Otos have gone nocturnal

[plebian]

During the first 4 months after being added to the aquarium, my Otos fed during the daytime. They favored feeding from the plants, then the substrate, occasionally from the glass, almost never from the driftwood. A few weeks ago I noticed they spent almost all their time on the glass, not feeding, just hanging out. At first I was worried, but upon close examination I saw that they were as fat as could be. I assumed they must be feeding at night and I finally confirmed that, seeing them grazing on the substrate where most of the brown algae grows. Unfortunately, They seem to have largely abandoned the plants which are once again accumulating brown algae. The algae on the substrate is gradually disappearing, so I'm hoping they will return to cleaning the plants, which is the reason I purchased them in the first place.

 

[GaryE25 140]

One of the things I like about this hobby is the lack of control we have. We can have a perfectly logical strategy, like buying Otocinclus to clear algae off plants. It's sensible and researched. But the fish make other decisions and things go in their own direction. All you can do is grin and see what they do next.

They probably arrived very hungry and desperate, fed well and adjusted to the tank, then found the gravel to be easier to rasp than plants. If they're with your Discus, the large fish may be picking at them if they feed on plants in lighted periods. The substrate may be safer, as well as easier.

 

[plebian]

One of the nice things about my discus is they don't pay any attention to anyone else in the aquarium. They go about their business as if they're the only inhabitants.

 

[Mazain]

my Otos fed during the daytime

They are catfish!

 

[plebian]

They are catfish!

???

 

[Mazain]

???

Catfish are diurnal and nocturnal

 

[plebian]

Catfish are diurnal and nocturnal

Most are one or the other (almost). Corydoras mostly sleep at night. My L134 mostly sleeps during the day. Until now, I was not aware of any species that was both diurnal and nocturnal in more or less equal parts.

 

[Mazain]

I was not aware of any species that was both diurnal and nocturnal in more or less equal parts.

A proberbility could be that your otos have created an eco-system with the aquascape by cleaning alage.
Eg my neo-caradinas have created an echo system by clearing the algae and are breeding.
Their over population is kept in check with the bosemani rainbows. If not for the rainbows (discus are cichlids but keeping to good norms by not eating shrimps) their would be an over population of shrimps and pollute my water and create a total breakdown.