sirdarksol

I have otos in my community again! I got five of them, two adults and three juvies, from Petsmart yesterday. They're such fun little guys to watch.
Yes, I went against my normal advice of quarantining new fish, but the only thing I have for a Q-Tank is a little 2.5g, and I don't have a heater for it anymore. Further, I'm worried about the water quality in the Q-Tank, since otos are such fragile little fish. So I took the risk .

My barb, of course, had to teach them that he was the master of the tank, and was chasing them around. It was really funny because they are almost perfectly camouflaged for the bronze wendt (sp?) crypts that I've got, and all they had to do is land on a leaf, even if the barb was right behind them, and the barb wouldn't be able to find them.
I also got to watch one of the glassfish chasing a pair of the juvies around, and the juvies suddenly turned around and started chasing the glassfish the opposite direction.

Butterfly

Yes they are fantastic and funny little fish. Our Petsmart has them for $1.99 so am taking the opportunity to stock up I would love to just fill the 55g up with Otos and see if I can get them to breed.
Carol

Lucy

That sounds really cute!

I love the little ottos. For all my waiting for them, I lost 2. I plan on getting more though.

Shaina

Has breeding them in captivity actually been accomplished yet? Small scale/large scale?

Butterfly

Yes they have been bred in captivity but more as an accident than planned. I would love to figure out the "trigger" that sends them into spawning mode. Their natural habitats flood in the spring so I'm thinking maybe, food, temp change ,fresh water might do it. (this works for Corys) anyway I would like the chance to find out This is what excites me about breeding fish,all the little mysteries as to the where and hows certain things work
Here's a thread from one of our own members who had their otos breed and an excellent article on breeding otos in case your interested.
otos mating?
http://www.otocinclus.com/breeding.html
Carol

musicman4567

I actually had mine spawn in my 10 g tank... Kinda weird, as I only had 3. At any rate, yeah, they have started tank breeding them. We talked about this on the forums a couple of years back (or one year... I dunno). We postulated that it was a slightly increased pH that may have triggered it.

Shaina

Excellent, thanks Carol!

Butterfly

Welcome!
Carol

Gendarme

Got three...Still have all three several weeks later...So far so good...Otos!!!! the coolest fish ever. My tank is getting cleaner by the day. I can leave the light on more to see my fish instead of worying so much about controling the algae with less light.

Also got my first real plant today... Annubias coffefolias (Spelling?). WooHoo!

Biscato33

I love otos! They are cute little guys to watch. I find that my otos will have one plant that's theirs.
~ Ali

isis

I'd love to have an oto! I have never ever seen one in a fish store though. They don't get as big as a pleco, do they?

Butterfly

1 to 1 1/2 inches at most and very slim with chunky bellies
Carol

Gendarme

I just lost one of mine . Still have the other two. The one I lost never seemed to thrive as much as the others. Still rate as my favorite fish in my tank. I am in no hurry but I will replace any future losses of other fish with more Otos.

Gendarme

Sadly I lost a second Oto but replaced him with two more. I though one wouldn't survive the first day, he just looked weak. However, he is now the most voracious eater I have. GOOOO OTOS!

Three clean the tank so much better than one. About to have to start supplementing again.