prairielilly

I have one oto in a 3g (just slightly less than ideal, I know; see below for background). I'm really concerned he's getting enough to eat. He gets a fresh piece of partially cooked zucchini every day, left in for about 12 hours (I used to leave it in 24hrs, but then when I went to remove it, it would have started to rot and fell apart - the tank got a real good clean that time!) There's not a speck of algae in the tank. He won't eat algae wafers. I read on the caresheet he's supposed to be pooing constantly and I'm pretty sure I've NEVER seen him poo. He used to have a little round belly but lately it looks hollow. His colour's not too good either, he looks a little yellowish. His ammonia and nitrite are at 0 and nitrates under 10 (checked Sunday) and he gets a 25% wc once a week. Is there anything I can do for him (aside from putting him in a bigger tank with more otos - soonest I can do that is 13 days from now).

This is from one of my other threads, sorry for the duplication:

The main reason for the otos (other than that I now think they're cute as heck) is that 2 wks ago or so I was returning something at petsmart and saw some otos in a tank with some guppies. None of them looked too good - one guppy had a really weird looking mouth - well that's bc his lips were rotted off. All the otos were hiding in a corner. I felt so sorry for the little guys. I bought 3 and yelled at myself all the way home - I had just lost a betta bought from that same store, there were sick fish in the tank and all I had to put them in at home was a (recently sterilized) 3g. Yes I am crazy. One oto was dead the next morning, another four days later. The last one seems like he's going to make it, but being a lone oto in a 3g is very less than ideal I know. He sits on a leaf all day and sucks on his zucchini at night. I thought to get some more, QT them all together and then add them to the 20g, or I may ask the store I got my cherry's from (different store! lots of healthy fish!) if they'll take him in.

Jess

You're right, he should have a round tummy. Have you read that these guys are pretty delicate? They like pristine water. So you could try changing a little more often. Also he's probably lonely. If you like these guys would you consider getting a few friends for him and QT them all together before moving into your 20gal? I think thats what I would do.
The zuccini is a great idea, I use it for my guys too.

prairielilly

I will try changing the water more often. I had tried spinach, he ignored that completely. His behaviour atm actually isn't all that different from when he had a friend, what's different is his colour and his belly.

One option for restocking my 20g involved a few otos - I thought to get a few more and QT them all together as you said. I can't do that for a bit bc I won't have an empty tank (5g) for 13 days - that's when its current occupant (a dwarf gourami) moves into the 20g (show tank and current QT for 4 cherry barbs, they're all that's in there and they went in two days ago). I don't think it would be a good idea to add any more otos to the 3g and I thought of adding him to the 20g, but if he is sick that would compromise the cherrys....

Jess

You know its funny how we fish keepers get the MTS (multiple tank syndrome) You tell your self you just need one more for QT then other guys end up occupying it.
I think you're doing all you can for him. I don't know how long you've had him but it sounds like he didn't come from a very healthy group to begin with.
I've read that if you can get them past the first month at home all should be well. I brought home 5 and just 2 lived. I've had my 2 for about a year now.

prairielilly

Oooyyy...are they happy enough just being 2? I thought I 'had' to have a school to keep them happy. I've never had them before though, and at petsmart they were all cowering in a corner. I got my cherrys from a completely different LFS (new! wonderful!) and their otos were swimming happily around their tank in a school, and swam right up to the glass when I looked at them.

Silly me feeling sorry for poor little things and take home animals I really can't keep...this is why I stay out of the humane society, I'd become the 'cat lady'

Jess

I know. I was thinking of getting more. But their job was to clean algae. And they couldn't handle the 55 gal. So I got 5 Siamese algae eaters. That did the trick. Algae gone. So now I have to feed zucchini to keep everyone fed.

prairielilly

The 20g tank's still pretty young and had a recent issue and well there's no algae in it at all. I've been keeping the light on like 16 hours a day (bc of my crazy schedule) so maybe that will change soon. I thought he'd be ok with the zucchini but I read a post here saying they can't live on zucchini alone, and he has a hollow little belly, and I started to worry about him.

I may just get a different QT setup, to have on hand and because I feel sorry for the fish. Or maybe I will go with the idea of donating him back to a (reputable) lfs...don't really like that idea though, seems like he's 'earned' the right to stay...errg. He's a cute little thing, weird little boggle eyes.

Jess

They really seem to watch you. Their eyes spiraling around to check you out. Also have you noticed when your cleaning the tank they don't get out of the way??! Are they crazy? I have to gently nudge them to move over.

Alessa

Me too... when I had ottos I had to push them gently...

like "ehemmm... excuse me!"

If they wont touch the wafers you can try thawed peeled peas. they seem to like those.

Also, what kind of wafers are you using? mines used to love Hikari's.

prairielilly

I was using Hikari, no go. Spinach, no go. Haven't tried peas but I don't have them in the house, I'll see if I can get some. It took the two otos two days to find the zucchini (all these things were always put in the same place). At first they latched onto it and wouldn't let go; now this guy seems content to suck on a (silk) plant leaf. I put the zucchini in around suppertime and take it out the next morning (I read they sometimes prefer to feed at night) so I can't say if he's eating at all, I never see him on the zucchini and it looks the same the next morning, but maybe he does eat at night. I hope so. I use a veggie clip and since I found that me putting my hand in the tank twice a day was stressing him out a bit, I tied a piece of dental floss to the clip so I can lower it in and retrieve it, and just let that hang out the tank.

I think he's just had a stressful short life and it's amazing he's still here considering where he came from. I just hope he lasts until I have a bigger tank to put him and some friends in!

prairielilly

Good: Mr Oto got a wc last night, and this morning he's active, has good colour, and has a nice round belly! I think he has to be eating at night. He also seems to have grown some - he's longer overall and his tail seems wider. Maybe he's out of the woods?

Not so good: there was white poo in the gravel. Maybe I never see him poo because the gravel's white and his poo was white. What colour would his poo be from eating zucchini? the zucchini's flesh is nearly white. (Can't believe I just asked that....) This was the first time I saw it when vacuuming. Not sure how to treat an oto for internal parasites (if that's what he's got) - I've got a medicated food but he can't eat that. I thought they're more sensitive because they're scaleless. Any recommendations??

I don't want to add him to a community tank until I'm completely sure he's healthy. It's still eight days until I have the 5g free to transfer him to.

Jess

I don't know if I've ever really noticed "poo" from the otto. Gosh they're so tiny anyway. I would say if he looks like he's eating. . .rounder belly, color looks stronger I would let it be. Keep watching him. I bet that water change he loved!

On the "poo" note. I know its really funny. I've had horses, their manure is a very clear way to see how they're doing. Babies too (human) How strange to discuss with the pediatrican the color of your kids poo. So for fish you're right its the same thing.

prairielilly

Thanks Jess yeah it does seem weird (this is a hobby?) The main reason I'm looking is bc I never had the little guys before and on the caresheet it said they should be pretty much constantly pooing. I also read stuff to that effect on other posts. With my other fish (when I had problems before) I knew they had internal parasites when they had white stringy poo (that's what I was scared of here). I guess as you say if he seems good then let it be and keep him happy with good clean water (and a few friends...got to find a way to do that sooner).