Phloxface

The newest one I got to replace the female has now suddenly died. He was fine yesterday and now I find him dead. Dotcom is still doing okay. I don't know whether to replace the Oto or not. Maybe I'll give Dotcom a few days and see how he does. Maybe there is not enough algae in the tank anymore to support two? I've tried giving them veggies and algae wafers. They won't touch them even when I put the algae wafer right in front of them. The only one who eats them is my Betta LP and then he gets so bloated he can barely swim!
I have been trying to get them more algae by taking rocks, plants and ornaments from other tanks that have algae on them and putting them in temporarily to let the Otos clean them. He's eating the algae faster than I can even provide! How can I get him to try eating veggies? I've tried slightly cooking them, freezing them etc. but they are not interested. I've tried spinach, romaine lettuce, cucumbers and zuchinni.

Chief_waterchanger

What brand of algae/veggie wafer are you using? Sometimes that can be part of it.

Phloxface

It's Top Fin brand. Not the best I know... I just don't want to waste any more money buying something that he won't eat. I had bought it a while ago to feed my Mystery snail and he loved them. I don't think I want to try feeding algae pellets anymore because LP, my Betta, just finds them no matter how hard I try to hide them and he gorges himself on them. His belly is still a little bloated this morning. He's being fasted today for being such a piggy last night!
I buried the poor little Oto today and the other one, Dotcom, seems to be fine. He's zipping around and I've given him a silk plant covered in algae from another tank that he is cleaning for me. I'll just keep him and won't add any others for now as long as he still seems okay. He has LP for company even though LP is sometimes more of a monkey than a friend. If it looks like he's getting lonely or depressed I'll get another Oto.
I just hate seeing them die so quickly. And I thought Bettas were delicate...

COBettaCouple

I think they have to learn the veggie slices are food and then they'll go after them fine.. maybe a brush with garlic juice or sticking pieces of algae wafer in a slice will help them learn faster?

armadillo

Hi Phloxface. Try this one: http://www.fishlore.com/Forum/index....5887#msg115887. It's the oto caresheet but it has a paragraph on feeding. You might find some useful tips.

Phloxface

Well, today my Oto has finally discovered he likes cucumber! He's been sitting on it all day and feasting. Good thing too because I was running out of algae covered things to give him. I've been taking plants and ornaments form my other tanks and putting them in his tank for a day or so and he's cleaned up EVERYTHING!

My Betta, LP, keeps pestering the Oto and swimming and hovering around him while he's on the cucumber. I even caught LP trying to nibble or lick the cucumber but he couldn't get any.

The Oto is still alone and I'll keep him alone as long as he's doing okay. I just don't want to keep getting fish and having them die a couple days later.

armadillo

Hurray. I am so happy for you. I know how it feels to FINALLY be able to (more or less) worry about a fish! At least he's got a nice and regular food source, great stuff. Oh, of course, we want the cute pictures in the fish like cucumber thread.