How to feed an Otocinclus in a community tank

[KingJamal2]

I got some Otocinclus a couple weeks ago and was wondering what are some other food options for them. I tried the HikarI minI algae wafers but it seems like they don't eat them. I was wondering about this stuff.



I've seen videos of fish going crazy over the regular tablets.

I feed mine blanched zucchini. They love it.

 

[DoubleDutch]

I got some Otocinclus a couple weeks ago and was wondering what are some other food options for them. I tried the HikarI minI algae wafers but it seems like they don't eat them. I was wondering about this stuff.

Amazon.com : Sera 920 Spirulina Tabs 0.5 oz 24 Table. Pet Food, One Size : Pet Supplies

I've seen videos of fish going crazy over the regular tablets.

They probably don't know what those are.

 

[e_watson09]

Honestly most otos are wild caught and are not big fans of commercially prepared foods. Mine seem to be happiest munching on algae. I can't get mine to eat any commercial foods but I just let them have at the algae in the tank. Tank stays clean and their bellies stay nice and full

 

[Oak77]

I am thinking Otocinclus should be in a heavily stocked and planted tank. Am I correct in thinking so enough algae can produce?

 

[KingJamal2]

I am thinking Otocinclus should be in a heavily stocked and planted tank. Am I correct in thinking so enough algae can produce?

Yes. You only want to add them into a well established tank. That way they won’t starve.

Not necessarily heavily stocked though. Just well established.

A good light and ferts help too.

 

[StarGirl]

My algae eaters love any color blanched bell pepper and zucchini. My BN and SAE eat them both.

 

[jmaldo]

Mine enjoy Brussel sprouts, tried it after seeing DoubleDutch pic/vid. They also enjoy zucchinI and Algae wafers once in awhile.

 

[Oak77]

If I started feeding my fish blanched veggies they would be eating better than me. I think they already are.

 

[Cantchooseone]

The Sera tabs are good! I have bought them twice now and my oto's eat it, as well as my snails and BN pleco. I put a piece of the tablet inside a slice of zucchinI and its usually gone the next morning. You can also press it on your tank wall but it is messier that way.

 

[Oak77]

Shrimp pellets and blanched zucchini, squash are favourites. Some will do blanched lettuce, spinach, broccoli.. mine ignore.
Sera tabs are good, I limit mine to only small pieces as they are so messy and the food debris ends up covering the plants, but I do feed as an occasional treat.

I fed them one and my panda tetras were the first ones on it giving the otos no chance to get it. After the tetras were done I waited a few minutes to see if otos would go for it but they didn't so I removed it. I agree about the mess. Thank god for Corydoras!

 

[86 ssinit]

Takes time for ottos to eat anything but algae. Mine eat algae wafers and blanched spinach. Thing is allways put what your feeding in the same place. They seem to recognize the place is for food .
How many do you have and what size tank?

 

[Rits]

Jeez my otos are so spoiled they skip the algae and go straight for the ZuchinnI I put in the tank. They don't even give me a chance to latch it onto the side! They just cling onto it as soon as I put my hand in and go for a ride!

 

[Oak77]

Takes time for ottos to eat anything but algae. Mine eat algae wafers and blanched spinach. Thing is allways put what your feeding in the same place. They seem to recognize the place is for food .
How many do you have and what size tank?

2 and a 23 gallon tank.

 

[86 ssinit]

That’s a good number for that tank. Is it planted? I find if you put to many in the tank some will starve.

 

[Tez]

Mine seem to love the bug bite food I put in for my fish in granules besides any algae build up.

 

[Oak77]

That’s a good number for that tank. Is it planted? I find if you put to many in the tank some will starve.

Sorry for taking so long to respond. I just saw this for some reason. Yes it is planted.

Mine seem to love the bug bite food I put in for my fish in granules besides any algae build up.

I haven't noticed mine eating pellets. They pretty much just hang on the glass and DW.

 

[Tez]

I haven't noticed mine eating pellets. They pretty much just hang on the glass and DW.

Now mine do they go along the gravel shifting out the food besides put they're only young and I was pleased today also, my albino gold algae eater does a good night shift doing tunnels through the gravel and he's quite big and long and he lay in front of the glass, so out comes hubbies tap measure 3 and half inches long.

 

[Samhoffman]

Hi everyone, I currently have 1 otocinclus. I would love to get 2 more, but I can't get the one I already have to eat anything. There is a good amount of algae in the tank, which currently is all he eats. But if I get 2 more and they eat all the algae, then what do I do? I've tried cucumber, carrots, peas and other random vegetables. Any suggestions for a very picky oto?

 

[SnookusFish]

Ive seen that you can grow algae on a jar using awuarium water and submerging it in another container. Then put the jar in the tank and the oto will eat the algae. A lot do die from starvation though so try and get it eating something reliable before you get more. Have you tried blanched courgette AKA zucchini?

