New to Otocinclus

[tks4d2]

Can any oto owners tell me if they are hardy. After doing a search I've read some stuff on how they are left in horrible conditions at the lfs and end up dying prematurely after purchasing.

[J double R]

otos are fairly finicky IME. some people can't kill them, others can't keep them alive.

[mountain_webste]

My understanding is that they are significantly weakened during collection and shipping and to expect some die-off initially. They need good water conditions in an established tank. Those that make it through all that and settle into their new home tend to do well for years to come.

Again, this is just my understanding from research and following oto posts on AC. I'm new to oto's too having just gotten my first that are 1 week into QT. FWIW I got 6, lost 1 two days into QT, but the rest seem to be doing fine. Mine were/are little poop machines (significantly more then any other fish I've had) so have been doing 30+% water changes every other day; granted there were lots of diatoms in the QT tank for them to devour so I don't know if this is normal or not.

[excuzzzeme]

No they are not hardy but then again, they are not fragile. They need standard water parameters and temp like any fish prefers. Make sure you buy some algae wafers in case you don't have enough algae for feeding them. Most of them die from starvation, ammonia poisoning, and attacks by unfriendly fish.

They are very good at cleaning up diatoms.

[BigAds]

I've only been keeping fish for ~6 months or so, not counting our lone betta in a 2.5gallon tank, who required very little effort to keep very healthy and happy, and I've put ottos into our 10 gallon tank before it was fully cycled (I didn't know) and they did perfectly fine, and are still healthy and happy. I recently finished cycling our 36 gallon and added 3 ottos there, and again, they're perfectly happy and healthy.

In my limited experience, if yours come from good stock, and you follow the general necessities of fish-keeping, they should be fine. Mine love finding a piece of sinking algae wafer that the cories miss, enjoy hanging out on the driftwood, and our glass always looks clean (on the inside at least). As long as you don't have agressive fish in there already or anything that might see the otto as food, and as long as your tank is cycled and healthy, I'd give it a try with a few otto.

[jm1212]

it really depends on the supplier and a particular shippment. some otos you will get will last for years, while others will never really adjust.

[Hooked Newbie]

I agree with the fact that they vary. They do best acclimated slowly and added to a planted tank (the heavier the better) that's been established for awhile (6 months or so) IME.

[-KT-]

I have had 2 in my 10 gallon thats pretty much full with amazon swords for about a year now. They quickly ate all the algae they could find but i'm lucky enough to have otos that love wafers of all kinds.

[BigAds]

it really depends on the supplier and a particular shippment. some otos you will get will last for years, while others will never really adjust.
I want the angelfish in your avatar! All the ones I've been seeing around here are boring, plain colors and weak patterns.

[emptywallet]

my otos just seem to do just fine i got them right after i decided i was going to make it a planted tank and i didnt have many plants when i first got them so i fed zuccine to them while they also ate alage and they did just fine. i have had one die of starvation because it refused to eat zuccine but other then that they all are doing good in my tank

[jpappy789]

Mine are survivors and I am surprised that they didn't starve to death when I first got them...I am in agreement with everyone else, it depends on the source.

[Riiz]

The last dozen Otos I bought I got them from a petsmart. I knew if they could survive a month there, these guys were a tough batch. And they have been, they love hanging out on the ton of driftwood in my angel tank, amost like they are basking in the light.

[b.greene]

I have 4 in my 55g and have never lost one. They live only off the algae and are thriving. Their little tummies are always big. I drop in algae wafers but I think the other tankmates get to them first.

[chesterthehero]

i have 9 in my 55. i got them all from petsmart. there were 10 (one i got several months before the others), nine i got within the last month or so. the newer ones were severly undernourished and one died within 24 hours. however (maybe because they were starved), the new ones caught onto the idea of food other than algae within minutes of being in the quarantine tank. they ate almost all of the algae off the glass and then jumped right into algae wafers and zucchini slices and cory wafers and shrimp pellets. now they eat just about anything. the survivors are fat and active.

i think they are pretty hardy...

[noodles62]

AND THEY'RE CUTE TOO!

[Ulan]

Sometimes, when you get them, they are very weak. I'm not sure whether this is a starvation issue or that they are overcome by fear. With some of them, I had the feeling that they passed out because they were so afraid.

If they survive this first hurdle, the next difficulty will be to find something they actually eat. I had the same experience as others have already mentioned: Some otos have no problem with eating zucchini or other vegetables, whereas others don't touch anything other than algae. The latter ones might pose a problem.

But those that survive can be with you for many years :).

[jones57742]

I have limited experience with Oto's but IMHO
[1] Pristine water conditions,
[2] Sinking wafers which contain significant spirulina (http://cgi.ebay.com/Spirulina-Algae-HBH-Veggie-Wafers-Fish-Food-THREE-LBS_W0QQitemZ260221733228QQihZ016QQcategoryZ20759Q QtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem), and
[3] At least one mass of floating plants.

TR

[doreenjoy]

Acclimate them carefully. I put mine in a dark-sided bucket because they stress out so easily from being hung in a bag in the tank (they can't get to shelter and see all the other fish; it stresses them), then drip acclimate for at least an hour.

[chesterthehero]

shouldnt you quarantine anything new?

[jpappy789]

shouldnt you quarantine anything new?
Ideally, yes. But a lot don;t...including me:lipssealedsmilie:

[emptywallet]

yes i must adimit i am a bad person neither do I

[-KT-]

Ideally, yes. But a lot don;t...including me:lipssealedsmilie:

:grinyes::headshake2:

[doreenjoy]

shouldnt you quarantine anything new?

Yes, but you have to acclimate them to the water in your QT tank.

[Derringer]

I had horrible luck when I first got them, but all that lived past two weeks are still alive a year later.

[dubels]

I am one of those who can't keep them alive. I was told to get 4 if I wanted to have two live. The first batch I got two of them died on the first night. I have maybe 3 in there now after I bought 6. My brown algae is out of control, they love the stuff but can't keep up with it.

[Emerica88]

I agree with the fact that they vary. They do best acclimated slowly and added to a planted tank (the heavier the better) that's been established for awhile (6 months or so) IME.
The two I just picked up really love the plants in my tank, all they seem to do is sit on the leaves.

[mr.key]

STEPS TO SUCCESFUL FISH ACQUISITION:

1. Make friends with a LFS employee who knows what they are talking about. He'll tell you if you should avoid something or jump on it.

2. Buy fish after they have been in a GOOD LFS for over a week and have been fed and cared for well (look full, are active etc.) and are active and happy.

3. Drip acclimate and keep warm while doing so.

4. QT for a month. Barring problems -=>

5. Enjoy your new fish after introducing them to main setup.

Seriously though when I did this with otos I didn't lose many.