Otocinclus - High Mortality Rate?

[Rackie]

Not sure if this is in the correct section so I apologise in advance.

My tank finshed it's Cycling process just over a week ago now and I had introduced the following fish to get the stocking underway:

3 Peppered Corydora
4 Zebra Danio
2 Otocinclus

The tank and water parameters are as follows:
65 litres - Temp 26 - P.H 7.2 - Ammonia 0 - Nitrite 0 - Nitrate 20

All the fish seemed to be doing really well until this afternoon when I noticed one of my Oto's was lying on the gravelbed and seemed to be struggling On the odd occassion he would burst into life and swim a few inches but this seemed to take some effort and the little guy would just lie motionless on the gravelbed again struggling for oxygen.

I do have a Nutrafin CO2 system running and was wondering if this could be the problem but all the other fish do not seem to be affected?

I had been feeding little and often (two/three times a day with flake) and also introduced a slice of cucumber a couple of days ago.

Having g**gled Otocinclus I have found quite a few threads regardng the high mortality rate of Oto's and was alarmed at the amount of these fish that seem to be lost within the first few weeks when introduced to the tank. Is this true?

I am hoping that my Oto can recover but am unsure as to the best way to go about trying to bring him back to good health and am hoping someone on here can possibly give some advice.

I really like these fish and don't want to lose one as this is my first tank and I have spent so much time and effort trying to get things right first time round. If the unfortunate does happen to this Oto I am a little reluctant to purchase another one as I don't want to add to the reputation these fish have as they seem to be so fragile.

 

[WILDER]

To be honest he's bad he sounds very weak and he's struggling with his breathing.
It could be a bacterial infection, has he bloated up and does he lay to one side.
Yes they are very sensitive fish dosn't take much for them to go downhill.

 

[Rackie]

He just lies flat on his stomach and sometimes crawls along the gravelbed. I can't see any signs of infection/damage on him anywhere.
No sign of bloating either.

The other Oto is the complete opposite and spends all the time either swimming about or chomping on the cucumber.

Do Oto's have a reputation for having a very high death rate. I have read in some cases that people have often introduced 6 of these at a time only to find after a week they often only have one or two remaining?

 

[WILDER]

Yes i'm afraid so alot of fish keepers seem to battle with them.
There not hardy at all, never kept them to be honest, couldn't get them around my area.
The stress and move could of done it, and the chance he was not well when he was at the lfs.
Sorry wish the outcome look more promising.

 

[Liam]

They are often half starved and stressed by the time we get them home. Get ones that have been in the shop a while and its better if you see them eating with full round little bellies they are tough once they have enough food in them. Its also a good idea to get them after the tank has been running for a few months as there is more algae and the micro food that grows on it for them to eat.

 

[DoyouWantsum]

They are often half starved and stressed by the time we get them home. Get ones that have been in the shop a while and its better if you see them eating with full round little bellies they are tough once they have enough food in them. Its also a good idea to get them after the tank has been running for a few months as there is more algae and the micro food that grows on it for them to eat.

I agree they do need a lot more muture tank. I would say about 6 months.

And when aclimatising them to the tank take twice the time you would with other fish.

 

[andywg]

I have often read that the problem is that otos rely on a bacterial colony in its stomach to process the algae it rasps off of surfaces. If they are not particularly well fed before being collected they can consume the bacteria in their gut due to a lack of food.

Once the colony is gone it is doomed to starve to death. When picking otos always try and find ones with the fattest belly in the shop, these have the highest chance of surviving

 

[DoyouWantsum]

You could also try looking out for these (http/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=1386) they are alot tougher