Question

[eudielynn]

I am going to have to make some changes in my 20 gal community tank. I now have a bristlenose plec that will be going home to his daddy.

(My nephew gave him to me before he went into the service, but he is home now and looks at him so wistfully every time he sees him, I told him that he could have him back. His tank is now cycled and Fergie will be going home next week.)

I have thought about getting another bristlenose, but I have also been thinking about otos. I have never had them before and understand that they can be a little sensitive. Here's what I have now, minus the plec.

20 gal tank, cycled for about 2 months now with an UGF and 100watt heater.

1 golden gourami
2 dwarf gouramis
6 zebra danios
2 female guppies
1 male betta (very mild tempered)
2 ADF's
5 ghost shrimp
1 apple snail

I have gravel on the bottom, silk plants, several "caves", and a fake rock arch.

Can I put oto's in safely, and if so how many? Also, do they require any special dietary needs?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Fish Buddy]

Otocinclus' are shoaling fish so you would need about 4 or more. If you have algea in your tank, that's all they need.
I have kept otos and have never found them to be sensitive but other people have so-
Also, your talk looks well stocked so I wouldn't get any more fish... see what other people say

 

[Mr Miagi]

Man, toughy......if you were to decide whether oto's or plec, deffinately oto's. A plec is no good. Too small a tank.

But for oto's, you really need alot of algae. And they need something other than 'just' algae. Ie waffers or cucumber, or spinach. (I think theres a pinned topic on foods for things like oto's somewhere)

But i wouldnt add them. I think you would be more comfortable adding something else. Youve already got an apple snail and 5 shrimp.

 

[eudielynn]

Ooops. Forgot to mention that the reason I thought about them is because I have a brown algae problem on some of the plants that the shrimp and snail are not taking care of, but I don't want to overstock either. (I do add an occasional algae wafer for the snail and plec and will continue to do so because the guppies really like them, too.)

 

[Mr Miagi]

oK! I went off and found otos in our fish files, so heres the liink....

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=35094&hl=otos

It recomends min. 10 gallons, so i reckon you could get away with it. Especially with the algae growing, and the food you feed! I would personaly think the bigger the tank the better for otos. But maybe i shouldnt argue.... ) hehe

But heres another link for you to read on algae and different ways of control i find very useful!

http/www.plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=9

Goodluck! And PM me some time with your progress!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi eudielynn

Provided your tank is fully cycled, and you are not having a problem with your water quality, I think you could add 4 to 6 otos without any problems. They do like having live plants in their tank, so if you get them, it would be a good idea to add a couple of live plants, either rooted or potted.

The trick to keeping otos seems to be in buying healthy ones. Here's a link to a thread that talks about the subject. Please pay special attention to Bignose's post:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=75879

 

[eudielynn]

Will do!! Thanks for the links!