T3Knical5urg3

So I had my betta and his otto friend for over 3 months now in an eclipse hex tank. It is fully planted and everyone seemed to be happy. This afternoon I came home and my otto was in a strange place. He hadn't moved a few hours later. I was worried so i put the net by him and tapped him and he was dead . I had problems with him about 2 weeks ago but he seemed fine now. I double checked the water perameters and they are fine at 0,0,>5. I wish i knew why he died. I want to get another one but I won't if im doing something wrong.

Lucy

I'm so sorry you lost your otto. Sometime these things happen and we never know why.

Shawnie

aww darn..im sorry you lost him as well..strange things happen to good fish ....rip lil otto!

pamd

Ottos have a strong reputation of being extremely sensitive and dying unexpectedly within a couple months of acquisition. He was probably not cared for properly before you got him.

It's probably not your fault. RIP little otto. I feel so bad for your losing him.

blaxicanlatino

same happened with one of my ottos. She just started swimming crazy like before killing over after i had had her for about 2 months. The other oto is doing fine though

pinkfloydpuffer

Oh, that's so sad. Unfortunately, many fish sold at pet stores come to us with problems or having not been taken care of. I got a betta that only lasted 10 days. It's just the luck of the draw. I'm sorry you lost your little guy

COBettaCouple

I'm sorry you lost the little guy. Unfortunately, they do tend to not be the hardiest fish when you get them at a fish store and would be best with at least 2 of them.

Alessa

Im really sorry you lost him... they are very sensitive little guys.. . and sometimes they are more sensitive when they are not with at least another otto buddy.

Phinny12

Im Sorry...Poor little Otto

chickadee

They really do much better in twos or threes but once established they will do okay with one. He was probably either on his way out before or had gotten horrid care before you got him. They are notoriously horribly mistreated by their captors (they are wild caught by flooding the water with cyanide) and half die before they ever hit the stores at least. Then most pet stores insist on feeding the fish flake food which they do not eat well so they are basically starved as they also wipe the tanks down and do not have algae in the tanks for them. So another large percentage die of starvation due to inadequate or the wrong food. The real problem is that if they are purchased after being starved for too long, the bacteria that resides in their stomachs to digest the food they do like to eat may have died off due to starvation at the store and you may not be aware of this. If this has happened, you can feed them well and they can eat until they look like they will pop and it will do them no good as the food cannot digest and they will still starve to death. They can appear totally healthy and still die of starvation. the only signs to look for in a totally healthy oto are:

Rounded bellies but not totally bloated like they are going to explode
White colored bellies (red streaks or dark red blotches usually indicate infections) some pale pink is okay though.
Eyes that do not have a glazed over appearance.

That is the best I can tell you other than to visit the site at:

http://www.otocinclus.com It is their own site and the information gives you an idea of just how hard these little guys have really had it.

Rose

I do sympathize with you on the loss of your fish. I have owned MANY otos in my fish keeping and only have 3 left but they are my oldest fish and so darling I just love them.