mlinden84

I'm sure this has been talked about before, but I can't seem to find it. I currently have 4 otos that I would like to move to my betta tank(s). I was just wondering if I should take the betta out, rearrange it, put the otos in, then the betta so he won't be territorial? Or doesn't it matter? And how many otos should I have in a tank? (They are both 10 gallon) I can get more otos before I move them if I need more than 2 per tank. The reason I was asking about the re-arranging is because I'm getting new(better) decorations for the tanks and thought it would be a good time to do both.

Phloxface

I would take the Betta out and rearrange things and put him back in after the Otos. How many Otos depends on how much algae you can produce in the tank. I had two Otos in my algae ridden 5 gallon Hex tank with my Betta. For some reason one original Oto is still alive but the second and all replacements keep dying. I decided to keep the Oto alone for now as he seems to be doing okay. I don't think there is enough algae to sustain two Otos because they are SO efficient at cleaning it and I can't seem to get them to eat any veggies or algae wafers.
For a 10 gallon tank I'd put two in each 10 gallon tank and no more. They will do a great job cleaning the algae and maybe you are lucky and yours will eat veggies if there's not enough algae.
Be careful feeding algae wafers to them. I don't even do it at all anymore. Bettas LOVE algae wafers and no matter how well you hide it, your Bettas WILL find them and eat the whole thing! LP stole the algae wafer I left for my Oto way under the driftwood and ate it all last night. He was so bloated he could barely swim! He is fasting today for being so naughty! Bettas will usually leave veggies on clips alone.

mlinden84

I "make" my own algae for them. I have a few small "fishbowls" (got them at the dollar tree, they are probably like 3 cups or something) I put some large natural stones (again, i got them at the dollar tree), cover it in plastic wrap, and either set it in a sunny window or out on the patio table. Then when the algae is covering the stones, I'll trade them out with the other large stones in the tank. I just keep a little cycle going and they always seem to have enough algae.

I don't really have an algae problem, I just figured it'd be cool to have a few more fish in the tanks. I do have a small amount on the tank sides, takes me maybe 30 seconds to clean off when I do water changes. Is it a good idea to add the otos? Or should I not do it, in case I need to medicate the tank?

Phloxface

If you don't have an algae problem then you don't really need to. If you do, you'll have to get a separate hospital tank if you need to medicate the Betta.

mlinden84

Eh, seems kinda like a hassle (lol im so lazy) Since I don't have an algae problem I guess I won't worry about it. Plus, it's easier to just treat the fish in it's "home" tank, so they don't have the added stress of getting moved.

lilswimmer

Ok, I have to ask a dumb question: When medicating a Betta, why do you have to move him from a tank with ottos? Will the medicine harm the ottos?

mlinden84

I think it is because they are very sensitive to everything and also because you don't want to treat them with something if they aren't sick. It'd be like treating 1 sick fish in a community tank. You don't want to treat all of the fish in the tank, only the sick one. That's why it's nice to have a "sick" tank (mine is a 10 gallon) that you can put the sick fish in and treat them with the medicine without subjecting all the fish to the medicine. Correct me if I am wrong, but I am assuming this is why.

armadillo

Otos are scaleless, hence very sensitive to medication. But they are also very sensitive to change, and to uncycled tanks. So I would move the fish sick to a hospital tank instead. That way, if the meds hurt your cycle, it doesn't matter, as it'll be in the hospital tank.

Tom

I have never had a problem with my betta and adding otos. Could it just be the personality of the betta?(If said already, sorry, to lazy to read all of it)
Tom

mlinden84

I think it would depend on the personality. I decided not to add the otos. I don't really have a big problem with algae (in fact im TRYING to grow it in my community tank). I just thought I could get more fish that way = ) But I dont have an extra tank at the moment to move a sick betta to (baby african cichlids in the hospital tank) so it's easier to be able to treat them in their own tank without having to worry about the otos