Very Poorly Otto (now Closed)

[doresy]

I came home this afternoon to find 1 of my 3 ottos on the substrate and being bothered by other fish. I netted it and it was pretty lifeless. I could see gill movement so I popped it in the fry tank (in a breeding trap)
The colour seems to have gone at the back. Maybe a white fuzz?

Stats are ammonia 0. nitrite 0. nitrate 40. (comes out of the tap at 40!) Water change yesterday

I don't think he is long for this world

Here is a photo......what do you think

 

[*Fishkies*]

Looks a bit lifeless and very skinny. Maybe try dropping some bottom feeder food in and see if he'll eat. Or is that what's in the right of the picture?

 

[-germ-]

Is the translucency not where his scales have been picked off? Looks a bit eaten to me?

 

[doresy]

Looks a bit lifeless and very skinny. Maybe try dropping some bottom feeder food in and see if he'll eat. Or is that what's in the right of the picture?

Yup, big blob of TetraPlecomin (algae enriched food)

Is the translucency not where his scales have been picked off? Looks a bit eaten to me?

See what you mean......could be

 

[*Fishkies*]

Yeah that white area was my thought to, with the fish biting at him. Could just be that it doesn't seem like fungus from the picture.

Does he seem interested in the food?
Have you seen him swim around a lot or swim erratcially?
Any flicking?

 

[doresy]

Up untill today all Ottos displaying normal daytime behavior. Noticed one missing, found it separated from the rest under a plant on the substrate being nudged by a Zebra Danio. Realising it was in trouble I transfered it to my fry tank. Added a bit of food but it has not moved since I put the fish in there 1 hour ago

 

[-germ-]

Pretty sure you can make out the spine... If so it is from the nipping.
Not sure if otos are salt tolerant, ive heard a salt bath should prevent any risk of secondary infection and also reduce the risk of osmotic shock, make sure the tank conditions he is kept in are absolutely perfect, because if i'm correct in my oft wayward thinking he is extremely at risk of osmotic shock at this time.
Keep him isolated and the scales shoud grow back with time.
Good luck!

Never used it but have you any of that aloe de-stressing stuff? I'd give it a whirl.
I'd guess if thee were no symptoms he got stuck, nipped and is now under severe stress.
Also google osmotic shock, i'm sure it is the main risk aside from stress at this time, but some members have suggested this is incorrect.

My very garbled understanding of osmotic shock;

Umm...
I'll try to explain my understanding of it....
The osmoregulatory system in fish (i think) relates more to the electrolyte balances in the fish, particularly the swim bladder as the concentration of sodium chloride to water is how it maintains its balance, but it also involves magnesium, potassium, an endless list. The correct balance of these electrolytes is necessary for the uptake of oxygen and the release of ammonium and carbon dioxide, by interfering with their gill functions (via a lack of or too much of the electrolytes in the water) there can be a loss or dangerous build up these chemicals in the fish. Leading to osmotic shock, common symptoms being colour loss, hanging at the surface and a loss in swimming balance.
Its more commonly associated with fish that have scale damage or injury, where the fishes regulatory system struggles to maintain the balance of electrolytes
leading to an osmoregulatory overload.
I'm probably wrong, but i'm sure its just as common in freshwater as saltwater fish....
Its also tied in to PH somehow...
Please explain!!!

Nicked from another thread...

 

[rdd1952]

Sorry you lost him but unfortunately, otos are very prone to sudden death. I tried keeping them but after the algae was gone, it seemed as though they quit eating. They were never very fat. Part of the problem is that they are all wild caught and don't handle the shipping very well. It's always best to wait a couple after the LFS gets them in before buying them. That way, the big die-off is over. As cute as I think they are, I won't ever get any more as I can't seem to keep them alive.

 

[*Fishkies*]

So sorry to hear he didn't make it. I myself have never been able to understand the way ottos work. They never seem thrilled in the tank.

Sorry about your little guy.

 

[doresy]

Yes, I know what you mean......The 4 that I got a couple of months back were at the LFS for a couple of weeks. They recognise the problems of travel stress in Ottos and won't sell them for a while.
One died after 2 weeks. The other three have been fine up till that one going this week. The remaining pair seem plump although the algae is gone (I feed them TetraPlecomin at night, ie lights out)

Wont be looking for replacements