Jonah

It all started when I did a water change and I must have put water in that was a bit cooler than the water in the tank.

My Oto's which a normally very secretive creatures started displaying all over the tank and then late last night I discovered two of them together on the same plant and found that they left 2-3 doz little plack eggs all over the leaves of the plants they had been on.

Being a bit slow before I could work out what to do about it the little piggies in my tank, I mean the Mollys in my tank, came and had a little caviar feast.

Always assuming that I recreate the conditions again sometime has anybody ever had the same happen and if so what can I do to try and get a few of the eggs to hatch and survive?

Do I take the plant out, (in this case it was a plastic one so no biggie there) and put it in an empty fry tank, or do I cover the plant with a net to keep the predators off in the main tank?

krismoore888

this link will help in regards to water chemistry
http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesw...article_id=256
from whjat i have heard there are not that many who have bred otos in a home aquarium, but when they do you can get quite a large amount., also when you see the eggs remove the mollies, the otos should be ok with their own spawn

Jonah

Hmm thats a problem I have 3 otos and about 10 mollys in that tank, plus the corys and the neons etc

but thanks for the link it gives me a good starting point,

sirdarksol

You could move the eggs to a new tank. I can't guarantee they'll survive, but they've got a better chance than in a heavily stocked tank.

krismoore888

there was another site whcih strongly recomomends not moving the spawn, cannot find the site, will keep looking and update.
How about a tank divider?

FL CommunityFans

Get a piece of acrylic from the hardware store and divide that section of the tank off? Only problem is you're going to restrict water flow over the eggs which may or may not be an issue.

krismoore888

didn't think of that, an extra filter could remedy that, depending on how much you want to/have to spend

FL CommunityFans

Right.. i forgot to mention the extra filter... you'd have to make sure you have the same current I am sure, too low and it's no good, too fast and it's damaging. I hadn't heard of Oto's spawning before so this is cool !

cerianthus

Congrat! Never had the pleasure of spwning Otos. Usually can move the egg w/ leaf as long as not exposed to air. Small rearing tank can be set upwith water from main tank and handful of gravel in net. Just strong coarse (not fine mist) aeration near the egg. Used to use Methylene Blue to minimize egg fungus.

krismoore888

that would work so long as tyou have a heater to keep the tempertaure stable

Jonah

I think in a few weeks time I may try and recreate the conditions again but after I have jusry rigged a way of segregating the area. the flow will be easy enough to recreate as the end of the tank that they chose to use is at the quiet end of of the tank. The gourami sleeps there, and even builds bubble nests there, the livebearers go there to drop.

It was created that way as the furthest end from the power heads, with loads of very thickly planted real and artificial plants as a refuge. I have a nice little stingray out of a 5gal tank that has a controlable flow sitting in a tank running as a spare so keeping some flow going would be do able as well..

The annoying thing is I have read up on the breeding requirements of every species in my tank, except oto's, as they are supposed to be nigh impossible to breed in a tank for a novice which I still consider myself to be!

krismoore888

Jonah, off subject but i just noticed you are uk based and wondered if are you interested in getting any kribensis?

Jonah

I would be if I had a tank spare bigger than a 10gal but i dont just now.

pity really as you are only about an hour away from me.

krismoore888

yeh, not to worry, just thoght i would ask. never knwo, if i can get yet another tank i may keep them :S have to convince the GF

cerianthus

Its given! Also the sponge filter.

Butterfly

www.otocinclus.com is an excellent place for information on otos and he will definitely want to know yours spawned
carol

agabr123

congratulations on your spawn i'd document everything that you did/are doing as a reference, getting otos to spawn is pretty rare!