Is This Normal

[Akasha72]

Bit scared to ask but I've just caught one of my Oto's floating upside down on the top of the water ... I thought he was dead at first. When I got up and got closer to the tank he was alive and skimming across the top of the water upside down - like he was sucking the top of the water! It was so odd

Is that normal?

Also, whilst I'm asking questions ... my two bronze cory's are acting a little odd too and I'm beginning to think I've got a male and a female. They keep wrapping themselves around each other - especially around their head area, this goes on for ages and then they just part company and go back to bimbling around in the gravel. Is it mating behaviour?

 

[mike455555]

Bit scared to ask but I've just caught one of my Oto's floating upside down on the top of the water ... I thought he was dead at first. When I got up and got closer to the tank he was alive and skimming across the top of the water upside down - like he was sucking the top of the water! It was so odd

Is that normal?

never seen mine do it before...

p.s i love otos <3

 

[Akasha72]

I've never seen it before either which is why I felt I had to ask everyone here

 

[soybean]

Never seen an oto do that either. Perhaps the oxygen levels in the tank are a little low.

The corys behaviour sounds quite normal to me, does indeed sound like a male and female.

 

[Akasha72]

Thanks Soybean, Just been trying to get a picture ... just after I'd replied to Mike it did it again but by the time I'd got my camara it had stopped.
There's loads of bubbles on the top so it shouldn't be an oxygen problem should it? It's at the same flow as normal.

What do I do about the cory's? Just leave them be?


I've just caught it doing it again!! it's mad

 

[soybean]

Yeah leave the corys to it, won't harm each other.

If you can get a photo please do post it, never seen an oto do this. Swim up and take a gulp, yes (corys do this sometimes too) - but sucking the surface is a new one to me.

 

[Fishy friend2]

when i got my first pleco i did tons of research on it and i remember that somewhere, it said that when they are doing that that they are looking for more food because there is not enough food for them so maybe this is the same case for the otos

 

[Akasha72]

I'm trying and failing to get a picture. It seems to have stopped for now though. I'll have to keep the camara handy and see if I can get a photo

 

[mike455555]

i did see one of my pest snails floating on under the surface... more than once... so it might be the more food thing ;p (i havent fed that tank, theres no fish in it yet... leting plants get established)

 

[Akasha72]

They had puffed up belly's so I'm hoping they are getting enough. I'm reluctant to put an algae wafer in as they don't really bother with them and the rest had blood worms tonight

 

[soybean]

Have you been adding blanched veggies for them?

 

[Akasha72]

I tried some cucumber Soybean as you suggested but they just ignored it. All they seem to want is the natural algae on the glass and ornaments. Since I changed to the softer smooth gravel I see them sucking round the bottom quite a bit too

 

[soybean]

I don't use cucumber, mine like courgette that's been boiled for about a minute. They don't go for it right away but after it has softened for a bit in the water they're on it. Bear in mind they're more likely to feed at night, not with the lights on.

Other options are green lettuce or spinach.

Unless you have lots of fresh soft green algae - very few people do - I suggest you give it a few more tries. The few microscopic things they graze on and scraps of algae wafers aren't the most varied diet for them.

 

[Akasha72]

I have some frozen spinach ... would that be okay if I defrosted it? I don't keep much fresh veg in as I'm on my own and it gets wasted. I read somewhere on here about shelled peas aswell. Again I have some frozen garden peas in ...

...and sorry, I thought it was you that suggested the cucumber - must have been someone else

 

[soybean]

I wouldn't bother with peas.

Stick some spinach in a mug of boiling water for a minute or so, then weigh it down in the tank with a pebble or something. They might not go for it right away but just leave it in there. And if no one eats it, doesn't mean they wouldn't if you try it again.

Btw, having Googled the surface-sucking, it seems quite common - although can't find a reasonable explanation for it.