 

[Samhoffman]

Ive seen that you can grow algae on a jar using awuarium water and submerging it in another container. Then put the jar in the tank and the oto will eat the algae. A lot do die from starvation though so try and get it eating something reliable before you get more. Have you tried blanched courgette AKA zucchini?

I have not yet, only because I haven't been able to get my hands on some recently. And btw, how do you blanch vegetables like zucchini? I tried on cucumber but I think I did it wrong. worst case I can try growing algae, shouldn't be hard at all, right?

 

[SnookusFish]

I have not yet, only because I haven't been able to get my hands on some recently. And btw, how do you blanch vegetables like zucchini? I tried on cucumber but I think I did it wrong. worst case I can try growing algae, shouldn't be hard at all, right?

To blanch you boil for 3 minutes i believe and then drop into ice water to stop the cooking. It just softens it for the fish to eat easier.
I bet itll be hard to grow algae when you want it, even though its easy to grow when you dont want it!!!lol

 

[Samhoffman]

To blanch you boil for 3 minutes i believe and then drop into ice water to stop the cooking. It just softens it for the fish to eat easier.
I bet itll be hard to grow algae when you want it, even though its easy to grow when you dont want it!!!lol

Alright, I'll give it a try. And youre probably right, I bet its hard to grow algae when you WANT it to lol

 

[StarGirl]

Try blanching some spinach maybe? You can put a rock in the jar as SnookusFish said It would be easier to place in the tank then.

 

[Samhoffman]

Try blanching some spinach maybe? You can put a rock in the jar as SnookusFish said It would be easier to place in the tank then.

i tried raw spinach, but ill give blanched a try. And yes, the algae jar sounds great!

 

[StarGirl]

I know some people just put it in the window in the sun

 

[Samhoffman]

I know some people just put it in the window in the sun

sounds good, thank you

 

[JenC]

I think the more planted your tank is the better it will be for the otos. Lots of plants and some driftwood give lots of surfaces for aufwuchs to grow, therefore lots of food for them.

I supplement with blanched zucchini (courgette) or algae wafers 1-3 times a week as insurance but mine mostly eat what grows naturally in their tanks.

For blanching, I just peel zucchini and microwave chunks in little bowls of water for maybe 30 seconds. The goal is just to soften it up a bit so it's easier to eat, not to cook it. Some people don't do it.

 

[Samhoffman]

I think the more planted your tank is the better it will be for the otos. Lots of plants and some driftwood give lots of surfaces for aufwuchs to grow, therefore lots of food for them.

I supplement with blanched zucchini (courgette) or algae wafers 1-3 times a week as insurance but mine mostly eat what grows naturally in their tanks.

For blanching, I just peel zucchini and microwave chunks in little bowls of water for maybe 30 seconds. The goal is just to soften it up a bit so it's easier to eat, not to cook it. Some people don't do it.

alright thanks for the tips! I cant get algae wafers to my oto, as they are eaten too quickly by my corys and aoistos.

 

[StarGirl]

alright thanks for the tips! I cant get algae wafers to my oto, as they are eaten too quickly by my corys and aoistos.

Try at night after its dark.

 

[Samhoffman]

Try at night after its dark.

Thats what I already do haha. My fish have no chill at night lol

 

[Alicy]

My otos likes Repashy Soilent Green gel, they wont touch algae wafers. Seems pricey at first, but its a powder and a decent batch can last you a couple weeks in the fridge or months in the freezer

 

[Samhoffman]

My otos likes Repashy Soilent Green gel, they wont touch algae wafers. Seems pricey at first, but its a powder and a decent batch can last you a couple weeks in the fridge or months in the freezer

I’ve heard of it before. Do you just leave it at the bottom of the tank or do you do something special to elevate it?

 

[Alicy]

I freeze mine in flat cubes and then leave it over night on the driftwood they like to chill, its all gone in the morning and their bellies are as round as mine I have seen a lot of people put it on rocks and then add it to the tank, which I really like the idea of. But I only have 4 otos and an ok amount of algae growth so I just freeze it and feed it once a week. Properly frozen its supposed to last 6 months (treat as fresh food). In a top of the fridge freezer I keep it for a couple months. Which means a 3 oz can will last me.. a year or so?.

 

[Samhoffman]

I freeze mine in flat cubes and then leave it over night on the driftwood they like to chill, its all gone in the morning and their bellies are as round as mine I have seen a lot of people put it on rocks and then add it to the tank, which I really like the idea of. But I only have 4 otos and an ok amount of algae growth so I just freeze it and feed it once a week. Properly frozen its supposed to last 6 months (treat as fresh food). In a top of the fridge freezer I keep it for a couple months. Which means a 3 oz can will last me.. a year or so?.

Alright sounds good thank you!

