Feeding otos in a busy tank

[drunkenmonkey]

I have 8 tiger barbs 5 zebra danios, and 2 otos (the third one is really sick in quarentine... i think he's going to die ) there is beginning to be less and less algae in my tank, so i want to add algae wafers and veggies into their diet. but the tiger barbs and danios are too fast and will eat anything up before the two otos will even notice. I've tried to feed them when there were no lights, but they still didnt notice it. any suggestions??

 

[drunkenmonkey]

anybody?? please??

 

[susangc]

While my betta is snapping up his dinner on the surface, I drop an algae tab in the back for my oto. It helps to feed the oto later in the day, when otos tend to be more active.

Susan

 

[SnowyzMom]

If you can buy any of those polished river pebbles at a store in the plant or fish supply section, or even just get some from the garden(wash them well), maybe granite-because algae sticks best on rough surfaces, then put them in a bowl of water in the sun and let algae grow on them for awhile you can then drop the pebbles into the aquarium and the ottos clean them real fast. This is presuming decent water for the algae to grow in, not polluted, filtered maybe--from the tap. Since the algae takes days to grow on the pebbles the chlorine in tap water is long gone by then and doesn't seem to taint the algae anyways. I know a few fresh bits like that the ottos really like. (um be careful not to drop the pebble ON the ottos-DUH-also not to rub all the algae off with your fingers when you pick them up to put them in the tank) Fresh peas might be good too or an anchored lettuce leaf(stuck into the gravel). Just a thought or two.

SnowyZMom

 

[tear-scar]

I was having a similar problem with my cories . . . it ALWAYS helps to feed the more aggressive fish FIRST, and then sneak in other sinking foods later.

For the otos, you might try zuchini slices. They're too big and heavy for your other fish to drag around; they don't desintigrate quickly in water; I doubt the tiger barbs and danios would be into zuchini; lots of surface area so several fish can eat from it at once (if by some odd chance they DO like zuchini . . .)

In any case, they still need a more varied diet so still try the wafers sometimes at least . . .

 

[Oddball]

Hey there when in doubt try some cucumber, all species of pleco that i've kept love to eat the tough inner surface, as for the jelly like section, if you have any loaches, like the clown, red/yellow fin loach or striata they absolutely adore pecking this section out. Also ottos will eat soft leaved aquatic plants if they're a little peckish, try investing in some of these just as a small sacrifice. Good Luck

 

[rollntider]

I blanch cucumbers(sliced) and drop in once a week for my oto's and they basically camp out on it until it is gone. I only feed once a week to keep them over eating.....them and the pleco are the only ones that eat the cucumbers. the other fish just look at it.

 

[drunkenmonkey]

thanks for all the input. I'll try to add some zuchini slices in tonight, so that hopefully the barbs/danios won't pay as much attention (hopefully).

thats a good idea snowyzmom. I have a spare tank that seems to grow a lot of algae, so i'll try that. thanks!