Sad News

[Fluffybiker]

We've lost 3 in a week.

checked the water and all ok - but have now done a 50% water change though

lost both oto's they just wouldn't take to any food i gave them not even fresh veg
and one of the rasboras has also gone

Gawd I feel rubbish!

worst thing is i couldn't find bodies, think the others must have eaten them the little
monsters

going to give it a week see if the other rasbora survives then i'm not sure
I know he souldn't be alone but wondering if i should really get more?
are there others that he would get on with?

Thanks guys from a rather down fluff

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Don't know about the rasbora's, but otos are quite notorious for being difficult to succesfully acclimatise in the long term to tanks.
The problem is because they get easily starved in transport to the lfs, and are not easiest fish to move from fresh algae onto prepared foods like algae wafers and cucumber.

The oto's have a special bacteria in their guts that helps them digest their food, when they get starved though this beneficial gut bacteria also starts to die off. So often the best way to increase your chances of successfully acclimatising oto's to your tank in the long term is to buy a large group (5 or more is good) as some people believe that the oto's excrete their beneficial gut bacteria and pass it onto each other, so a larger group of oto's is more likely to get healthier digestion back in order quicker than a small group. Also, regardless of the gut bacteria theory, they just seem to do much better in groups of 3-5 or more either way .
Its always a good idea to have some algae in your tank when you buy oto's since this is their main natural food and they can be difficult to move oto's onto prepared foods, and getting your oto's well fed and fat as soon as posible after you buy them is very important in increasing their chances of living longer and healthier in the long term in your tank .

 

[tropicalgirl2007]

I have had trouble with ottos. I had 8, I now only have 3. From two different shops and at two different times. They ones I have left are now coming along great.

Sorry for your losses though.

 

[MermaidMel]

Aww sorry to hear your news, it sucks when they don't succeed in the tank
I don't know why my ottos are doing so well, but I've heard they are really hard to 'rear' in general
I hope things improve for you
Chin up