Otocinclus issues

So I have four issues that I need urgent help with in regards to my 20 gallon long planted tank.

ISSUE #1: Missing Otos
I bought four Otos awhile back (like 2-3 months) but now I only ever see one, even when I'm first turning on the lights. I didn't panic at first because I read that Otos tend to hide ALOT and sometimes won't be seen for a few days. However, its been almost two weeks. I thought about buying more, but I want to be sure that the other three are dead. Yes the obvious answer is to move the decor to see if they swim out, but I don't want to scare them or stress them out.

ISSUE #2: Discolored Oto
All four of my Otos when I bought them where tan/light brown and dark brown/black in color. The one that I've been seeing lately is a pale tan color and, due to fleeting glimpses when I turn on the lights, appears almost transluscent. Its possible it's sick, but what could the issue be?

ISSUE #3: Otos Not Eating
Coinciding with the disappearing Otos, the brown algae has begun to return. The Otos don't appear to be eating the brown algae or algae wafers. I acquired the wafers because there was no longer a brown algae issue so I wanted to be sure that they had food. Besides stress, what other reasons could cause the Otos stop eating entirely? Again, at first I wasn't worried because I had also read that Otos will sometimes go on and off eating.

ISSUE #4: Black Algae (possibly)
My newest issue is what appears to be black algae or black growths on one of my artificial jellyfish (the most affected) and now appears to be slowing growing on my powerhead output. What in the world could cause black algae after having this tank for almost a year? And no, the Otos aren't touching the black algae either.

Those are the issues that I'm experiencing and any help/advice/solutions would be greatly appreciated because I love my fish and they help me with my emotional problems. Thank you everyone for taking the time to read this.

 

What are the water parameters?

 

Yes, checking y
The water is always the first thing to check. And what other fish do you have in there? If you have other bottom feeders they may not get their share.



Next thing I would do is look under everything in tank for them. I have gone weeks without seeing mine once in a while.

I did find it difficult to get them eating well. Here are the things mine like to eat... Algae thins, HikarI shrimp cuisine, and right now I have one on top of a piece of zuchinnI eating on that.

Good luck finding them and hope this helps.

 

Answer to #2- my last Otto was becoming pale and tiny when I found him after he was hiding a long while. He died shortly after. I'm hoping yours survives!

 

I think most if not all otos are wild caught, and often come sick or carrying parasites. Good luck!

 

You will be surprised how they can hide. Keep looking. I feed mine algae wafers, zuchhini, cucumber and yesterday put some spinach in there. They love it!

Mine are NOT shy anymore but for the first month or so I put the wafer, veggies etc in the same general area (they were feeding at night mostly then). Turn off the lights more if that might help to coax them out!

I would definitely up the offerings to see if A) it gets them out of hiding and B) gets the color on the one better.

IF you don't see them soon I would start looking under stuff to make sure they haven't died or anything.

They really are tough I really lucked out with mine. Mine are happy as well fish and we even have one tiny teeny baby in there (Havent seen him for a few days but I am sure he is in there he is big enough to survive now)
Good luck

 

I don't know the water parameters. The only test strips I have is from Tetra and it's VERY inaccurate.

I have 3 Corydoras and 1 Flame Tetra. I had 12 Tetras altogether (6 Flames and 6 neons), but one by one they died off which pretty much made me decide to stay away from schooling fish lol.

 

It's not schooling fish that's the issue but the fact that you have no good way to check your water parameters so you have no idea if your tank is cycled or not. The ottos are probably dead in this case. So I would go on a search for their bodies (if you find them alive then just keep reading) so you don't have any rotting fish causing giant ammonia spikes (that's what probably killed the pale one). Once all the fish are removed buy a liquid test kit, it is cheaper in the long run and much more reliable (most people in fishlore recommend the API master test kit). Keep on trying, I know it is frustrating but many people on fishlore have told me that you can keep almost any fish alive and healthy with a well cycled tank.

 

Aquaman89 did you cycle your tank before adding fish? (I'm assuming it's cycled by now if you've had it set up for a year) I'd highly recommend the freshwater master test kit from API. It's worth the money and will last quite a while. Another thing to invest in would be a cheap QT tank or tub.