I did something I said I wouldn't do again

CHoffman · January 29th, 2009

I went to Petsmart the other night and came home with some new friends

..
I had awful luck with the first 3 ottos I bought, they all died within 24 hours

.
But I saw these guys and had to get them..I brought home 3 ottos, I'm so pleased to say they are doing GREAT...I had some algae build up in Kenya's (My betta) tank. I took Kenya out and acclimated the ottos for 2 hours, very slowly, Put them in and put Kenya in 30 min later. They have been going to town on the algae..All of them are healthy and active. Kenya didn't mind at all. He went up to all 3 of them checked them out then went about his business. No flaring or aggression. Yipee..I'm to excited and love the new babies. I'll be posting a video soon.

Kenya was a camera hog though.

Butterfly · January 29th, 2009

I totally understand

I love my Otos also. Tell Kenya he's a good boy for sharing space with the new babies

Carol

dvc_r · January 29th, 2009

I had the same problem. Ottos are difficult to acclimate. I've lost a few and thought it was me at first but the more I researched the more I found that was a common problem. I think the magic number is 10 days. I still have every one that has past that time, and with all my tanks, I must have around 18 of them.

CHoffman · January 29th, 2009

Yikes..I still have another 9 days..I thought I was doing good because they made it this far..lol..I've been keeping a real close eye on them and I'm hoping they make it. They seem happy and are chowing down so hopefully all will go well.

Lucy · January 29th, 2009

I Love otos. Good luck with them.

TFA101 · January 29th, 2009

i find otos to be very touchy. but good job with yours! my remaining female from the original 5 otos is actually thriving with the school of zebra danios. they are her people. lol

CHoffman · January 29th, 2009

Thanks guys..They are just the cutest things!!!
Here is a video of them and Kenya. He checks them out every once in awhile but I'm glad he doesn't bug them..He doesn't flare or get aggressive so I guess I'll keep a close eye on things, I have a back up plan just incase but so far so good. Not the best video..Sorry.

Mike19 · January 29th, 2009

very nice

, my BN pleco needs some buddies to tackle some algae his doing the best he can but needs backup :P

Shawnie · January 30th, 2009

that is priceless...Love him looking at that lil otto wondering who invited him to the party! LOL

CHoffman · January 30th, 2009

Isn't it the funniest..lol...He checks them out every know and then but isn't to grumpy about them being there...However he didn't like me watching them and not him..He kept butting into the camera view and shaking his tail feathers....or fins.lol.

agabr123 · January 30th, 2009

lol, what a cute video!

dvc_r · January 30th, 2009

Great vid, thanks

CHoffman · February 2nd, 2009

Just thought I'd let ya all know they are still alive and well.

..They are little piggies for sure..lol..But my tank is clean as can be and Kenya is still doing just fine..NO problems at all..But I'm still keeping my eye out and I have a back up plan..But so far it couldn't have gone better...Kenya is such a good little betta boy..lol

Shawnie · February 2nd, 2009

awesome! doesnt it feel good when things go right

Butterfly · February 2nd, 2009

Glad things are going well

Otos are generally fearless too and just let the world go by.
Carol

CHoffman · February 2nd, 2009

It does feel good Shawnie..I'm glad it went so smoothy this time around
Carol you couldn't be more right..They swim all around kenya like he's just one of them...They could care less that's he's a big bad mean Betta...lol...Kenya seems to think he's big and bad so I'll go with it.

Emory · February 2nd, 2009

Glad you are having luck! Out of my original 3 only 1 made it past one day. It looked like one of them aborted a bunch of immature fry before it died. *Sad*

Congrats and keep up the good work!

Butterfly · February 2nd, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emory

Glad you are having luck! Out of my original 3 only 1 made it past one day. It looked like one of them aborted a bunch of immature fry before it died. *Sad*

Congrats and keep up the good work!

Sorry to hear about your Otos Emory. since Otos are egg layers she may have laid eggs and died. Poor baby

Carol

CHoffman · February 2nd, 2009

It seems like allot of Ottos don't make it past a couple of days...My first batch didn't.

.I was very Leary of trying again but I'm glad I did..SOrry to hear about yours Emory..That's very sad.

Emory · February 3rd, 2009

Hmmm..... egg layers. I swear the little things were marked just like my ottos. Maybe my live bearing male black molly bred to one of my egg laying zebra danios and they created striped still born fry. lolololololololol

a mystery birth!

DPmom26 · February 3rd, 2009

Sorry about your little guys Emory. I love the video of your Betta boy and his new friends CH he is an absolute darling.

CHoffman · February 3rd, 2009

Thank you..

..I think so too..lol....You should see that tank now..I purposely didn't clean the algae so they would have something to eat and there was allot in there..but it is completely spotless now.lol...They cleaned the heater and air hose cords too..Good little cleaners...I'm thinking about going and getting 1 more so there is 4 of them in there...Not sure though...I don't want to push my limits with Kenya too far..He's done so good I don't want to mess things up.

CHoffman · February 6th, 2009

Just a quick update..It's day 10 and Ottos are happy and healthy!!!..Fat little things..They ate every piece of algae in that 10 gallon tank so I put spinach in there. I used a rubberband to keep it on the driftwood..They found it pretty fast!!..I'm keeping my fingers crossed that since they made it to the 10 day mark all is good.

agabr123 · February 6th, 2009

for some reason people seem to think that otos prefer to be in odd numbers (who knows why they do), so for the sake of.....i dont know, posterity?, i'd stick with three

Miriam and Joel · February 6th, 2009

Your Betta is beautiful! What kind of Betta is it? Mine doesn't have so big fins, it seems to be another kind. Good luck with them!

CHoffman · February 6th, 2009

Thank you..Kenya is my baby!!..I love him to pieces..He is a crowntail Betta..Most Betta's that you get at the LFS are veil tails..Which are beautiful Betta's in my opinion..Kenya caught my eye and he wasn't in good shape when I got him..he had crud all over his fins..But they have grown allot since I've had him..Some of his fins grew back silver..lol..Which I guess happens pretty regularly.I think it's pretty though.

MaddieLynn · February 6th, 2009

I wanted to do that sooo bad tonight - come home with a new fish, that is. I saw a femlae guppy who was hugely pregnant at Wal-Mart, but I knew she wasn't fropping her fry because the water wasn't warm enough. I wanted soooooo badly to bring her home, but I reminded myself (about 10 times!) that one of my mollies is about to have her fry soon, and I really don't have the room.

Red1313 · February 6th, 2009

I must have got lucky with my otto. It was one of the last in the tank and I brought him home and have never had a problem with him. I know he'd like some buddies but maybe I'll shuffle things around if the big tank gets some algae issues.

CHoffman · February 6th, 2009

Shuffling is so much fun!!!!..lol..I've done it too..I need to get some more ottos for my other 10 gallon. It's in the kitchen by a window, I have blinds up but sunlight still gets to it so there is Algae in there..It's so nice not to have to clean the algae AND look at cute little ottos..It's like a win win.