omnitheforsaken

I am setting up my 75 gallon planted. It's actually running now with 2 male molly fry and 5 cories in it. It will have endlers, swordtails, and mollies as the main inhabitants. My question is, how many cories should I have? Also, some one recommended that I add some shrimp to it as well. I don't know if the shrimp or fry will be safe together. So basically I want to know, how should I stock my clean-up crew? I was considering Oto's and Cory's only but didn't know how many of each and would like to know how shrimp could fit into this equation if I wanted to add them.

aquatic mouse

As for the corys, I've heard 1 for every 5 gallons is a good rule & at least 3 of each variety. So for your 75, I'd have 15 cory cats.

Have you had them before? I LOVE them! They remind me of dogs in a kitchen. They go around in their little packs searching for pieces of food.

CHoffman

I don't know much about shrimp so I'm not much help there..But Cories love to be in schools so at least 3 but in a 75 you could have like 5-10. Depending on how heavily stocked you are with your other fish. Ottos would be a great addition to that tank. they also love to be in schools so at least 3 but the more the merrier in my opinion, they are the cutest little things and do a good job cleaning the algae up.

aquarist48

Hello. I would like to comment on the Ottos. I don't have them personally but I've read they can be difficult to keep in newly established aquariums. I would suggest holding off on them for a while. Too, acclimation is crucial.
If I'm wrong someone please correct me. (hope to see some photos!)
Thanks!
Ken

Diggly

Ive had 3 otos in a 1 month old tank sucessfully for about 2 weeks - I added them after the tank was cycled but I also have live plants which they are ripping apart at the moment. They also love cucumber and will eat algae tablets.

I think if you are putting them in a tank without algae, just make sure you give algae tablets and cucumber while the algae is growing. This might depend on where you get your otos though!

CHoffman

I'd have to agree with aquarist on this one. Good job for catching that!!. I wouldn't add any ottos until the tank has been up and running with fish for 3 or so months...You really don't want to add them to a newly established tank..They are very sensitive fish and are all usually wild caught with really inhumane methods so they go through allot before they get to you..I would def have algae in the tank when you get them, it's not a must but it sure increases their chances of survival. They say if you can keep them alive in your tank past the 3 week mark they are likely to be ok...I have a school in my 120 and they do great, they don't eat my plants at all but I could just have good ottos..lol.

omnitheforsaken

1 of the 5 I currently have has been with me for a few months now. I've always felt bad about having him alone so getting him some tank mates was my first priority once I got the 75 up and running. As soon as I put him and the other 4 in the tank they immediately paired up, unfortunately leaving me with an odd ball out.

My lone cory (before I got the other 4) would actually school with my molly fry if you can believe that. At first I thought something must've been wrong with my water cause he was swimming all over the place and seldomly on the bottom. So I watched him for a while and realized that he was just following the fry... that was so cool.

I don't know about 15 but I may go up as high as 10 based on the recommendations I got here. I know these Koi Swords and Endlers are going to breed like mad and if I can't give them away as fast as they come I want to have some room left for the population.

Jaysee

You could do up to 15 corys of the same species or 7 of one species and 7 of another. They do really like larger groups of their own species, so the 15 of one kind is better than 2 small groups IMO. You could also put a bunch of ghost shrimp in for clean up.

omnitheforsaken

I actually have 2 Oto's in my 29gal. I read all the things said on the internet about their sensitivity but I must say I have been lucky with mine so far. I've had these 2 for at least 2 months and I took no special precautions before introducing them. I just acclimated them using the old school bag in the water method (which really does nothing but acclimate to temp) and let them go. They've been having at it ever since, even though I'm struggling to control my nitrates in that tank. I never see them eat anything I put in the tank and I can't see any algae in my tank but they're alive and kicking for now. I will be more cautious before I introduce them to my 75 and I am actually cultivating some algae rocks to have a constant food supply for them. The 75 is going to represent my lessons learned, whether I learned them the hard way or not, so thanks for the precautionary remarks.

But how many should I have in there... just 2? I seem to have a hard time growing algae in my 29 gal but I have much better lighting in my 75 and suspect that algea may grow more freely, and I don't plan to treat it like a pest like most of the people I know do. With the fish I plan to have I think algea will be an invaluable asset.

aquarist48

Caresheet for otos
The above link is a Care Sheet for Otos that you may find helpful. As I mentioned I don't have Otos but like you I do like some algae in my tank mainly for my Pleco. I never clean the back glass in my tanks. I like the look of the algae and too it's a good sign of plenty of oxygen in the water.
http://www.fishlore.com/profiles_otocinclus.htm
The links above state they do like to be kept in small schools. I would suggest 3 or 4.
Best of luck!
Ken