Stocking Otos?? Where should they go?

[Opicana]

So, I'd like to buy some Otocinclus. I was originally looking for a school of 10 for my 72g. But, I found a good price on a lot of 20....which I am considering.

If I were to get the 20g...I have some stocking questions.

Here are the options: Where should the Otos go?

Note on tanks: All will be heavily to moderately planted. They will be well filtered with weekly water changes.

10g:


In the works, no critters have been purchased yet, I am working on gathering equipment.
Red Cherry Shrimp (main event)
Small Endler Colony (kept small by transferring to other tanks and giving/selling, etc...)
If I put the otos in here....what am I looking at for numbers of RCS and Endlers?

20g:


Being redone- so still in the works, but have all equipment.
8 Kuhli Loaches
12 Pristella Tetra (already have; others are planned)
2 Honey Gouramis
Would 10 Otos be too much for this tank?

72g:


Up and running; but still being stocked....slowly.
10 Danios (have)
Small Endler Colony (have)
3 Platies (have)
3 Mystery Snails (have)
10 Pygmy Cories (have)
12 Longfin Black Skirt Tetras (have)
2 Bolivian Rams (still have to get)
Adding 20 Otos to this would probably be too much, right? I should just stick to the planned 10?

Should I get the 20, or just stick with 10? I think they are adorable, so would love more. But, if I don't have the space...I definitely won't!

These stocking ideas I got from the forum and slightly modified them...if you think any are overstocked or will not work, please let me know (nicely). :)

Thanks guys!

[The Zigman]

I dont think a 10 gal is big enough to supply enough food for 10 otos.
I put 8 in my 125, and i have dwindled down to 5 or 6.
they seem to be picky eaters.. Be sure you have enough food for them, especially if you get 20.

[jbradt]

I would stick with the lot of ten in the 72 personally. You could probably get away with 4 or 5 in the 20, I wouldn't put any in a 10. Ottos are picky eaters but ravenous. If you are putting them in a tank without much algae for them, be ready to supplement their diet. They are also relatively fragile in the beginning. Best to put them in a fairly mature tank.

They are awesome though... good luck with them!

[Opicana]

I dont think a 10 gal is big enough to supply enough food for 10 otos.
I put 8 in my 125, and i have dwindled down to 5 or 6.
they seem to be picky eaters.. Be sure you have enough food for them, especially if you get 20.


I read that Otos eat algae wafers and will also eat zucchini (sp?) and other veggies as a supplement. Is this not the case?

[Opicana]

I wasn't planning on having the Otos clean my tank, but feeding them wafers and such. Good to know about the fragility- thanks!

[jpappy789]

They will eat wafers and fresh veggies but even with that I have had problems with them starving to death, or just dying randomly.

[jackiomy]

They like canned greenbeans!

[Opicana]

Thanks for everyone's responses. I am no longer considering the 20 because I e-mailed the person with a question and I found them to be very rude.

When I do figure out where to get my otos...how many should I get for the 72g? I have heard they prefer large groups- which is why I was getting the 10. But I don't have a lot of algae in my tank. I have some on the plants and a bit on the glass....but not much (its hardly noticeable). I plan on giving them wafers, but now I am a little nervous! Should I start out with a group of maybe 5, and then increase if I find they are doing well? It seems like I will need to find a compromise between the benefits of a bigger school and the costs of food availability....

[fishorama]

Try to get otos that have been in the store for a week or 2 AND are eating veggies &/or prepared food. They are often starved by the time they get to stores & don't recognize foods offered. Last time I was in a petsmart they had zucchini for them.

I'd get maybe 5 if they look good, then add maybe 3 or more if you want & they're doing well. I highly suggest quarantining new fish if you don't already.