voiceless_kat

My tanks are not overgrown with algae and a couple have hardly any. I use algae flakes, but suck out the uneaten because they are really putrid within a day. ( Except in the 55g, where all the other fish argue over a found pce of algae tab - I am not sure the otos ever even get any in there.) But they do devour their zuchinni!

Question is: How long do you leave veggies on clip in the tank if they are not eaten within 24 hours? Do you keep fresh veggie in the tanks at all times??
Can otos overeat??


Is this all true also for the Hillstream Loach - (what a neat fish that is! - Still hanging in even tho the tank is warm and alkaline).( touch wood)

thanks, Val

armadillo

Hi Val

Here's some point by point answers based on what I do after having researched it like you're doing:

Remove it after 24hrs. I find that cucumbers make less of a mess than zucchini, but I still give the odd zucchini for variety. I've read on planet catfish that you could also feed them tomatoes, but the mess there would be awful am sure.

Leave a fresh slice at all times.

Algae pills as treat only (+ there's no guarantee the otos would get there before your greedy mollies)

I don't know of otos overeating being a problem. Otherwise, they'd die quickly in an algae-ridden tank, but they don't. I think they're pretty good at regulating themselves.

voiceless_kat

Thanks Laure Anne...looks like I am on the right track, the two ( soon to be more) in with Wink are really active, but don't seem to eat as much. I have held off on the algae wafers in this tank after I saw & smelled how gross they make the water if not eaten. I just started with cukes today, maybe I will alternate cukes and zuch, since they all really like the zuch.

You are right for sure, more are better! They are very different than the CAE, happy to have made the change!

armadillo

I'd love to try CAE's but I don't have a big enough tank.

Always glad to help!