Should I Get Otos?

Katty · Dec 19, 2010

For algae control in my tank, I had two olive nerite snails. Recently, one of them died (old age) and the other one is sort of slowing down and not doing as good of a job as he used to. I could just replace the snails but I was wondering if I could get otos instead? I wasn't too fond of all the eggs the snails left either. I can and do clean the algae off the anubias and the glass on my own with a sponge, but the other finer plants and the nooks and crannies on the bogwood and rocks and stuff that are harder to clean, I just left to the snails. Now that one is gone and the other seems to be running towards the end of its life, I was thinking maybe otos would work here for algae control? Plus they are really cute.

The tank is 20 gallons tall, planted, and inhabitants are a keyhole cichlid, 8 green neons, and 4 corydoras. The dominant algae in the tank is green fuzz algae, what looks like staghorn in places, and some assorted bits of others. The tank isn't infested with algae but its not spotless either... I think I'd have to get a bigger filter though if I wanted to add more fish, since it's an aquaclear 20 and I'm sort of doubting its ability to deal with the current load on the tank...

Should I get otos? Or something else? If so, many would you recommend for this tank?

N0body Of The Goat · Dec 20, 2010

If you wanted something Oto-like , but a little bit unique and bigger (6cm), Oxyropsis acutirastra ("Tiger Oto") are available at Kesgrave Tropicals' Ebat store...
http

/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280596637850&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

A profile for these fish: http

/www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=1831 (googling their scientific name suggests 25-29C more often then low 20s to 25C)

Katty · Dec 20, 2010

Thanks for the links, but I am fine with the more common otos. I'd be buying locally(in USA) anyways so I'm limited to whatever the LFS is carrying. I'm wondering if (any kind of) otos and how many would fit in with my current tank. I'm not really sure if I've reached the overstocked point yet? The keyhole is supposed to get to 4 inches or so.

dayzofspeed · Dec 20, 2010

one thing you need to watch out for with otos is that they need a mature tank to even survive let alone thrive, but they are fantastic little fish

Katty · Dec 20, 2010

I'm under the assumption that the tank is matured(?). I dunno if I would have to get a larger filter though before adding more fish, and if I get a new one if I should wait for it to establish itself fully before adding any otos.

I also have another question... since you're supposed to quarantine fish before you put them into the main tank, would I have to feed the otos on of vegetables and prepared food while they are in quarantine? Would that be OK for them? I have a spare 10 and a 5.5 gallon and a couple of spare filters, but the spare tanks and filters are all dried, taken apart, and in storage. There is not a speck of algae in the spare tanks for them to eat.