chickadee

I wouldn't feed them on anything much else than what they get in the tank as long as they have the algae to eat as I will let you in on a secret. If you feed them too good, they quit eating the algae. When the algae is gone, then you start to suplement their diets with Veggie Rounds or Algae Wafers or Fresh Veggies, but let little Otis fill up on the fresh algae first or plan on getting a snail to do his work for him. LOL When there is not much left of the algae though be sure you do start feeding extra because they should NEVER run out of food.

Rose

ecnaj143

I don't know if ALL petsmarts do this, but mine can special order fish for you. Its kinda high, but cheaper than Liveaquaria. I heard this from my bro-in-law and he said he special ordered a certain cichlid. So again, I don't know if ALL do.

Manicivy

little Otis disappeared a couple of days ago. I had seen him in the morning attached to the glass. When I got home from work he was nowhere to be found and I have not seen him since. I am guessing that my other fish must have eaten him...maybe he was weak already? So little Otis is gone, but I plan on trying again...I will start out with 4 otos next time and maybe more will survive then. It is sad, he got rid of every speck of algae in the tank and then disappeared! I had been putting in algae wafers the whole time though so he could have eaten those.

chickadee

Unless you have found a body, don't count him out. They are expert hiders. I haven't seen the 3 I have in Noel's tank in weeks. I do not even see them when I do water changes. They find little holes and cracks and hide and there is no finding them unless you completely tear the tank apart. In fact that is how one of my little ones died. He got into a crack between the heater and wall of the tank and got stuck and died from the heat and lack of food. They are hiding in my plants and I catch a glimpse of movement at night after the lights are off - that is when they get active when they don't have a big cleaning job to do. If the algae problem is pretty well taken care of, then he could be reverting to his natural behavior and hiding during the day and feeding at night. Otherwise, you will probably only see him once in a while when he is interupted during his sleep by one of the other fish.

If he is gone I am so sorry, I was becoming quite fond of the little guy just hearing you talk about him.

Rose

Manicivy

oh! really?! I didnt think they were THAT good at hiding. But if you don't see yours, then maybe there is hope. I only turned over one rock and that was pretty quick, so maybe he is hiding. Oh thats good news! I will hope for the best then! He really did do a great job with the algae and was growing longer!

Manicivy

he's alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh, Rose thank you!!!!! It just so happened to be time for a water change so I moved that same rock and shook it a little and he came racing out and went straight to attach himself to the tank wall! oh Im so excited, he looks even bigger now! I wonder if he could have gotten out by himself or if he was stuck! They are amazing little hiders! I definetely must get him some friends. Oh i'm so happy!
YAY!!!!

chickadee

I lost one of mine getting himself stuck inside of a piece of decoration, so he could have been stuck. You are lucky to have found him. Whenever you move things be sure you watch out for them. Otos love to get under things. I am so happy for you. I really felt bad that he might be gone. (and yes by all means get him some company - he will love you for it. They do not do real well on their own.) Tuck lived by himself in a tank after his 2 brothers and my first betta died, but now he is so happy to have another betta brother and 2 mor Oto brothers. I will never keep another single again for any length of time.

Tell Otis he is a darling and we want a picture someday.

Rose

Manicivy

here he is*

chickadee

Hello, Otis, it is so nice to meet you.* You do look like a nice healthy big boy.* Do you know you scared your mommy?* LOL I don't see him listed in your signature in any of your tanks unless I just missed him. Which tank is he in?

Rose

Manicivy

oh I almost forgot! When I thought he had died I took him off....whoops!