A Friend For Otto

[Akasha72]

Just wanted to tell ya all I'm freshly back from the aquarium centre and Otto (my ottocinculus *spelling?*) now has a friend thanks to you guys on here.

I didn't know they need to be in groups of 3 or more until I read it here so I've just got another. If my water stay okay I'll get another in 2 weeks.

I'm calling him Criek (anyone out there a Pratchett fan? ...)

They had a couple of cute female platies too and I so wanted to say "I'll take them too" but I'm too scared to set the Ammonia off again so taking it fish by fish for now

 

[soybean]

Hooray!

They are even better in 6+ groups BUT in your size tank I think you'll be fine with three. Better than one!

And it's just one t - otocinclus.

 

[the_lock_man]

So, what are the other otos going to be called - are you going to stick with the Ankh-Morpork Times theme, and call them William de Worde and Sacharissa Cripslock, or with the vampire theme so Maladict, and Lady Margolotta?

 

[Akasha72]

Yey! a Pratchett fan

I really havn't decided ... I may stay on the vampire theme (suckers - get it ) and call them Lestat and Louis

I would definitely say that the guppies need to be named after the guards though ... Vimes, Colon, Carrot and Nobby for the boys and Angua, Cheery, Sally and .... I can't think of any of the other female guards ... help lol

Either way Otto and Criek and found each other now and are happy little suckers hanging out together

 

[the_lock_man]

Best I can do off the top of my head is Lady Sybil, no other female watchmen spring to mind.

However, if yiou have any cories or plecs, I'm thinking Greebo......

 

[Akasha72]

@ the_lock_man ... hahaha I don't have any of those as my tank is only 57 litres - trying to keep just small fish and keep it simple too seen as I'm new to this.


Got up this morning to find Otto and Criek snuggled up together ... it would seem they are inseperable in less than 24 hours. If I get anymore it will have to be a pair or it wouldn't be fair.


Heading back to the aquarium centre today with my Dad to get his advice on plants ... still tempted by this wag tail platies I saw yesterday

 

[soybean]

Got up this morning to find Otto and Criek snuggled up together ... it would seem they are inseperable in less than 24 hours. If I get anymore it will have to be a pair or it wouldn't be fair.

I wouldn't worry about that, they don't 'pair up' in that way. It's just company.

 

[Akasha72]

Well I've come home from the aquarium centre to find them now at opposite sides of the tank so I'm guessing your right Soybean!

I now have two amazon sword plants, 3 twisted vallis plants and some stuff that looks a bit like Eleadea (spelling?) sure you all know what I mean. I need to get my creative head on now.

I'm slightly worried by the amount of snails I saw in the plant tank but Dad suggested putting them in warm salty water to kill off any snails ... no idea if this actually works but he kept tropical fish for years so I've followed his advice for now

 

[phishyphil]

How long has the tank been running for now mate? Reason I ask is that Ottos need a mature tank, not just a mature filter, Dont get me wrong, they need Perfect water conditions, but also need a "matured Tank" in the sense of green algae build up on glass, rocks, decour etc as this is there main food source, as well as algae wafers.

They are great though, good buy

 

[Akasha72]

my original tank had a problem with some algae growing on the glass. I got sick of cleaning it off which was the reason the first otto was suggested by my lfs. Then I got the new tank and all the fish were moved, I got new tank syndrome, got on top of it and I was told here that otto needed a friend. I think I started with the fish about 4 months ago now and the new tank has been running about 6-8 weeks now

I don't have any algae wafers as yet as there's 3 big stones, 3 ornaments plus the glass and I was hoping there would be enough for them both. I was thinking I should maybe get a small tub of algea wafers now there's two to feed but thought I'd see how things went for a couple of days. They seem happy and healthy enough and have spent the day going round the tank cleaning everything. I will look at getting some algae wafers tomorrow if you think they're needed.

I really like them. They're so sweet. A lot of the plecs I've seen can't be described as 'cute' plus they get so big and I havn't the room for a tank bigger than my 2ft'er.

Can someone let me know if I really need the algae wafers or if the algae inside the tank will provide enough for them to eat please. I don't want to buy anything more that I really don't need

 

[soybean]

Yes they'll probably need algae wafers. Unless you have lots of fresh green algae, which you don't. They'll also like blanched veg, especially courgette etc. I microwave a slice in a mug of water for a minute, let it cool and plonk it in the tank. They ignore it for a little while but then it'll disappear overnight.

Otos are cute but actually quite picky and can be tricky to keep, especially in new tanks, and can waste away if they're not fed additional food. There won't be enough algae or microscopic things for them to graze on in such a new tank.

Algae wafers, and/or other sinking catfish pellets, and blanched veg are really going to be essential for them.

 

[Akasha72]

okay, thanks Soybean. That's good to know. I'll get them some wafers tomorrow.

I knew they can be tempremental as I read that they can just die for no real reason. So far so good with both of them so I thought I was doing everything right.

 

[soybean]

Well I think if you get them through the first couple of months they'll be alright. It's all a learning curve

 

[phishyphil]

+1 For the Alagae Wafers, They are Big Veggie Fans, Mine will sit happily for hours on a cucumber

 

[Akasha72]

I can put cucumber in the tank? Seriously? er okay