View Full Version : otocinclus stocking
beavertayl1
08-30-2004, 5:37 PM
I am setting up a 65g planted discus tank that will be recieving light from at least 96 watts. Today I bought 3 oto cats and I was wondering how many I should need to keep the tank clean of algae. How many otos is too many? I do not want to have to supplement their diet...
anonapersona
08-30-2004, 6:43 PM
I usually get about 1 per 5 gallon, or less if I have shrimp. Either shrimp or otos at 1 per 5 gallons, more or less.
How about 10 Amano shrimp and 6 otos? You may lose an oto or two at the start.
SnakeIce
08-30-2004, 6:49 PM
I wouldn't get more than 1 per 10 gallons, but if your plants are doing super well and not much algae is growing you might not be able to keep them that densely stocked.
the other thing to consider is that they eat alot more when they are little(hollow tails or something) and slow down after they get full grown. so unless they have lots to eat initially they have a harder time getting established after being somewhat starved getting to your tank from the wild
Otocinclus
08-30-2004, 6:56 PM
Unfortunately, it can be very tricky to have a school of otos with 0 extra supplements, same as any other critter that primarily feeds on diatoms in the aquarium.
A big factor here will be how healthy of a planted tank you have. If the plants out-compete virtually all algaes, yer gonna have to supplement no matter what, even with just a few otos. On the other hand, if things are unbalanced to the point where an abundance of algae grows, the otos will be set for life. (but the tank might not be too happy)
Fortunately, 65g is huge and ~100w is more than enuff juice to grow tons of algae. You could easily have a school of 10 otos that never need to be fed, but again it all depends on tank balance and how much algae you can produce.
I like feeding my oto's, they are actually pretty fun to watch. They devour any form of squash I give them, and like pretty much any other veggies too. A quick 30 second steam in the microwave seems to make it go faster (they like it more)
beavertayl1
08-31-2004, 10:19 AM
alright, thanks for all the help guys. I think I will just stick with three until I get the plants growing and then see if more are needed...but I will remember not to add more than 1 per 10 gallon.
What are amano shrimp? Can they survive at 80+ degrees in a discus tank?
jamzwayne
09-01-2004, 8:13 AM
otocunnilingus,
My Oto's or Pleco doesnt seem to like the veggies I've dropped in the tank. Is that something that they will have to get used to?
I dont even think they noticed that the squash and cucumber was in the tank.
Dangerdoll
09-01-2004, 8:55 AM
I'm not sure of the oto's Jamz but I do know that as your pleco gets bigger, he will notice the veggies are there and go for them. Mine didn't react to the veggies when he was smaller either, but now he practically demands them.... *sigh* I gotta get my tank back....
jamzwayne
09-02-2004, 11:40 AM
he he he
:OT:
Speaking of getting bigger....I have only had my pl3co for about 2 weeks. When I got him he was about 2.5" long...in about 2 weeks it seems he has grown 2 inches...he looks about 4-5 inches long now. Is 2 inches of growth normal, or am I on crack?
jamzwayne
09-02-2004, 11:45 AM
What are amano shrimp? Can they survive at 80+ degrees in a discus tank?
Are Amano shrimp the same as Ghost shrimp?
If so, the temp shouldnt bother them, I had my heat cranked up (by accident) for a long time at about 82 degrees...they seemed fine...more active actually. I lowered the temp slowly over a couple of days (got it at 76 now), and they are still holding on strong.
Now the discus, Im not to sure about. How hungry are they? :D
Dangerdoll
09-02-2004, 12:54 PM
he he he
:OT:
Speaking of getting bigger....I have only had my pl3co for about 2 weeks. When I got him he was about 2.5" long...in about 2 weeks it seems he has grown 2 inches...he looks about 4-5 inches long now. Is 2 inches of growth normal, or am I on crack?
they grow unbelievably quick J... especially in a 55 gallon. Your little guy is gonna be a whopping 12"+ - 15"+ in no time. You think you're fond of him now? Just wait until he is the main focus of the tank ;)
jamzwayne
09-02-2004, 1:02 PM
they grow unbelievably quick J... especially in a 55 gallon. Your little guy is gonna be a whopping 12"+ - 15"+ in no time. You think you're fond of him now? Just wait until he is the main focus of the tank ;)
Wait till he's the main focus?
He already is :D
Dangerdoll
09-02-2004, 1:22 PM
how did I know you'd say that? ;)
Otocinclus
09-02-2004, 1:33 PM
LFS's still recommend common plecos for 10 gal community tanks. Blows my mind.
To help your plecos and otos appetite for fresh veggies, try cooking them about 1/2 way to fully cooked. This will allow them to be sniffed out quicker and easier to chew/graze.
My algae eaters are used to veggies and go after everything, but I notice if I take the time to partly cook something its gone FAST.
jamzwayne
09-02-2004, 1:40 PM
LFS's still recommend common plecos for 10 gal community tanks. Blows my mind.
