Oto's dying.

Had three oto's, one for over a year, two for over 6 months. One passed away last week. Both remaining are not moving around, my oldest is sitting on the thermometer with clamped fins the other is sticking near by, very pale and not searching for food.

They won't budge unless I make them. Got a few new guys a few days ago and they have all dropped dead, literally from the walls and although they were part of a new shipment (I know, bad idea) I've never had new oto's just die like that especially not all of them. Just saw one fall off the wall and die within a min.

Really worried about these last two especially because I really like these guys. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, under 10ppm I've been checking right before my weekly water changes every friday for the past three weeks. Just changed the filter cartridge because the water was starting to smell fishy and it's been over 6 weeks.

 

The fact that you changed your cartridge might have resulted in a mini-cycle. I'd check your numbers again and add some prime if at all possible. I know otos are very sensitive to toxins. Do a water change if possible.

Are there any other fish in the tank? How are they doing?

 

I changed cartridge after oto died. Parameters are now 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, showing me clear for nitrates too. PH is normal range between 6-8. Water is still cloudy and I am controlling the direct sunlight hitting it. Two balloon red eye tetras in there and they look fine. Eating and swimming fine. Everyone is still alive today. Oldest still retains color, second adult still very pale and new baby very pale as well, stomach's are round. Fins are clamped.

 

Hmmm...I don't know then. Could there be some other source of stress? Did you rearrange anything in the tank? My adult otos hide a lot and don't swim around until lights out. Have you checked them with a flashlight to see if they're more active then?

Did the otos start dying after you added the new otos? Could you have somehow had an ammonia spike that went unnoticed?

I'm still new on here, so I'm just throwing out some ideas. Sorry if I'm not helping much.

 

thanks, it's good to have someone pick my brain. Seems like things are settling, the two oto's are still pale but I've noticed the younger one has moved to several spots on the glass throughout the day. So has my oldest. I can't locate the other pale one but I'm keeping the lights off in the tank because they go crazy if I turn them on and all return to the same place they have been hiding. It's weird because they never hid during daytime or when the lights went on before but at least now I am more confident that they may be eating ans might make it. I'm going to keep checking water parameters and keep an eye on them.

 

I changed cartridge after oto died. Parameters are now 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, showing me clear for nitrates too. PH is normal range between 6-8. Water is still cloudy and I am controlling the direct sunlight hitting it. Two balloon red eye tetras in there and they look fine. Eating and swimming fine. Everyone is still alive today. Oldest still retains color, second adult still very pale and new baby very pale as well, stomach's are round. Fins are clamped.

I'm sorry to hear your otos are not doing so well.

Just to make sure I understand. You received a shipment of otos and placed them into your tank, without QT. And within an hour the first newer oto died. How were they acclimated?

What test kit are you using for parameters? Nitrates should never be clear. And since you have cloudy water it makes no sense to have no measurable ammonia or nitrite. Could your test kit have expired and be giving false results?

Replacing filter cartridges will basically throw away your cycle, leaving you with an uncycled tank. This type of environment is known to kill otos. They do not tolerate waste buildup well.

You also stated your pH was normal at 6-8 degrees. What exactly is your pH level? Has it changed recently? pH should not vary more than 0.4 degrees in a 24 hour period.

 

I agree with amber and catsma. Instead of throwing away the filter cartridge, rinse it with old tank water after a water change, that way you won't your cycle.
Clamped fins in fish is a sign of stress, and the fact that they're not moving likely means something is not right, I would also suggest doing water changes to see if there's any improvement.