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[Super Dude]

10 gal

5 zebra danios
2 ottos (now sewage sushi)
stats good
brown algae in considerable quantities

the two species appeared ignorant of each others' existance. in the beginning, the really tiny otto followed the regular tiny guy around. they also were constantly sucking on everything, from glass to fake plants to rocks. most of the algae was wiped from the aquarium. before they bit the dust, they were constantly stuck on the glass, like they were sucking meth chemicals out of it lol. all brown algae retu

returned. they both died within 48h. whats wrong?

 

[snowflake311]

Otos are always wild caught and many don't adjust well to tank life. I had 4 and only one lived. Some people get lucky and get the tough ones but most of these fish are weak from
the catch and trasport. They also need really good water and a tank that's been up for at least 6 months to a year. They also might have starved to death it happens because many don't learn to take waffers and such.

 

[Tolak]

These are very sensitive little fish, which need a supply of fresh algae, and very clean water. More experienced aquarists have trouble with this species. The longest I've ever kept one alive was a little under a year. This was in a tank that had indirect sunlight, and regular large water changes.

They are most all wild caught, being a difficult fish to breed. I personally attribute my difficulties to having harder water with a higher pH, in their natural habitat they come from acidic soft water.

 

[snowflake311]

Yeah my one little trooper had been in my tank for 9 months then one day he was gone. it was a cool little fish he liked to hang with my bristle nose pleco. He would rest on top of her it cracked me up. I was sad when he died.

 

[Super Dude]

yeah. the only other fish i've had dump on me this quick were sunset gouramis. "uh, yeah. they're a division of dwarf gouramis that are really good", said the fish store guy. i oughta track him down and slap him on the head.

little dudes.

well, i still need an algae eater. plecs are obviously out of the picture. would the quick, slick danios be able to hang with a CAE?, as i've heard they can be cruel, territorial little buggers.

 

[LauraFrog]

CAE get to ten inches - no good for a ten gallon. You might have to go with snails as otos are the only small enough algae eaters for a ten gal... the next smallest is the bristlenose. You could consider them if you can rehome them when they start to get big, as 15 gals is the absolute minimum for them (4 in).

 

[Inchworm]

Otos are delicate fish that need a continuous supply of food to survive. If this has been interrupted at any point, from the time they are caught, until the time you purchase them, they will die even if you feed them well. There is nothing you can do to repair the earlier damage. When you buy them, the best indication that they are healthy is that they will have rounded bellies.

If you can get otos past the first few months in your tank, the weaker ones will have died and the rest should be healthy. They eat algae and can be fed zucchini as well. Water quality is important.

Here's a link with information about algae. I hope it will help you solve your problem.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=95077

 

[snowflake311]

Try and get some pitbull plecos. They only get 2" and are great little workers. You should keep them in groups 3 is good. Some fish will nibble on algea I forget what ones but it looks like a platy. Depending on the kind of algea some fresh water shrimp the red ones ( I'm bad with names tonight) they will eat algea.