One of my otocinclus is missing

[Jugse]

I have 6 otocinclus in my tank. 2 days ago i brought 4 assassin snails home to fix my bladder snail problem, but since then one of my otocinclus disappeared. I spent like 20 minutes counting fish in my tank and there's only 5 otocinclus. My tank is a fluval flex 57l, i dont think it jumped out the feeding hole, because it's pretty small.

 

[PeterFishKeepin]

It is most likely hiding under decoration or in a plant or behind filter or heater

 

[Jugse]

It is most likely hiding under decoration or in a plant or behind filter or heater

I used my net to shake the plants and decorations and there's nothing, I've also checked my filter and there's nothing ther

 

[TClare]

I wouldn't be totally surprised if it suddenly appears again, they are incredibly good at hiding. How long have you had the otos?

 

[Jugse]

I wouldn't be totally surprised if it suddenly appears again, they are incredibly good at hiding. How long have you had the otos?

2 months

 

[mattgirl]

I don't have oto's but many times I have done a fishy head count and one seems to be missing. After a while I do another head count and all will be there. If you are thinking the assassin snails have eaten one I don't think that could have happened unless it was already dead.

 

[Jugse]

I wouldn't be totally surprised if it suddenly appears again, they are incredibly good at hiding. How long have you had the otos?

It still hasn't returned

 

[mattgirl]

It still hasn't returned

As much as we hate for it to happen occasionally a fish will just be gone.

I think the consensus we came to a couple of years ago is Aliens take them. Occasionally though they add fish. Just kidding of course

 

[TClare]

Well that's a shame, maybe it died. But I lost one for about 4 months once, it suddenly appeared, or maybe I was seeing different otos each time, in any case for months I thought I had just three of 5 that I had bought. I knew one had died and was convinced that another one had as well, especially as I had been reading about how sensitive and difficult they are. I kept seeing three. But then one day they were four. I still have those and more otos now. A favourite game in the evening is "spotto" (spot the Otos). We very rarely see them all at once. However they are in a large densely planted tank.

I think the consensus we came to a couple of years ago is Aliens take them. Occasionally though they add fish. Just kidding of course

They just added three very small emperor tetras to my big tank. Amazingly the angelfish have not eaten them!