Lazy Otocinclus

[bkm645]

I have a otocinclus because I noticed algea in the tank a while back. I was feeding him algea wafers but have now stoped. He is not eating all the algea in the tank, he must be eating some because he is not dead, but he can not keep up with the algea load in the tank. I have a 10 gallon and have 3 zebra danios, 3 cherry barbs, 1 cory, and 1 otocinclus. Should I put another otocinclus in the tank?

Thanks,
Brian Mullins

[GoLdFiSh_GrL]

Maybe you should...

[downloader]

you should never have just one otto, they are schooling fish. they should be in groups.

[bkm645]

Oh, I did not know that, thanks. Next time I am out I will buy another.

[emoore]

Otos don't eat every kind of algae. They usually eat the brown algae but will leave the green algae alone.

[bkm645]

I did not know that, what can I get to eat the green algea, I only have a 10 gallon tank so it has to be small.

[Dapple2]

Both your oto and your cory are schooling fish who like having buddies. Since your tank is fairly lighty stocked you could try a bristlenos plec or sme olive nerite snais if you can find them, you best bet though, might just be to get an aquarium scrub pad or a magnetic algae scraper and just quickly wipe it off, it really isn't that much much work. ;)

[bkm645]

Thanks for the advise, next time I am at the pet store I will buy a buddy for each of them and just get something to clear up the algea.

Thanks again,
Brian Mullins