JenMarie

we have an oto catfish in a 10gallon tank with guppys and the first few weeks he was fine but in the past few days he has been just laying about, on his side, upside down, on the bottom of the tank, in the plants...he doesnt seem to be attached to anything or be eating even. also, his Caudal (Tail) Fin seems torn, and much smaller than it should be as if he could be getting picked on (it is not rot or deterioration)

please help me save charlie!

Jonah

Hi Welcome to Fishlore

Can you give a little bit more info on your tank please?

Do you know what the readings for ammonia nitrite and nitrate are for your tank? Otos are by far the most sensitive fish you have in your tank so that is where I would start to look first.

What temp have you got the tanks at?

How many Guppys do you have in it?

In the first instance try a 25% water change and add stresscoat+ or Prime to the water.

agabr123

welcome

how long have you had him exactly? otos are wild caught and from the time they're caught until the time they get to your tank (unless the LFS makes sure that they eat), they don't get any vegetation (algae, plants, etc). without that, a bacteria in their stomachs will die off, causing them to starve even though they are eating when they get to you. does his belly look round?

JenMarie

we found him dead today. the temp is about 76. the water quality is good. i need to get another bottom feeder....is another oto not the way to go?

Jonah

there are a couple of different options you can get for your clean up crew but before i suggest any;

how many guppies do you have in the tank?
What substrate do you have in the tank?
do you have algae in the tank that you are looking for your CUC to clean or is it just bottom cleaning you are after?

soldieroffortune1974

Ottos are very sensitive to water quality.You have to have a near perfect established aquarium for them to survive. An aquarium a few months old,isn't going to be 'established' well enough to sustain them. They also do better in groups of at least 3,and also do better in aquariums with live plants.

Like agabr123 said,Ottos aren't in the best of shape when you get them. I strongly urge every new fish to be quarantined and treated for any illness before putting them in the main aquarium. Ottos are very delicate and need lots of care before they are put in with other fish who are already in an aquarium. I wouldn't get any more ottos until your aquarium has time to mature.

agabr123

i'm sorry you lost him