Will oto catfish cleanup diatoms and what is a recommended number?

Will oto catfish cleanup diatoms and what is a recommended number?

I have a 33US gallon/125L tank with 15 various danios, a couple of snails and at the minute 4 Corey's. I was planning on getting 3 more Corey's but someone mentioned ottos should eat the diatoms. Does my tank seem nearly fully stocked? How many ottos would I need? Will it be a happy tank?

Shrimp is an option but I'm worried amano shrimp would go for my slow moving snails and even bother the Corey's!

 

I think you have space for a shoal of otos. I would get about 8 of them. How old is this tank?

 

Agreed Oto’s would be fine, but they’ll go through any diatoms very quickly & will then need supplementary feeding, algae wafers & veggies such as zucchini

 

I would only do 3 maybe 4 max they don’t always go for prepared foods and being that they are nonstop workers they could easily starve if there isn’t enough for them to eat on the glass plants hardscape etc... just my .02

 

michaelsf90
Good Question! Good to see members doing research.
Hmm...
Since most Otos are very skinny and starving by the time we get them. Best chances for success is a mature seasoned tank. Even then losses can be expected. Amanos are scavengers, I have kept them with Corys, Snails even RCS with no problems. Now they are "Great" thieves and will steal food. LOL
But again, Key is a Mature/Seasoned tank.

Good Luck!

Learning all the Time.

 

The tank is six months old. All usual parameters are perfect. I had to put crushed coral in the filter to stabilise the ph as the water is incredibly soft round here!

I'm very torn. Shrimp would be different! Would my stocking be ok with 6 Corey's, 15 danios, the snails and say 4 otos? Would 3 or 4 be ok as I read they need schools? Minimum of six?

I feed my rabbit snail veg every other day. Would otos eat lettuce, carrot, cucumber, zucchini?

 

If you’re just wanting something to deal with the diatoms then nerite snails would do the job very nicely, however if you really like Oto’s & are not just getting them to do a job then yes a group of 4 would be ok

 

I would look after the otos and feed them as I do any other fish. I already have 2 zebra nerites but the job is too big for them and they also don't eat anything on the plants. They just go on the glass, driftwood, ornaments, filter, heater. Anything but the plants!

So if I add 4 otos my tank is like literally on the limits of stocking!