Ottos Hard To Look After?

[Dunkal]

Hi,
I was thinking of buying couple of ottos. I believe they are very sensitive to water changes and quite hard to look after is that correct. I currently have a 70 litre tank with 7 xray tetras and 3 cherry barbs.Any advice appreciated please.
Karl

 

[KraKen]

I haven't heard that they're particularly hard to look after in general, but you have to be very careful while acclimating them.

 

[fish-aholic]

For that size of a tank I would get four tops. They like to dine on algae and if there is none present you can substain them algae wafers and veggies, although it is recomended to have some algae. Be very careful when you are acclimating them. Use a drip method and do it very slowly. Otos are very sensitive when brought in to local fish stores because of how they are captured in the wild (there are a couple of theories that I wont get into now). If your otos survive the first few days you have probably acclimated them well. They are very good fish for fighting algae, Diatoms are there favorite. O and make sure your tank is well cycled (at least a month or best two).

 

[BigC]

My advice for what it's worth, is that Otto's are notoriously hard to keep in newly setup tanks. I often hear tragic stories on this forum to the effect. A fully matured tank with the proper water conditions (stats) which is heavily planted and with some algae present suits them best. Don't just buy one, I would have about 4 in that size of tank. I also have a 70ltr freshwater display tank (see pics) with marbled hatchets, black widows (would have prefered black phantoms), large shoal of cardinals, ottocinclus, amano shrimps and bronze corydoras.

Regards
BigC

 

[Dunkal]

Great tank Big C
Thanks guys, When acclimitising fish using drop method, what does this mean?
I already have some algae in my tank especially at the bottom and have got 10 fish my my 70 lite tank. I also have 4 plants too.
Karl

 

[mark.w.jones]

Look at the bottom of this post. It's for marines but the method is essentially the same.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=86433

 

[fish-aholic]

http/www.reefnut.com/Acclimation%20Article.htm = Drip acclimation. A 70 litre will be around 18 us gallons. You might already be fully or OVER stocked. Can you list your fish names and their lenght in Us inches. Also what are your stats and how long has your tank been cycled (did you even cycle?).

 

[Dunkal]

I cycled tank for about 5 weeks with both ammonia/nitrite spikes. I have 70 litre uk litres tank with 7 tetras and 3 barbs currently about 1 inch in length.

 

[fish-aholic]

Ammonia? Nitrites? Nitrates?

Look at the bottom of this post. It's for marines but the method is essentially the same.

[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-the-hobby/86433/http-www-fishforums-net-index-php-showtopic-86433/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...howtopic-86433/[/URL]

You beat me to it by literally a minute.

 

[mark.w.jones]

You snooze you lose

 

[Dunkal]

nitrites/ammonia all zero.

 

[Eyebiter]

I had three otos in my 125g and they did great. One was killed. He was actually chasing other fish until the tables turned. I still have the other two and plan on getting two more. I don't see them school at all but I bet if I put something big in there they would. I didn't do the drip method but I do recommend a well cycled tank.

 

[fish-aholic]

I had three otos in my 125g and they did great. One was killed. He was actually chasing other fish until the tables turned. I still have the other two and plan on getting two more. I don't see them school at all but I bet if I put something big in there they would. I didn't do the drip method but I do recommend a well cycled tank.

Yeah neither of mine school in my 10g. They just hang out on the walls and bog wood. It is recommended to use the drip acclimation as they are very sensitive when brought in.

 

[Dunkal]

My tank has been going for 8 weeks now and I,ve had fish for 2 weeks so I think I might get a couple of otos nect week . Do you suppliment their diet or do they just eat algae??

 

[fish-aholic]

My tank has a relatively low amount of algae (thank god) so I give them sinking wafers (forgot the name) once a week. You should be fine getting away with 3 otos.