Feeding Otos

[rhian]

Hi,

My oto's seem quite happy eating what's in my planted tank, the shop said they were taking algae flakes so I bought some the same time. BUT if I put any flakes in, even after the light has gone off, the other fish just gobble it up

I had heard a piece of blanched courgette would be good, (the otos look well fed at the moment)but I think the platies will eat it all, they don't seem to know when to stop eating! and I don't want to overfeed them

Will the otos have enough to eat on alage alone, I have 3 in my 90L planted tank or should I supplement and hope they get some?

thanks in advance

 

[Athena]

I had the same problem, Rhian. To be honest, I don't know what mine are surviving on - but I do see them nibbling the ends of some plants but mostly they are just stuck to the glass. Like you say, algae wafers that are put in get eaten up by other fish, same for cucumber/courgette etc. My otos never seem to make a bee-line for anything I put in. But two years on they must be getting enough nutrition otherwise they'd have perished by now (oh, I did lose one in the beginning, though).

I read recently that otos don't have a high survival rate - when a group is added to a tank, invariably some will die off - but those that survive will last a long time (or so they say!).

Regards - Athena

 

[rhian]

thanks Athena - they do seem quite happy & full at the moment
The shop said they were taking flakes, but then as soon as I got them home it seems like nothing beats the real thing

I do see them on the glass, all of the plants, the bogwood & the substrate so they must be getting something, I added 3 otos, I was thinking 6, but then I was concerned they might not have enough algae in my size tank

thanks for your help