Are My Otos Eating?

Hi! I'm a new fish mom and currently have 2 Otos in my tank that I'm not sure are eating. I just have the bottom feeder pellets but every time I try to drop them near them they just swim away and as I can't sit there and wait to see if they're eating them. Today I noticed my platy nipping at one of the pellets so now I'm worried she eats them and they don't. Also, they seem to blend in with my gravel so I'm not sure they know it's there.

I did see a post that said to look at their bellies to see if they're rounded but it's hard to see their bellies because they're always attached to a wall of the tank or to the bottom of the tank. I've had them about 3 weeks now and they haven't died so I think they're eating but I'm not 100% sure.

 

If youve had them for 3 weeks and theyre still swimming, theyre eating.

 

For Oto's you need a well established tank with algae, the wafers are more a dietary supplement if they find it. As long as their bellies look plump they are defiantly eating.

 

Otos I think may also be more active in dusk/evening hours, it's when I notice mine are busiest. If you have them and they are still alive after 3 weeks, then they are managing to find food in your tank. You may want to try different sorts of algae wafers, or maybe blanched peas, to see if maybe they prefer that more? Otos won't eat food if they aren't hungry, I feed mine before dinner and check before bed to see if the food is eaten and usually it is, but to avoid fouling the water too much I take out anything uneaten.

Also, not sure what your tank setup is, but if you can have more otos, they are happier in groups of at least 4.

 

Otos I think may also be more active in dusk/evening hours, it's when I notice mine are busiest. If you have them and they are still alive after 3 weeks, then they are managing to find food in your tank. You may want to try different sorts of algae wafers, or maybe blanched peas, to see if maybe they prefer that more? Otos won't eat food if they aren't hungry, I feed mine before dinner and check before bed to see if the food is eaten and usually it is, but to avoid fouling the water too much I take out anything uneaten.

Also, not sure what your tank setup is, but if you can have more otos, they are happier in groups of at least 4.

Do you think I should feed them at nighttime then? I usually put food in there for them when I feed my other fish which is during the day. And it's kinda hard to see if the pellets have been eaten since they look like pieces of gravel lol. I might try other kinds of food that I can actually know is food just to have peace of mind. But yeah they're pretty active and are getting bigger not smaller/thinner so I guess that's a good sign.

As of right now I have a 6.5 gallon tank so having more than 2 probably wouldn't be ideal but in the future when I upgrade I'll definitely keep that in mind!

 

Depending on your fish, you could put a cucumber or zucchinI slice in, see if other fish eat it. If not, monitor if it has been eating. If fish go by a while without you thinking they're eating, they most likely are

 

Feeding at night might be worth a try

 

Depending on your fish, you could put a cucumber or zucchinI slice in, see if other fish eat it. If not, monitor if it has been eating. If fish go by a while without you thinking they're eating, they most likely are

Agree

 

My otos are pretty active at various times, not just at night. I have been supplementing them with blanched zucchinI slices. I normally put a slice on on a veggie clip in the evening when I feed my other fish. They love it. I can go usually a good 24 hours, possibly longer depending on how thick the slice is. They typically demolish it by that time, if not I take it out before it falls apart and makes a mess. Sometimes I will replace it right away, sometimes wait a day before putting another one in. I have some Repashy (gel food) I got the other day, just have not had a chance to make it and try it out. I see a ton of rave reviews on it and people saying their Otos love it go crazy for it. I got the Soilent Green but I have seen people recommend Super Green for Otos as well. Mine have never eaten any pellet food or even taken a second look at it.