To help your plecos and otos appetite for fresh veggies, try cooking them about 1/2 way to fully cooked. This will allow them to be sniffed out quicker and easier to chew/graze.
My algae eaters are used to veggies and go after everything, but I notice if I take the time to partly cook something its gone FAST.
I dont agree with a pl3co in a 10GAL anymore either (after mine committed suicide :( ) His name was Jongo...
~ANYWAY~
Thanks for the cooked veggies tip. I'll give that a try tonight.
jamzwayne
09-03-2004, 3:51 PM
~Next day~
Nope.
Didnt touch em...gold fish looked at em, Pl3co (need some help naming him), didnt eat any, nor did my Oto cats.
:confused:
Timmain42
09-03-2004, 4:00 PM
Are Amano shrimp the same as Ghost shrimp?
Nope.
http://www.member.serverpro.com/~praxx42/fish/bigAmano.jpg
Amano (from my own NanoCube, the largest female while she was immature)
http://joshmadison.com/aquarium/images/fish/ghost-shrimp-lg.jpg
Ghost
Both are hard-core detrius eaters, but Amanos have a lengthy reputation for eating long algae as well, making them prized plant tank inmates.
jamzwayne
09-03-2004, 4:03 PM
Hey Timm,
How big do Amano's get? Are they about the same size as Ghosts?
...and how did you get those pictures so pretty and clear? Did you take em?
inmy 65 i have 4 ottos and another nice addition was my twig cat . they look very cool + it eats alot of algea and dosnt wrasp the plants like plecos do . im thinking of getting 1 more twig cat and maybe 2 more ottos and i think that will do the trick
Snake Eyez
09-05-2004, 7:33 PM
Hey Timm,
How big do Amano's get? Are they about the same size as Ghosts?
...and how did you get those pictures so pretty and clear? Did you take em?
From what I have seen they get about 2in long.
beavertayl1
09-05-2004, 7:43 PM
"twig cat" meaning farlowella I assume?
jamzwayne
09-07-2004, 4:39 PM
My Pl3co finally fed on some veggies..
http://www.thegodshatetexas.com/jamzwayne/tank/Sept/Pl3co/7.JPG
http://www.thegodshatetexas.com/jamzwayne/tank/Sept/Pl3co/3.JPG
Timmain42
09-14-2004, 10:57 AM
Hey Timm,
How big do Amano's get? Are they about the same size as Ghosts?
...and how did you get those pictures so pretty and clear? Did you take em?
Sorry for the delay, I don't come in here much.
The females will get up to 2" long, and can be identified by a taller and thicker "chest" than the males, who only get 1-1.5" long. Bigger by far than ghosts.
I took the Amano pic, but the ghost came from someone else's website. I use a Sony Digicam 1.3MP, with "Macro" turned on and a polarizing filter. I need a better camera. :(
jamzwayne
09-14-2004, 11:14 AM
Sorry for the delay, I don't come in here much.
The females will get up to 2" long, and can be identified by a taller and thicker "chest" than the males, who only get 1-1.5" long. Bigger by far than ghosts.
I took the Amano pic, but the ghost came from someone else's website. I use a Sony Digicam 1.3MP, with "Macro" turned on and a polarizing filter. I need a better camera. :(
No Problem.
Your camera is better then mine...And for my Ghost shrimp...they are about an inch and a half, and the others are even smaller...the larger ones have under their bellies, what looks like eggs.
I would just like to get some good pics of em to verify that.
Otocinclus
09-14-2004, 1:35 PM
A few months ago I visited the temporary location for the California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium (its normally in Golden Gate park, currently remodeling)
Anyway, they had a large freshwater tank with Amano shrimp in it.
One of them, (obviously a female because of her eggs) was GIGANTIC! She was nearly 3" long and FAT. I was amazed, I sooo wish I had remembered my camera.
Timmain42
09-14-2004, 1:41 PM
Yeah, there are the occasional monster Amano females. None of mine are old enough to be that size yet, but I am waiting. There are two at the Fish Gallery in Dallas that are about that size now. I don't know how old they have to be to get that size tho...
jamzwayne
09-14-2004, 3:57 PM
Tim,
I've been to a Fish Gallery there in Dallas, dont remember where it was. Didn't know there were 2. Got any info on those...I might wanna come up one weekend with the kid and look around.
Timmain42
09-14-2004, 8:54 PM
There's probably 45-50 Amanos in that tank @ FG. At least two are the big females, and there's probably more who aren't mature yet. They won't sell you one (I've tried, and hard!) but you can usually see the ladies if you wait for a few minutes.
http://www.thefishgallery.com/
Go in the door, turn left and go to the show room. They should only have one plant tank left. It's hard to miss.