Oto Or Not

[kpintheshed]

its a 15 imperial gallon (71 litres) and has 4 neons 3 copper rasboras, 4 white cloud mountain minnow would i be able to have one of these oto?

http/www.fishforums.net/Oto-t35094.html

 

[-germ-]

They are known for their sensitivity and there are also many mentions of them possibly being dosed up on sedatives by breeders before distibution, which tends to result in an early death due to internal organ damage.
Make sure you use a reputable supplier and ensure they have been through a decent period of quarantine in the LFS before spending your money.
Really i wouldn't get them for your tank though, they should always be kept in groups, without other Otos it may end up stressed, even more vulnerable to illness etc.
Do you mean us or uk gallon and what is your tank temperature?
Edited for stupidity, grammar etc....

 

[kpintheshed]

uk 15 us 18.1

temp 22 degrees

 

[fishboy619]

you cant have one, you should get atleast 3. but i have 10 in one tank and they are much more active and seem happier.

 

[-germ-]

Oh failed to mention...have you got a good algae build up? Another issue commonly mentioned in connection with otos is their occasional unwillingness to take manufactured foods.....
Temp is just right though. Not sure on stocking, everyone has their own ideas, if you could i'd get at least 4. People claim they have a low bio-load but IMHO they are complete pooh-machines and would probably increase your bio-load more than the vast majority of fish of a similar size.

 

[kpintheshed]

yep i have loads of algae build up thats one of the main reasons i want some. on the leafs are green fluufy stuf which i checked on the plant check tion. i have about six plants will get more because i get a discount.

i take i should get 3 of them

 

[fishboy619]

they prefer brown algea, its not so much they are weak fish, but a lot of them stress out easily with other fish, and go hungry, i have a lot of algea in my tank when first added them, but very little now, i feed algea wafers, catfish pellets and veg now and then, they have survived for months now so they much be eating something.
if i remember correctly, they dont handle amonia very well atall.

 

[-germ-]

The more the better, obviously depends on your filtration, tank maintenance and opinions on stocking.
I don't know if they eat thread algae though...

 

[kpintheshed]

how does brown algae appear?

 

[-germ-]

I would have thought you'll already have some...
It tends to appear when you first set up a tank.
I'd post on the pleco or planted section and ask if anyone is aware if otos eat thread...
Unless fishboy or another potential poster knows.....

 

[kpintheshed]

well i haven't really seen pure brown algae its mostly its green

heres some pic:




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[-germ-]

I can't make out the algae TBH...
You can always try feeding them veg; blanched courgette, cucumber etc. I've heard of this being more succesful....
Have you heard of parotocinclus jumbo? Pitbull plecos. These are small shoaling algae eaters, that can handle a wider ranger of tank conditions... They also bury themselves in sandy substrate as a defense mechanism, brilliant scavengers as well, should keep your sand turned (don't know much about planted but i've heard this is sometimes a reaquirement), your tank looks perfect for them to me.

 

[-germ-]

Oh...
Quick one parotocinclus won't keep plants as clean, they dwell on the substrate more than otos....
I think....

 

[SuperColey1]

Otos will not eat thread algae once it has grown to a thread, but they will eat it when it first appears (before growing into thread).

They are very sensitive fish and 1 problem in the tank can wipe them out very quickly.

They won't eat the fuzz or staghorn algae you get on the leaves of plants. best bet there are cherry shrimps but these are just as sensitive if not more than the otos.

I find that the best cleaners of algae on bogwood are pitbull plecs (because commons get too big for most of your tanks and most of theother plecs aren't that great with algae) They will bsaically go for the bogwood and shear the top layer off, but most of the algae comes away with the wood as they are rasping.

Andy

 

[kpintheshed]

if i get a pitbull pleco how many should i get