Oto Cats are awesome!

[MikeInOrlando]

I'd posted a few times about a slight algae problem. It finally started getting to the point where it got out of control, so I went and got some Otos today. I'd never seen them before, so when I got to the LFS and saw them, I figured I'd better get four.

I did my best to accustom them to the water and put them in about a half hour later. These dudes ROCK. I'm not claiming that they have already cleaned my tank. I know that only I can totally do that, but they have gone to WORK immediately. No skittishness about being new in the tank...they attacked my algae instantly and have continued to do so from the moment they've been in.

Anybody else have some good Oto stories?

[tjr635]

Um great investment , thanks folks for recommending them. i got 2 in a 20Gal hex, an they have cleaned the glass off clear, an no build up , they are now working the fake plants an the rock in the tank, soon to get to the gravel i'm sure.An they are so small , an do not take up to much of a bio - load , an if they do , it far out weights it

[Featherfin]

Mine are very little right now - around .5". I have three of them in a 10gal.

Despite their size, they chase my bettas and hatchetfish. They love to school together and they never seem to stop eating. They dart around like crazy.

I love to watch them suck/scrape the brown algae off my plants. As soon as they touch something and move on - it's totally clean. I love it.

[musho3210]

mine died..... but before that 1 oto (after his 2 buddies slept with the fishes) cleaned a 20 high that was sugar-coated with brown algae within 1-2 days. With this in mind watch out for starvation....

[pcnicholson]

My otos get fed spinach leaves a couple times a week. The trick seems to be blanching the spinach and leaving it in the tank for at least 12 hours, at that point they start munching like crazy. It rarely lasts for 24 hours.

[hitman12131976]

Yeah, I feed my oto's a veggie a week. I also throw 1/2 an algae wafer every other night. They do good work.

[ct-death]

Once established I have nothing but good things to say about these little guys! I love mine ! :D

[J double R]

i think i may need more than 3 in my 29g, since all 3 are getting fat, and there is absolutely no change in the algae status. :p: