Are these round oto bellies ?

I'm on day 2 of quarantine of my otos. To be honest, when I picked them they all kinda looked the same and I couldn't really identify what a big oto belly is. So for all you experienced oto keepers, what do you think my chances of survival are looking at there tummys?

Dude at the store said they eat and they were eating algae wafers. It was my first time buying there, and who knows if he was lying to make a buck. So far no loss of colors on any of them and I do see them sucking away at algae.

 

They look good to me

 

Yeah, excellent! Happy first 48h!

I'm really excited to see how this works out.

 

They look good to me

That's good news. I'm such a paranoid person I'm always checking any fish I have in quarantine all day long

Yeah, excellent! Happy first 48h!

I'm really excited to see how this works out.

Me too! I don't want to break my streak of no fish deaths.

 

My experience with them is limited, but if they make it 48 hours I think you've got a good shot.

 

Looks like my otos after they've eaten a big slice of zuchinni! Perfectly round bellies!

 

My experience with them is limited, but if they make it 48 hours I think you've got a good shot.

The critical timeframes: 24-48h, 1-2 Weeks, 1-2 months.

 

I'd still keep them in quarantine just in case they have a disease. I've had a bad otto once that infected the entire tank with a bacteria infection - near total wipe out including my beloved kuhlI myersi.

 

The critical timeframes: 24-48h, 1-2 Weeks, 1-2 months.

Does this mean I'm going to go through this twice since I decided to QT them? I've been monitoring kh and gh and will be trying to make the main and the QT as close as possible for a smooth transition.

 

Does this mean I'm going to go through this twice since I decided to QT them? I've been monitoring kh and gh and will be trying to make the main and the QT as close as possible for a smooth transition.

Sadly yes, I fear.

IF(!) the theory stands that it's less the parameters than the habitat itself.
I mentioned that before in the other thread, that's why I advised to not quarantine them against all better knowledge of the pros of quarantining fish.

Definitely a good idea to equalize the parameters, though.

 

Sadly yes, I fear.

IF(!) the theory stands that it's less the parameters than the habitat itself.
I mentioned that before in the other thread, that's why I advised to not quarantine them against all better knowledge of the pros of quarantining fish.

Definitely a good idea to equalize the parameters, though.

I know, you had me going back and forth in my head....but I just had an ich outbreak from not quarantining and the last thing I want is some other thing coming through. I'm in canada too, where they banned all the fish medications. I'll be very limited for options if something does pop up. I swear my next trip to america I'm smuggling back fish meds.

I'd still keep them in quarantine just in case they have a disease. I've had a bad otto once that infected the entire tank with a bacteria infection - near total wipe out including my beloved kuhlI myersi.

Yeah they're in there already so that's there home for the next month. They look great, just checked them this morning and they're all eating and doing well.

 

I know, you had me going back and forth in my head....but I just had an ich outbreak from not quarantining and the last thing I want is some other thing coming through. I'm in canada too, where they banned all the fish medications. I'll be very limited for options if something does pop up. I swear my next trip to america I'm smuggling back fish meds.

I'm really sorry for causing some insecurity!

I had an ich outbreak too after adding them, though as I added the cardinals at the same time and only the tetras showed ich symptoms I guess only they were stressed but in the end I had no losses, tetras or otos, due to ich. The Otos only started dieing off after the ich treatment. First loss nearly 3 weeks after introduction (infected injury from being nipped at by the cardinals), then 2 weeks later another one (starvation) and another 2 weeks later 2 more (1 starved, 1 unknown causes). Last one died last saturday night also because of an infected injury after a freak accident.

 

I'm really sorry for causing some insecurity!

I had an ich outbreak too after adding them, though as I added the cardinals at the same time and only the tetras showed ich symptoms I guess only they were stressed but in the end I had no losses, tetras or otos, due to ich. The Otos only started dieing off after the ich treatment. First loss nearly 3 weeks after introduction (infected injury from being nipped at by the cardinals), then 2 weeks later another one (starvation) and another 2 weeks later 2 more (1 starved, 1 unknown causes). Last one died last saturday night also because of an infected injury after a freak accident.

Oh no, poor fishies. I have cardinals too. I hope those little buggers don't bother my otos when they're in there. I'm only trying otos once though, if these guys die off I'll try something different. Although that will suck because I've been algaefying my main tank I'll have to look into some other algae lover or be in for a good algae battle. Haha

 

Just let it grow. I didn't get otos because of algae.

 

Just let it grow. I didn't get otos because of algae.

I didnt either, my algae control is always on point. I'm only making algae for my cute little otos. That's how much I like otos, I can't stand algae and will religiously destroy it, but I'll have it for otos. Hahah I don't know why, but all the fish I like are always "sensitive" fish. My next fish is going to be marbled hatchets which are sensitive and prone to ich. I'm also looking for a scarlet badis which is a picky eater too.

