Otos - how to start their healthy lives

Duly noted

By the way, since I am quarantining the Otos ... (Names I'm thinking of are Otto and Toto ;D ..)

How much water should I change out? They still need to be fed algae wafers, right?


Give me the dirt!!!

 

You should probably change about 50% of the water and put in a filter cartridge with the carbon in it to remove the rest of the medication. Then in a few days do another 50% change just to make sure that they have the cleanest water possible. Yes they need to have a half a wafer like every other day unless you see that they are no longer feeding off the walls of the tank then they need a half wafer every day unless you can see that they are not eating that much. (throw them at the front of the tank so you can see if they are all eaten or just "played" with) Otos have a tendency to play with their food if they get too much. If you can see that they are just playing then cut the amount down a bit and just keep an eye out until you find the right amount for them. You do not have to remove the uneaten food just do not feed them again until they eat it. (It usually will be gone the second day)

They are darlings and will do just the cutest things while they are getting things cleaned up, just watch out for their fins. They get caught easily and get themselves entangled in plants and things and can rip those little fins and then need some TLC to fix them. Mine have never done it but Omorrokh had a lot of problems with hers. You may want to read her posts about the little Mist. He had more trouble than any little fish I know of. BUT he took and lickin' and is still tickin' so they are tough. The general statement is "If you can keep your Otos for a month, they will be around for a long time."

Just be patient with them and you will grow to love them dearly.

Rose

 

Ok, thanks. That sounds good. I'll get started on that when I get home. There is plenty algae in that tank for them to eat, but I am going to stop by the store on the way home tonight and buy them a hiding place and some algae wafers.

Do I need to remove them for the water change? They are so little I don't want to suck them up ..... can they get stressed like bettas can?

 

You don't need to remove tehm to do water changes. Mine actually seem to enjoy them
Carol

 

They move very fast so you do not really need to worry about sucking them up. You would be very hard put to catch them!! Believe me I do know how hard they are to catch after needing to move them out to clear my tanks of snails. They can move VERY fast LOL. They are going to love a hiding place though.

Rose

 

You might want to go easy on the extra feedings until they get the algae cleaned out of the tank. Don't want to make them lazy do we
Carol

 

I forgot to answer the "stressed out" question. They do not seem to be very upsettable. My Marty chased his two tank mater around unmercifully and they would ruffle up and move around the tank ahead of him very fast just to stay out of his road, but the minute he quit, they settled back to their little corner and went back to sleep during the day and now they are little teases. They will swim right in front of his nose like they are just asking for him to chase them. They just seem to be very laid back and unperturbable so don't worry about them much. They are a lot of fun but not tempermental at all. The bettas chase them for a while and then so far have decided to coexist with them quite nicely. Alex even likes them very much but then he is a baby and got to know them right away so he thinks they belong there, which they do. It does make a world of difference when the Betta is a baby. (except Marty was an exception, he was a naughty one from the start - Noel was a dream and Alex is going to be just like him I can tell already)

Rose

 

WoW. I sure got a lot of information after that post


I really do love the little guys. Even though I can't tell them apart, they are Tater and Tot.


I am going to do the water change when I get home tonight (if I have time ... otherwise it will be tomorrow) and I bought them a little VW bug for them to hide in and some algae wafers but I think they have plenty to eat for the moment ;D

Another question .... Do they have a light requirement like the bettas do? I know that once Lilex goes in there it will be the 12 hours deal but do they need it by themselves? I wasn't sure if the light thing applied to all fish or just bettas. I never paid attention when I had fish when I was little. Someone else always took care of them.


Thanks!!

 

They do their thing at night so the lack of light will mean that they have more time to play. They will love not much light so don't worry about light until Lilex goes into the tank. They may need to have just a couple or so hours to remind them to take a nap or sleep some. The little stinkers will keep working like little demons otherwise. They are going to love that little VW. Just watch it, as hyper as they get they may just learn to drive (now wouldn't that be something)!!!

Rose

 

LOL

It would be something if they learned to drive!! I'd even settle to see one of them in the "driver's seat" ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

I just couldn't resist as I know how terrribly active mine get and they do love to get into anything that it hollow. You may just find them in there, no joking. I would not guarantee that someday it will not look like one of them is not sitting in the driver's seat the way they get all twisted up. If you do I shall really appreciate a picture.

Rose