them.

If you have seen the oto that died eating, then it may have been your tank conditions, however if it wasnt eating since you got it then it was a result of the catching/shipping process.

You bought 12 so my statement above may be hard to determine. I bought 2 otos and only 1 survived the first week. Theyre a great fish if you can get them past the first month.

[snapback]916483[/snapback]​

Where have you read they use tranquilisers? Do they shoot them with a mini dart gun? I had always assumed they just netted them and shipped them.

Even if you see an oto eat it does not mean it is out of the woods. The oto lives in symbiosis with a bacteria in its gut. The bacteria actually breaks the algae down for the oto's digestive system to handle. If the oto goes too long without food (more than possible during the shipping process) then the oto will consume the bacteria so even though it may be eating algae, it can't process it and as such it will die of starvation. That is why when you are buying them you should get the fattest ones you can.

 

[simer]

Even if you see an oto eat it does not mean it is out of the woods. The oto lives in symbiosis with a bacteria in its gut. The bacteria actually breaks the algae down for the oto's digestive system to handle. If the oto goes too long without food (more than possible during the shipping process) then the oto will consume the bacteria so even though it may be eating algae, it can't process it and as such it will die of starvation. That is why when you are buying them you should get the fattest ones you can.

[snapback]916791[/snapback]​

Well I never! I know you're supposed to research your fish well before you buy them, but I'm ashamed to say I had no clue of this fact. I suppose the best bet is to buy fat ones that have been at your shop for some time.

I'll just have to wait it out on the rest then.

Thanks!

 

[illusion54]

"Where have you read they use tranquilisers? Do they shoot them with a mini dart gun? I had always assumed they just netted them and shipped them."

They put it in the water, they dont inject the fish.

It would be pretty hard and difficult to catch such a small fish in a net is my guess.

 

[FreshwaterFishie]

"Where have you read they use tranquilisers? Do they shoot them with a mini dart gun? I had always assumed they just netted them and shipped them."

They put it in the water, they dont inject the fish.

It would be pretty hard and difficult to catch such a small fish in a net is my guess.

[snapback]917049[/snapback]​

Maybe, they could all wade in the water with little, tiny aquarium nets on a pole and scoop them up one by one...or maybe they could use dental floss and make a noose...wild fish chase! LOL!

No more caffeine...