 

I find biofilm and algae are beneficial and should be in every tank, but I can see, that that's not for everyone.

 

I find biofilm and algae are beneficial and should be in every tank, but I can see, that that's not for everyone.

I actually agree with you, but I'm OCD about it. Having otos will prob be good for me because I'll let it go more.

 

All the more good luck!

OCD can be a real pain in the backside. I have a lot experience with that. I went for blackwater because then it HAS TO look "dirty" and I don't OCD about that at all. Shifted completely to parameters and filtration.

 

All the more good luck!

OCD can be a real pain in the backside. I have a lot experience with that. I went for blackwater because then it HAS TO look "dirty" and I don't OCD about that at all. Shifted completely to parameters and filtration.

Haha I know. I become obsessed to the point my hands are always in my tank adjusting or moving something. I'm pretty sure my fish are starting to think my hands are some type of plant that's suppose to be in there.

Do you have a picture of your blackwater? I want to do one so bad, but I'm going to be moving this year and I'm going to have **** moving this tank so I don't need another one right now. My mind has been dabbling with the idea of a nano blackwater as I do have extra 3 gallon and 5 sitting around. I'm trying to exercise restraint though! So tempting.

 

Sure. It's a bad smartphone camera but it's from a few minutes ago. Light autocorrects sadly, it's darker in RL.

 

Sure. It's a bad smartphone camera but it's from a few minutes ago. Light autocorrects sadly, it's darker in RL.

View attachment 648150

That's pretty! What size tank ?

 

80liters, (60x30x45cm).
Just have a look here, so I don't spam your thread.
South American Blackwater 20 Gallon Tank - | Members Fish Tanks 431071

 

80liters, (60x30x45cm).
Just have a look here, so I don't spam your thread.
South American Blackwater 20 Gallon Tank - | Members Fish Tanks 431071

It's ok, spam away. Haha that doesn't look like a 20 gallon, I actually thought it was 3-5! I was thinking of a 20 long for a blackwater.

 

The cardinals are quite large. Some of them are 3-4 years old as far as I know. There are several that are almost over 2''. I got XLs when I stocked up the school, so the olders wouldn't go piranha on the new arrivals. Maybe that's why it looks smaller than it is.

20 long would be a good size, yeah. Little advice for smaller blackwater tanks: rather stock sparsely and few species. Don't know why, but blackwater tanks under 100gal don't work visually when crowded. That's why I only have 9 fish in it and will only add some smaller corys at some point. Upper limit would be 15 fish in my tank.

 

Your new ottos look good and healthy. Have they eaten waffers for you? Are you using the same brand as the store? I’ve found that once they eat waffers they are good to go. Would still qt them a month. But they should be good. I like to add food in the same place. This way they no that’s food . I also keep my qt the same as the tank they’re going into. I will even add wc water from main tank to qt just to make sure it’s the same. Than after a month I just drop them into new tank. Once ottos are eating they are a very hardy fish. Good luck with them and how many did you get?

 

The cardinals are quite large. Some of them are 3-4 years old as far as I know. There are several that are almost over 2''. I got XLs when I stocked up the school, so the olders wouldn't go piranha on the new arrivals. Maybe that's why it looks smaller than it is.

20 long would be a good size, yeah. Little advice for smaller blackwater tanks: rather stock sparsely and few species. Don't know why, but blackwater tanks under 100gal don't work visually when crowded. That's why I only have 9 fish in it and will only add some smaller corys at some point. Upper limit would be 15 fish in my tank.

Well if I did a 20 long I was thinking cories and a betta. I have a 3 gallon bubble I was debating making into a nano blackwater with shrimp. The bubble shape has a magnifying effect which would be cool with some snowball shrimp.

Your new ottos look good and healthy. Have they eaten waffers for you? Are you using the same brand as the store? I’ve found that once they eat waffers they are good to go. Would still qt them a month. But they should be good. I like to add food in the same place. This way they no that’s food . I also keep my qt the same as the tank they’re going into. I will even add wc water from main tank to qt just to make sure it’s the same. Than after a month I just drop them into new tank. Once ottos are eating they are a very hardy fish. Good luck with them and how many did you get?

Actually I like that idea. I'm going to add main tank water into quarantine. That's a great way to slowly adjust them to my main over their month of QT. Right now they are not touching the wafers (atleast that I've seen) I bought the same ones they were using. The tank has lots of algae though so I'm not sure if they just prefer the algae. In the store there was no algae and I could see the wafers at the bottom. They had to have been eating though, one guys tummy is super round now so he was never starved atleast. Lil fatty.

 

Well if I did a 20 long I was thinking cories and a betta. I have a 3 gallon bubble I was debating making into a nano blackwater with shrimp. The bubble shape has a magnifying effect which would be cool with some snowball shrimp.

Sounds both good. I'd maybe try loaches with a betta.

 

Sounds both good. I'd maybe try loaches with a betta.

I already have loaches so I'd want something new.

 

Then go cory.