Online Shrimp / Question About Ottos

[Ed Green]

Hello

Tomorrow I will be buying a few Otocinclus tomorrow - how many would you guys recommend for a small 35l tank? would one do a good job with the algae or will I want two?

main questions:

I want to buy some shrimp and really wanted cherry shrimp. My LFS doesn’t have em - does anyone know a reliable online source? If not what is the best small shrimp to go for to clean up the algae?

Thanks!

Ed

 

[m00se]

I'd get a few ottos - I had one on his own for a while before I found out that they prefer to be in groups of 5 or so. He seemed pretty ok on his own, but they'll be happier (and obviously will have a better chance getting rid of algae) if they're in a group. I'd go for a bunch of 5 or 6.

Someone on here was selling CRS the other day, not sure if they still are - have a look in the Classified section to see. Otherwise I would have to defer to the better knowledge of others on this forum as to where you can get them online. It's also worth finding out whether your LFS can get them ordered in, or venture further afield to one that does. Look on www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk to see where stocks them near you

 

[Ed Green]

I'd get a few ottos - I had one on his own for a while before I found out that they prefer to be in groups of 5 or so. He seemed pretty ok on his own, but they'll be happier (and obviously will have a better chance getting rid of algae) if they're in a group. I'd go for a bunch of 5 or 6.

Someone on here was selling CRS the other day, not sure if they still are - have a look in the Classified section to see. Otherwise I would have to defer to the better knowledge of others on this forum as to where you can get them online. It's also worth finding out whether your LFS can get them ordered in, or venture further afield to one that does. Look on www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk to see where stocks them near you

Thanks that was a helpful reply.

I am not sure I could really keep 5 otto's in a 35l tank - I have plans for two badis badis on top of those so don’t want to over stock. maybe I can stretch to three Ottos though

 

[chesterscot]

drewry sells good cherry shrimp with good packing price is good to pm him he might have some
scot

 

[JenCliBee]

Weimster also sells lovely cherries, good price and very well packaged


Otto's do better in groups, so maybe 4-5 would probably be best.

 

[Bebobb]

I usually get my shrimp off of eBay. That is where I am going to get them for my shrimp tank.

 

[three-fingers]

Ottos really should be kept in bigger groups and are quite sensitive compared to a lot of other fish, they also like the water a little cooler.

So if in doubt about keeping them, leave them out for now . Don't just get a few. They will eat algae, but there are better animals for doing that. Try one or a maximum of two nerite snails - they will be far more effective and also far more suited to your tank.

IMO ottos aren't terribly hard to look after, but certainly shouldn't be added to clean algae, they should really have the tank designed to cater for them, lots of oxygen, very clean water and feeding a variety of green foods and algae wafers. They poop a lot too.

 

[Ed Green]

I usually get my shrimp off of eBay. That is where I am going to get them for my shrimp tank.

Yer have been having a look on ebay. I have decided I want Crystal Red Shrimp which seem harder to buy - WWW.RAREAQUATICS.CO.UK has some though for anyone that is interested.

Ed

 

[Ed Green]

Ottos really should be kept in bigger groups and are quite sensitive compared to a lot of other fish, they also like the water a little cooler.

So if in doubt about keeping them, leave them out for now . Don't just get a few. They will eat algae, but there are better animals for doing that. Try one or a maximum of two nerite snails - they will be far more effective and also far more suited to your tank.

IMO ottos aren't terribly hard to look after, but certainly shouldn't be added to clean algae, they should really have the tank designed to cater for them, lots of oxygen, very clean water and feeding a variety of green foods and algae wafers. They poop a lot too.

Interesting. i will see - I like Ottos and will most likely get 3-4 of them. The tank is heavily planted so they would be happy i am sure.

WIll have to check with water temp though.
Thanks

 

[three-fingers]

It just seems odd to me to keep fish in a sub-optimal environment just because you like them. 35l is fairly small, and ottos prefer larger groups. As mentioned, they aren't the best for algae, and poop a lot so wont serve much of a practical purpose. A heavily planted tank is great, but in one this small - will only give them less space.

While it's hardly going to kill them, if you really do like the fish, you should really provide a tank that actually caters more for them.

Putting 3-4 ottos in a 35l is like putting 3-4 zebra danios in a 5gal. It's fine most of the time, but hardly shows the best of the fish and could potentially be bad for them. For non-fishkeepers or persistent people at the lfs I would say it's an acceptable option, but someone on a specialist forum on the net should really know better, or at least err on the side of caution and the follow advice not to .

 

[Ed Green]

It just seems odd to me to keep fish in a sub-optimal environment just because you like them. 35l is fairly small, and ottos prefer larger groups. As mentioned, they aren't the best for algae, and poop a lot so wont serve much of a practical purpose. A heavily planted tank is great, but in one this small - will only give them less space.

While it's hardly going to kill them, if you really do like the fish, you should really provide a tank that actually caters more for them.

Putting 3-4 ottos in a 35l is like putting 3-4 zebra danios in a 5gal. It's fine most of the time, but hardly shows the best of the fish and could potentially be bad for them. For non-fishkeepers or persistent people at the lfs I would say it's an acceptable option, but someone on a specialist forum on the net should really know better, or at least err on the side of caution and the follow advice not to .

Not being difficult mate - Thanks for your advice ;-)

 

[three-fingers]

Haha, I'm the one who's being difficult . I guess it's because I have to compromise so often when working at the lfs because people are so difficult and I have to sell stuff, that I try make up for it by making sure my advice is as ideal for the animals as possible on here.