Another Dead Oto

[atmmachine816]

Another oto died in my 5.5 gallon planted tank.
ph 6.4
ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 5

No signs of illness

Stock now is one oto, one ct betta. I bought him just a few weeks ago so could it just be a bad fish or what?

thanks

 

[crazie.eddie]

How did you acclimate new fish to your tank?

 

[atmmachine816]

Bag for 15 min. in tank, 15min. add 7oz. cup of water, do again in 15min. do again for four times then net the fish and release in tank. I had bought four otos for my 29 gallon from another store and only one died and I had bought four from another store which are these and three have died. which was dec. 26

 

[WILDER]

oto's are not that hardy, need excellent water conditions.
Well none for dying in a week or two.

 

[crazie.eddie]

Otos seem sensitive. The acclimation maybe too much water. When I acclimate sensitive fish, I usually use the drip method or add smaller amounts of water. The drip method is using an airline hose from the main tank, dripping water into the tank holding the new fish. This requires some water from the store you got them from. The other method I use is adding smaller amounts of water. I use a small disposale shot glass shapped cup, which I use to add water into the bag. If you add too much of your tank water, there maybe a big difference in water parameters, especially the pH. This is why it's usually best to add smaller amounts of water.

 

[atmmachine816]

Ok, it must also have something to do with the store also because I used the same method with the other otos from another store and only one died and he was really small and that's probably why, next time I will use that method though thanks.