David C

Probably a stupid question, but will an otto eat a plant in the absence of algae? My otto Lucky still hasnt found the rock I grew in my algae farm but he's spending a lot of time attached to one of my plants. Not sure if he's feeding off it or what.

Thanks

Shaina

I have 4 in a fully planted tank, and time they've eaten plants is if there's leaf that's already dying...and it has to be pretty far gone before they go after it. They do like to rest on the plants though, scrub algae off them if there is any.

If you have no or little algae, you want to be feeding your otos though...they tend to starve easily.

David C

I'm trying to feed Lucky, but he hasnt found the rock from my algae farm yet. I don't suppose you have any ideas on how to help him locate the rock?

Shaina

I'm afraid not...mine generally don't even find my cucumber until it's had a few hours to soften up in the tank.

Does he still have a nice round tummy? If so he's finding food somewhere, and since you have your algae farm rock in there he should be fine.

David C

I wouldnt say its nice and round, but its not recessed or anything and he spent quite a bit of time swimming around today, not skittish swimming but nice and calm (if that makes any sense). After all that he's been through lately, I figure i'll try not to mess with him too much.

ask91888

I think that sometimes a little bit of algae will grow on the leaves of the plants...I have two ottos, and the back wall of my tank is covered with algae, but they seem to spend equal time sucking on the wall and on the plants. They both seem to be doing fine.

Also, a question about your algae farm/rock: was it completely covered with algae when you took it out of your farm, or did it just have a few hints of green? I have had a rock in a dish of water for several weeks now, and it still doesn't have that much algae on it...

David C

The rock had a light coat over the entire topside and it took three days... but I have ALOT of sunlight on my eastside windw sills. I also put tank water in threre like someone had suggested. Not sure if that helped or not.

Sorry about this, I didnt mean to sound like this algae came out of nowhere so quickly. I used rocks from my 10g tank that were already seeded with algae so it was simply a matter of letting it fill out quickly. I hope this better explains what I meant.