Help Me Not Make The Wrong Mistake Again

[Hmongol]

So I decided to get an algae eater for my tank and I purchased 3 Chinese Algae eater and a month later one of my guppies had his stomach bitten off literally(I think I came in here last time and posted it). Fishforums.net friendly members advised me that CAE can be vicious when grown up and lose the taste of algae for even fish meat.

Now I've read some info's about a little guy I believed is called a "otocinculus" or better know as otto. He looks similar to the CAE and so I've wonder if they anything like the CAE? Aggressive? Territorial? or community friendly?
Would love some advice on folks that have them.

 

[Hunterprey]

Otocinclus are peaceful algae eaters, they need a school though to feel secure and need a well-established tank, with enough supply of algae. Otherwise they will not survive. They stay small so you can afford to have a little school of them. They need some veggies in their diet too. They also prefer similarly peaceful tankmates.

Depending on your tank size Rubberlip and Bushynose Pleco are great algae eaters and stays fairly small.

 

[Hmongol]

Thanks you, I've always liked algae eaters but because I have a peaceful community I can't afford any aggressive kinds at the moment.

 

[KittyKat]

+1, Otos are peaceful, often starve from lack of food (I would go so far as to encourage you to cultivate algae in the tank for them by increasing lighting) and do best in groups of 6+.


Given that I do not know anything about your tank, I will also mention that I prefer to see them in tanks which are at least 60*30*30 cm in size.

 

[waterdrop]

Agree with Kat,
One of the feeding methods we often mention is to cultivate some smooth pebbles submerged in a bucket out in the yard in the direct sun. With several pebbles you can rotate an algae covered rock that has been cleaned by the otos back out to the bucket and swap in one that has algae all over it.

I have observed a number of comments from members that indeed oto behavior noticeably improves at 6 and above and continues improving with further increases assuming sufficient tank volume.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Aqua Tom]

Agree with Kat,
One of the feeding methods we often mention is to cultivate some smooth pebbles submerged in a bucket out in the yard in the direct sun. With several pebbles you can rotate an algae covered rock that has been cleaned by the otos back out to the bucket and swap in one that has algae all over it.

I have observed a number of comments from members that indeed oto behavior noticeably improves at 6 and above and continues improving with further increases assuming sufficient tank volume.

~~waterdrop~~

+1

I have done this for my BN & shrimp. I Just put a few bits of slate into a jug. Filled it with water & a drop of ammonia, then left it on the windowsill. I had to move it outside a bit later as the Wife was suspicious that I was growing an alien lifeform or somthing.

Tom