gavin423

Okay, so I'm really new to this but I will do my best to be clear and hopefully someone can help me out!

I have a full cycled 10 gallon tank. I ordered 3 otto cats and 3 dwarf puffers from my LFS and the ottos came in first. So I brought them home and got them acclimated. Three days went by and they were active, appeared to be eating algae off of everything and they appeared healthy - round, white bellies and good color. I tested my water EVERY day and got perfect readings (0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and low nitrates). Fourth day, out of nowhere - one is dead. Fifth day, everyone is fine but I'm worried maybe they don't have enough to eat so I give some zucchini - which they munch on but not a lot (so I took that to mean they weren't all that hungry - therefore getting enough from the tank). Sixth day, I checked on them when I started testing the water - they were both fine and good color. I came back five minutes later to check the test and one was laying in the corner not really moving but not quite dead. Five minutes later when I checked again - he too was dead. The next day, in the morning the final otto appeared fine. By evening, he was floating - dead. So I cannot figured out what went wrong. Maybe someone can help? The fish had round white bellies (didn't appear starved) and I read if they had parasites their belly would be red - they weren't. The LFS had ordered five so he still had two in the store when I called after mine died - his were (and are) still alive. So I don't know what on earth I did wrong? If something stressed them out too much or what?

Does anyone have any ideas what might have happened to my ottos? I don't want to bring my puffers home and kill them to if it's something I'm doing wrong. I read about the cyanide with the ottos but that doesn't make sense cause the three I took died but the LFS's are still alive. I just don't get what I did wrong. The LFS had me bring home one of my puffers to see how he'd do and I'm so afraid he's going to die that I'm constantly checking on him, lol. I just don't know what to do - especially if he dies too! ANy advice or thoughts would be most appreciated! Thanks in advance.
Tiffany

Alessa

Well, I really dont see anything wrong besides that maybe the ottos had some sort of disease that they came with from the LFS. Otocinclus are mostly wild-caught and are already weakened from the conditions in which they are kept at the lfs.

Was there any salt in the aquarium for any reason?

gavin423

No, there was no salt at all. As far as the disease idea, if my three happened to have it wouldn't the other two likely have it as well? Cause they are still going strong at the LFS. I am so lost! He offered me the remaining two for free but I'm afraid I'll kill them too!

Alessa

It probably isnt your fault.

Although I would suggest they get some algae wafers too. Ottos need additional food, since they usually finish whatever algae there is in the tank.

if it were a disease, it might have affected some, and left the others alone. It happens sometimes... (it happened to me).

cerianthus

Have you check your pH and lfs pH. If big differences, this may be the reason

gavin423

No I haven't checked the pH's - I had read that initially I would be fine so long as I was testing nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia - I was planning to get the pH test next paycheck. The guy at the LFS doesn't even test his waters - but I tested the water my fish came in and ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates checked out and his fish appear healthy so I figured it was okay.
Also, i was going to get algae wafers but I kept reading that most wouldn't take them and so I asked the LFS about using zucchini & cucumber. He said not to use those they would cloud up my water and he gave me some kelp flakes (I forget the exact name, he gave me a baggy to try). I tried those but they wouldn't touch them - which I figured would happen as I had read that most don't take flakes. But they appeared to be eating all the time on every decoration, plant and wall. And after the flakes were a flop I did stick in a slice of zucchini. So who knows? Do you think it would be safe to bring home my remaining puffers? And if that is safe, should I try a couple ottos a little ways down the road when I have more algae build up?
By the way, I really appreciate all your help!

Alessa

Otos wont take flakes. After a while they do get wafers, "Hikary algae wafers" and they do great on them, however, they cannot live of the algae of the tank alone.

You could try again, though I would wait a bit more to see what happens with the otos. Try the wafers though, as they cannot live of zuccinni alone either.

Shawnie

im so sorry for the loss of your otos
what test kit are you using and whats the expiration of it?

Lucy

I'm sorry you lost your otos. I had bought 3 and lost 2 for no apparent reason. The 3rd is doing well.
Sometime these things just happen.
Be sure to remove the zucchini after about 24hrs. It can muck up your water.

gavin423

Thanks. I'm using the liquid API test kits. I looked and looked at the bottles, directions and boxes and I cannot find an expiration date. However, I bought them within the last month so unless they were old stock they shouldn't be expired.

Shawnie

on each bottle, there is a lot# and the last 4 numbers on each bottle is the month and year they expire..theres been some controversy as to if thats when it was made or expires...but ive talked to reps and my new kit has an 0410 on it ..which means in apr of 2010 mine will expire..

gavin423

Seriously?!? If that is the case then my nitrite test expired in March of 2007!!! And my Ammonia test expired in September of 2008! Since I just bought them literally less than a month ago should I contact the company and let them know I paid good money for expired tests? Will they even do anything? Oh that makes me mad! Thanks for the heads up!

Shawnie

when I called them, they did nothing for me they said it was the LFS responsibility for returning the kits for newer ones...that was last year tho...dozey was told the dates are when they are manufactured and they expire 3 years from that date...so I guess its your decision ...