Getting white poop from Otocinclus

Well, I finally moved the 4 Cory Cats to my 44 gallon I sure hope that helps cycle the darn thing. Anyway I just have an important question and I hope I'm wrong about it. I bought 4 new fish for my cycled 10 gallon quarantine tank and they all seemed to be doing great which includes 1 Dwarf Grourami,2 Longfin Serpae tetras, and one very small Otocinclus. I have never had any Otocinclus so I'm worried about the little sweet guy. When I bought him yesterday he was very lively and a little slI'm but his belly is not sinking in but my concern more since he has plenty to eat which includes a slice of zucchinI is his color of his poop which is white. Is that normal for a Otocinclus? First thing I thought was parasites, so is it parasites or can that color be normal? He seems really healthy other then that he is swimming around the tank and pooping a lot. Please let me know soon b/c I would like to save him if I can. If it is parasites I was thinking of using prazi-pro since I have it already and it isn't old. Thanks in advance....

 

My ottos always pooped brown when I had them. Maybe they aren't eating enough? If it is parasites be very careful what med you use because they are very sensitive to most types.

 

Oh yeah ottos like to be in groups... I would add a few more

 

My ottos always pooped brown when I had them. Maybe they aren't eating enough? If it is parasites be very careful what med you use because they are very sensitive to most types.

The poop isn't stringy or anything it looks normal except it is white. I will try and find out if I can use Prazi-pro b/c I noticed my Gourami flicking off of decoration. But that to me seems like flukes instead of parasites. I will do some more research and try and find out what possibly might it might be. Thanks so much for your advice.....;D

 

Oh yeah ottos like to be in groups... I would add a few more

I cannot add anymore because it is a 10 gallon and I have 4 fish in it already don't want to many in the tank it has only been cycled for a month. But if this little Otocinclus lives I plan on getting 2 more later. I will have 3 then they will be going into a 44 gallon.

 

HI - I have the same issue with my otto. I brought 4 ottos home last month - 2 died very quickly and then 1 died yesterday. I had treated my tank last week with Marcyn because I have danios that seemed to have fin rot. I had also put some salt in the tank - which now I know isn't the best thing for ottos. Since that time I have reduced the amount of salt in the tank. The danios seem to be doing fine, however the otto, who is very lively and is eating well,has green poo and then white poo. His belly is also very round.

 

It could just be the zucchinI causing it. Most fish kinda poop the colors they eat.

 

Ottos don't do well in newly established tanks... the tank should be set up for like a year before ottos and other very sensitive fish are added. And that point about zucchinI could be true too... I just remembered that my fish would poop white once in a while and I would feed them zucchini.

 

HI - I have the same issue with my otto. I brought 4 ottos home last month - 2 died very quickly and then 1 died yesterday. I had treated my tank last week with Marcyn because I have danios that seemed to have fin rot. I had also put some salt in the tank - which now I know isn't the best thing for ottos. Since that time I have reduced the amount of salt in the tank. The danios seem to be doing fine, however the otto, who is very lively and is eating well,has green poo and then white poo. His belly is also very round.

I'm hoping that it is just something he was eating at the pet store making him poop white. I didn't feed him zucchinI today. But I'm having a problem with the algae wafers I broke off half and added it to the tank but he hasn't touch it yet but I hope I didn't put to much the wafer was a big one. If he doesn't eat it tonight I will vacuum it out tomorrow. Mine is not acting sick he is very lively and looks like he is gaining a little weight. So I'm just going to watch him and wait and see.

 

It could just be the zucchinI causing it. Most fish kinda poop the colors they eat.

I sure hope that is the case I guess I will have to wait and see. I didn't feed him the zucchinI today but he loves it I'm not sure if he likes the algae wafers yet but I'm hoping he will eat it tonight and hopeful it will change the color of his poop and everything will be fine. Keep your fingers crossed....

 

Ottos don't do well in newly established tanks... the tank should be set up for like a year before ottos and other very sensitive fish are added. And that point about zucchinI could be true too... I just remembered that my fish would poop white once in a while and I would feed them zucchini.

I read on the internet that 6 months was ok. But I know this will sound bad but I new that I done a little research before buying him. But it said 6 months instead of 1yr. I know I shouldn't have but I couldn't help it I have been waiting so long to get fish. My tanks was having problems cycling and the big one was set up since May 2011 I think I might have finally got it cycled. The 10 gallon has been set up since before Thanksgiving finally got it to cycle with the TSS. So I do it emit it maybe I shouldn't have gotten him.:-[ Can I ask what else do you feed your Ottos? I read they like zucchini,spinach,carrots,lettuce,algae wafers. Thanks for your advice....;D

 

That food is fine and 6 months could work but I do 1 year to be safe. Most ottos don't take algae wafers for some reason so don't be alarmed if he doesn't eat it. The best is if you have algae for him.

 

That food is fine and 6 months could work but I do 1 year to be safe. Most ottos don't take algae wafers for some reason so don't be alarmed if he doesn't eat it. The best is if you have algae for him.

Well, my Otto is doing very well, no more white poop I hope he got some of the algae wafer I put in there my dwarf grouami eats everything. So he must have ate some of it because his poop is green now.....woooohoooo

I'm trying spinach on the clip now after I heated it just for a few seconds but he hasn't ate any yet but the Gourami sure has. I need to find something the Gourami doesn't like that my Otto does.

I haven't clean the sides of the tank since I got him. So it should grow some algae again. I hope this is funny I use to hate algae and I wanted it gone now I would love some.;D

 

You may never see the algae as he probably gobbles it up to fast lol.

Glad to hear all seems well with the little guy.

 

Yupp... you may never see algae again lol... that's how it is with ottos.

 

You may never see the algae as he probably gobbles it up to fast lol.

Glad to hear all seems well with the little guy.

Thank you! Me to! I say your right he was eating like crazy last night. I put in some spinach for him yesterday and he did not like it at all. But the Gourami ate some of it...lol

I put him some more zucchinI in there since he loved it I did buy some minI cucumbers to try later. I love the little guy I would like to get 2 more if he lives but that will be later.

 

Yupp... you may never see algae again lol... that's how it is with ottos.

I just hope he is getting enough of what he needs. I so love the little guy he is so cute but I sure hope he grows pretty fast b/c he is to tiny to put in my big tank I think. But there sure is a lot of hiding places but I think the tetras might see him as lunch not sure how it is all going to pan out. I would also like to get 2 more. If anything becomes aggressive they will be taking out or sold.

 

Haha yeah they are awesome fish... you come to love them and your tank revolves around them lol

 

I hunt thru my tank to ensure a full count of them at least once a day. They are great at pulling a hudinI thou so don't get to worried if you don't see them right away.