 

[SnookusFish]

Let us know what works. Im planning on a group for my 20g but im wprried about starvation so if u figure something out...thanks

 

[jmaldo]

Try Algae wafers, it took mine a bit to realize it was food. Also, Brussel Sprouts got the idea from DoubleDutch



Good Luck!

Learning all the Time.

 

[Samhoffman]

Let us know what works. Im planning on a group for my 20g but im wprried about starvation so if u figure something out...thanks

I’lol try my best. I’ll let you know if I figure something out!

 

[Samhoffman]

Try Algae wafers, it took mine a bit to realize it was food. Also, Brussel Sprouts got the idea from DoubleDutch

Good Luck!
Learning all the Time.

I give my tank algae wafers every other day. Problem is, my Cory and apostles eat it before anything else can get to it. And I can’t feed more, as my corys belly is already very round as it is. I don’t want to over feed. But thanks for the ideas! I’ll give Brussel Sprouts a try!

 

[imba]

My otos will eat any food I give my Corys. They take all the wafers and pellets that sink to the bottom

 

[Samhoffman]

My otos will eat any food I give my Corys. They take all the wafers and pellets that sink to the bottom

My corys and apistos eat the bottom food so fast. And my oto NEVER touches the ground.

 

[Sankalpakc]

If you want to vary their diet, another thing you can try is to put in some blanched veges. My Oto cats love it when I put in a leaf of slightly steamed spinach or a slice of zucchini. I clip it to the side of my tank. It takes a few hours usually for them to find it, but when they do they love it. It's nice because unlike algae wafers, my other fish completely ignore it.

 

[WhatsTheScoop]

Hello ! Ive recently got 9 otos for my 65g tank, had them for about a week. No deaths yet and none of them look skinny. They all have stripped my tank clean of any random diatoms and the back of my glass originally looked a little grey ? Not algae or anything just like microorganisms unsure, but they got rid of it fast. Soon all this stuff will run out, so what does everyone feed their otocinclus ? Ive put in blanched zucchini and blanched baby spinach and i havent seen them touch it yet. Either they dont want it or they’re eating crumbs that fall off from my other fish. Ive seen them kinda dig in the sand sometimes so maybe they’re getting some food from there ? Ive had them for a week and absolutely fallen in love with them and would hate to lose any.

 

[Royan]

You could take some mason jars and fill them up with old tank water then put them by the sun and let algae grow. You could try the algae sheets too

 

[DoubleDutch]

I'd crumble flakes so that will lamd on the leafs. They'll scavage the leafs.
Also they love bloodworms brineshrimp etc.....

 

[Letsfish]

I have a few in my 55 G but have not seen any of them in quite awhile but yesterday one was on the front glass. The tank is heavily planted but still, it was a big surprise and had almost doubled in size.

 

[jake37]

Mine eat s. green, zuc and bits of bug bites everyone else misses. I have 9 in a 40B. Some are about 6 months or 7 months of ownership others only 3 months. This morning i saw 8 or 9 of them so i guess nearly or all of them are still ticking. They are getting really annoyed at the 50 or 100 mystery snails (one of those egg things i missed burst) roving here and there and like the same food. Btw anyone want 10 or 20 mystery snails ?

 

[LotusWhispers]

I’ve also completely fallen in love with them - arguably they are what brought me into the hobby lol. Had to have my own!

They loooooove zucchini day. I’ve offered squash and eggplant and they don’t seem to care for it. Still experimenting with favorite veggies haha. Have yet to try peas or spinach. I’ve heard of success with kale, that’s on my list too haha.

Perhaps yours will come around when it hits them that there isn’t enough algae. In a way, since zucchinis don’t drop into their natural habitat at random, and since most otos in the hobby are still wild caught - they may take time to warm up to a new food.

Mine did seem hesitant at first but now enjoy to chow upon algae pucks and zucchini. The pucks they tolerate, the zucchini brings them aliiiive! I’ve got the repashy soilent green on the way Mayhaps I’ll pop in again to let yeh know if mine take to it. Arrives Tuesday.

Otherwise, if I’m honest with myself, I kinda consider supplements to be incomplete, and have also begun growing algae on rocks externally. I’d like to put them on a rotation and have enough freshly algae coated rocks to rotate a new one in every week.

Always a game. Listen in, they’ll tell you what they need : ).!!

 

[LHAquatics]

I will get 6 platies, 6 albino corydoras, and a betta in a 29 gallon tank. I want 1 otcinclus as the clean up crew. I am aware they like to be in groups, but I don't know what to feed them when they finish eating the algea? Will cucumber for zucnni work? How about algea wafers?

 

[NotSoAggressiveAquatics]

zucchini would probably be good. But if you want some cleanup try a nerite snail. If you can’t keep a fish in the required groups then they aren’t a good fit for your tank

 

[SummerDay]

Our otos like blanched zucchini and Repashy Soilent Green