Amnagrla

I bought 2 oto's 2 days ago. One died over night. Yesterday I went and bought two... Total at the moment is 3. (for those of you that are math defficient)

I've been dropping in algae wafers... My mollies will pick at them.. but the otos seem to just munch on the walls and plants... should I be worried?

Kevin

i wouldn't be worried...just as long as they're eating the algae and extra food on the bottom and sides they might not have noticed the wafers, you might have to train them to accept them

FISH

Amnagrla

hahaha yeah yeah, FISH yourself!

and train them.. how?

armadillo

Some thoughts based on my experience with them:

They don't tend to find hte food you give them immediately (if they're anything like mine).

- They will have more of a chance if you feed them at night as they're slow to find the food, so then they won't have to compete with your day fish.
- I tend to give them really obvious stuff with a large surface area (like a thin slice of cucumber cut along the whole length of the cucumber, so you end up with a 10cm long and 4cm wide, thin slice of vegetable). It took them 2 days I think to understand that cucumber was edable, but they got there in the end. It's better to leave the cucumber in the water for the whole day first, then it's soft by nighttime. Be sure to remove the cucumber after a couple of days max, or you'll pollute your water.
- I also feed them sinking vegetable pellets as well as sinking protein pellets (i.e. not wafers), but way less (apparently, they still need some proteins). I don't see them eat it, but they're still alive and kicking (fingers crossed). I've kind of given up for now feeding them the large wafers as they don't always seem to find them.

Kevin

not exactly train...more like help them find out it is food









never know when i might "fish" you...

Amnagrla

hahahaha

Yeah, I have been using http://www.petco.com/product/3984/Hi...ae-Eaters.aspx these... They sink to the bottom but disapate within like 2 hours or something like that, then I find all the crumbs in the corners in the morning.

There is plenty of algae for them to eat on the colliseum in the tank and the plants.. I just want them to realize that these are also for eating!!

COBettaCouple

the otos that we got seemed to go after algae on decor, etc first before going for the wafer piece we'd leave in there but we'd often see 1 or 2 of them sitting on the wafer nibbling away. they took a few days for us before getting the hang of things and then it was easy keeping their little bellies full.

armadillo

You're lucky you've got algae. Our oto tank is tiny and they ate it up immediately.

musicman4567

I use similar algae flakes when I feed my otos them. I don't do it often though. I have 2 otos and drop in 1/2 to 3/4 of a flake every few days. it gets eaten fairly quickly now, but it took them a good week of me dropping it in, waiting a day and then vacuuming it out. They will catch on. I just try to put it in thier favorite hang out spot (in my tank, directly on the bubble wall. they sit on that for hours...). Just make sure not to leave the pellet in there too long, as it can cause a nitrate spike.

COBettaCouple

yea, those wafers can wipe out a tank, especially one filled with distilled water but we don't leave them in more than 12 hrs max.

armadillo

I put all sinking food (including algae wafer) in a high-sided plate (more like a bowl, I guess). That way, no debris everywhere. When am satisfied they won't eat anymore, I remove the bowl. My otos haven't been great at eating the algae wafers up. They just kind of suck on it for a bit, then move on. I've got lots of pix now of otos in a plate!

Amnagrla

lol thanks. I've been doing the same thing. Dropping one in every few days. I've never seen them take to it, only the other fish!

capekate

hmmmm with all this talk of algae wafers for the otos, Im wondering if Im starving my otos? All they eat are the diatoms in my tank. I dont give them anything else, unless they like left over flake food that I feed the others, which I doubt. Is it alright for the otos to have a meal of only diatoms? They dont act like they are starving and have plenty of diatoms to eat. What do you think?

COBettaCouple

the algae wafers are meant as a diet supplement. if they are getting enough food without them, the don't need them, but if you aren't sure that they get enough to eat, you can drop a half of one in ever so often. just remember to take it out within 12 hrs.

capekate

Well if they can make a diet of diatoms.. then there are plenty for them to eat. Thanks for letting me know, I do have algae wafers left over from the bumblebee catfish that I can use if need be.

armadillo

Maybe you could drop in a long slice of cucumber so that the large surface area is easy for them to find. You'd need to secure it so it's just another yummy surface for them. They like that in my tank. If you drop it at night, they'll get a better chance to get to it.

COBettaCouple

good idea.. some variety in their diet would be good i think.

Amnagrla

What I've been doing is dropping in a slice (cut the long way) attached to some plant weights around like 3:00 in the afternoon. That way, it softens up by nighttime.. and ALL of my fish love it! It's usually completely gone by morning.

armadillo

Good idea to drop it in in advance . Great that it works!!! Have you seen the otos on it? I think it's really funny. If you do, take a pic for us if you dont' mind, as I loooooove pictures of fish on cucumber for some dark, unknown reason.

Amnagrla

lol sure.. My otos haven't eaten the algae wafers at ALL so I've been giving them a cucumber like every 2-3 days. When I see them on it, I'll try and snag a picture.

What I REALLY want a picture of is when the three of them suck on the glass together in a triangle... their little fat bellies!!

vin

It sounds like they're doing well! Just be careful that they don't get addicted to the cucumber and fail to eat the algae that you originally bought them for! Little guys will be strung out on cucumber withdrawal!!

Amnagrla

hahaha true that.

armadillo

I've never really managed to take decent photos of them on the glass as my camera then focuses on a plant or something behind it, it's really annoying.

COBettaCouple

yea, you'll have to go to manual and focus on them that way.

armadillo

I don't even have a manual option. Mine is really a basic camera.

COBettaCouple

hmm.. yea.. that makes it pretty tough for sure. what about your phone?

chickadee

The general rule is that a tank of 5 gallons can support 2 Otos with no supplement unless it is super cleaned all the time. Now they may need a little veggie once in a while or a half wafer once a week or so, but if you put more than that ratio in a tank you definitely have to feed them as the tank will not support them. (one oto for every 2.5 to 3 gallons) I just got 4 for one of my 12 gallon tanks and they are having a hard time keeping it caught up but they are doing it. I have 5 in my 25 gallon tank and my goodness are they ever chubby but they do not need supplements. (all my fish get vitamins but I mean wafers)

The best time to take pictures of an oto is when they are eating. It is about the only time they are still enough.

Rose

armadillo

hi hi hi, I still have that ancient Nokia one that doesn't even have the speaker option, nevermind a camera ; ). Ah well. It's OK, I take pictures when they're on leaves and stuff.

Amnagrla

thanks chicadee!

BettaBuddy ~ Miley

My oto has a similar problem - he hasnt found or eati his wafer. ...... oscar seems to like it

O_o

but Dennis Bubbles wont eat it and hasnt found it. for those of you who dont know oscar is a crowntail betta and dennis bubbles is an oto and they share a 4 gallon tank.

Miley