choochiegirl

I had a minor tank issue a month and a bit ago, and had to buy a new tank as mine was on the verge of bursting. I transferred most of the water, gravel, decos and didn't even have a cycle occur (yay) . Since then my otos have been acting odd. With a new tank there was no algae and the decos had been cleaned by them so I was supplementing with algae sheets from the LFS and zucchini as my cory eat the algae wafer I toss in.

Now my tank walls are literally coated with brown algae and have been for weeks. I rarely see my otos now, they hide in a log deco and don't come out. I still add veggies since I want them to actually eat, but they never seem to come out any more and I have to remove the veggie with only the platys eating them. They must be eating something as they are still alive, but I'm so worried about them.

What can I do? Should I remove the hollow log deco to get them out in the open?

sirdarksol

The brown stuff is diatoms, a type of algae that coats itself in glass for protection. I think ottos will eat it, but not as much. As long as the tank isn't getting too much direct light, the diatoms should die off after awhile. They are a normal part of a new aquarium.
Otos are also very sensitive to changes in water quality, and they may be hiding because they're stressed. Keep the water parameters as stable as possible. That's about all you can do for your otos.

0morrokh

Is it possible you are having a mini-cycle? Brown algae tends to grow during a tank's cycle. Otos Love brown algae--they should be going to town on the stuff. So no need to be feeding them veggies. Otos won't starve themselves--if you don't see them eating it's cause they've already eaten something.

COBettaCouple

It's not uncommon for Otos to get 'spoiled'. They do love the diatoms but might be thinking "why work for that, we'll get food delivered". Omorrokh is right, otos are pretty good about not overeating and when they get hungry, they will eat available food.

You're testing with a liquid kit and getting 0 for ammonia & nitrites and less than 20 for nitrates?

armadillo

Actually, otos should eat brown algae as a preference over green algae, as far as I've read. So am with Dave on this one: maybe they've gotten spoilt on other food? Are they eating at all? I mean: are they pooping all the time and are their bellies nice and plump?

nmwierman1977

I would stop feeding the vegetables because they will stop eating the algae if they know they are being fed other food. They are known to do that. I have one that did that and I refused to feed him anymore until he cleaned the tank and eventually he got hungry and ate the algae. I don't feed them vegetables unless the algae is slim to none on the tank. Natalie