Lifesabeach

From another thread, re. algae control, I added nine Ottos to my 500l tank. They seemed to be doing well for awhile, then slowly but surely started to lose them and can now only count three. They have just disappeared. The rest of the community are doing well, but not these fellas. Not sure what to do about this problem.
I've read that they prefer a well established tank, which I think I have, and I can't seem to get my nitrate level below 20. All other readings are normal. If the remaining three go, I don't think I will replace them!

aquarist48

Hello Life!I've also read that ottos can be tricky to keep. So sorry to hear you've had such losses. I wish I could give you the quick fix answer but I can't Let's see what some others have to say.
Hope you and Mrs. Life are doing well
Ken

iloveengl

OH I'm sorry to hear about your little Otos.

Maybe you got a bad batch? Maybe that many at once threw your tank into a mini-cycle and it stressed them out?

When we got our Oto, we didn't know that they were only for long established tanks, but ours is just a tough little bugger and he perseveres through anything. I really think it's more to do with luck - whether they happen to come from good stock or not.

But I understand not wanting to try anymore and losing them. Best wishes for the remaining Otos.

Shawnie

oh no im sorry for the losses beach ...I cant keep them either and some of my tanks have been up years....I think my pH is just too high for them..even tho fish acclimate to different ones, they do like it on the lower side....also ive read that it takes them a good 2-3 weeks to acclimate to a different ph ...and weak ones dont usually make it in that time frame...either way, i hope your 3 remaining kids make it! they are super for the diatoms and other algaes and I wish I could keep them myself!

navyscuba

I have two of them to manage my algae problem and they are doing so good. My tank is heavily planted so I don't know what to say. I also have neons, mollies, snails and corys. What fish do you have with them?

Lifesabeach

There is no way of me telling, But I wish I could determine if the three remaining were my original purchases. The other six I added later were from a different store, and they had only had them for less than a week before I took them home.