Cute New Otos

Went to my LFS and picked up 3 otos today for $10. They are on the small side (about 1.25 inches). I spent about an hour and a half acclimating them (20 minutes floating, 60 minutes drip).

My tank is only about a month old, but the levels have been perfect (no ammonia, no nitrites, low nitrate). I've had 1 Betta in my tank the whole time, and hes doing great.

The tank is a 10G, and has some plants qnd 2 large pieces of driftwood in it. I want to add more at some point.

In the past week, I've been slowly lowering my temp to about 78.5 (from 81) as 78 seems to be the upper end from what I've read.

I had some issues with algae growing, as I've been playing with my lighting and fertilizers for my plants, trying to find the right balance. I left it all in the tank so that they would have some food when they got in.

The 3 acclimated perfectly, and within and hour and a half, they were actively swimming around d and eating the algae, as if they have been there for weeks.

My Betta, Jim, came over to investigate a couple times, but has shown no aggression other than flaring a couple times right when they were put in.

I know this is somewhat controversial, what I've done. Some people say 3 in a 10 gallon is not a good idea, some say it's okay, some say they shouldnt be with a Betta, some say it's okay. I figured I'd give it a shot, and it seems to be working perfectly.

Anyways, heres a picture of the 3 little guys. The only thing odd I noticed is that one of them, when stuck to the glass, doesn't spread his fins out like the other 2. It keeps them tight to the body. Not sure if this is normal.

Thanks!

 

if your referring to the otto on the top it looks like his cheeks are a little red possibly from ammonia. keep a close eye on your tank and being you have a newer tank be sure to feed them they are voracious eaters and will compete and stress out if there isn't enough in the tank. one way u can feed them besides veggies and algae wafers is put some aquarium safe rocks in a bowl in your window sill in some sunlight so the rocks grow some algae and place them in for them. Best of luck with them!

 

Thanks for the heads up, I've been looking at all different ways to feed them and keep them happy.

The pink on the fish was like that when I got it. I just checked my ammonia (after reading your post) and it looks like it is between 0 and .25 (probably because the BB needs to catch up to the new load). I'll keep a close eye on it and dose the tank with Prime if it gets out of hand (but I doubt it will).

 

Looks like I lost one last night, found him in the back of the tank, still on the bottom. It was the one with the clamped fins I was concerned about.

When I pulled him out, his tail looked a little tattered. Not sure if my Betta nipped st him or if it happened after he passed.

The other 2 seem to be doing great and are making quick work of the algae.

 

Sorry for your loss. Yes I believe that one had an issue when you got him/her. Sorry

 

From what I can see in the picture they are very (!) skinny. I don't think that in a new setup they'll find food for the long term. For that reason I always recommend them in a larger and well established tank (think minimum of 6 months), they tend to take long until they accept commercial food like algae wafers. It depends thought, some accept them faster than others.

They are aufwuchs eaters though and thus need some animal protein too (biofilm - micro-organisms for instance). Some algae wafers contain animal protein. You might have a look at the contents of your algae wafers.

If they don't eat your algae wafers or other food, I can recommend Repashy Soilent Green. A lot of Oto's accept that food easily.

You also can supplement their food with for instance Zucchini. You can give it raw and weight it down with a small spoon (else it will float).

 

Thanks again for all the replys. I thought I had a lot of algae (all over my plants, my glass walls, my substrate, my decorations) and in less than 24 hours, they cleaned like 95% of it. It's like they never stop eating.

I had heard that these little guys eat a lot, but wow, I never imagined it was like this. There is a TON of little black pellet poop all over the bottom now. I honestly did not expect them to eat this quick.

I am heading to the grocery store today for groceries, so I'll pick up some cucumber and zucchinI for them. I'll also swing by the LFS to get some algae wafers.

I attached a picture of one of the fish, showing its belly. I didnt think it looked too bad, not sunken (at least by my un-trained eye), but not fat and bulging either.

 

Also, would it be a good idea to up my lighting beyond 8 hours? I had upped my lighting and upper my liquid fertilizers to help my plants, and that's what caused my algae in the first place.

Would bumping them.even more help to promote algae growth for them? Or is this a bad idea.

 

I thought I had a lot of algae (all over my plants, my glass walls, my substrate, my decorations) and in less than 24 hours, they cleaned like 95% of it. It's like they never stop eating.

I had heard that these little guys eat a lot, but wow, I never imagined it was like this.

Yes, they eat eat and eat, all over te tank. Well, all that poop is the evidence

There is a TON of little black pellet poop all over the bottom now. I honestly did not expect them to eat this quick.

It's amazing how fast they clean a tank from some sorts of algae.

I attached a picture of one of the fish, showing its belly. I didnt think it looked too bad, not sunken (at least by my un-trained eye), but not fat and bulging either.

Those bellies indeed should be bulging. Like they swallowed part of a marble

I am heading to the grocery store today for groceries, so I'll pick up some cucumber and zucchinI for them. I'll also swing by the LFS to get some algae wafers.

I would buy Zucchini, not the Cucumber. Cucumber has mainly water in it and is less nutritious. Just my 2 cents.

Also, would it be a good idea to up my lighting beyond 8 hours? I had upped my lighting and upper my liquid fertilizers to help my plants, and that's what caused my algae in the first place.

Hmmm I wouldn't. No guarantee you'll get the algae they eat and you riks all kinds of other undesired algae.

 

Yes, they graze constantly when they have a food source. Fat Otos are happy Otos.