quarantineing otos

Paccula

Paccula

AC Members
Dec 14, 2004
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Vancouver, BC, Canada
I just came home with three adorable Otocinclus today, who are spending some time in a 5gal with plants before they enter my 20gal tank. The store I bought them from was great, all fish and plants very healthy looking and staff were very knowledgable. I usually quarantine new fish with salt before introducing them with everyone else, though, because I don't want to deal with ich. However, I have heard otos are very delicate. is it advisable to Q them with salt, or would that hurt them? If I do give them salt, should it be the usual 1 tsp per gallon, or less? Thanks!
 
I've treated otos with the salt treatment and they did great. I didn't even lose any plants or snails, either! I went a little high on the salt, about 2 teaspoons per gallon and there were no complaints :) So 1 tsp/gal should be fine.

I also think it might not be a bad idea to treat for ich with salt in all your new fish. It's all too common for store tanks to breed ich infestations. The fish also get somewhat immune to the parasite from chronic exposure, and only express it in their gills (so they might have it even if you don't see dots on their bodies). Salt will also help the new fish deal with stress of new surroundings, by making osmoregulation easier, as a little salt brings the salinity closer to that of their body.

Just don't use salt in FW tanks all the time! 2-3 weeks is fine, but they don't need it constantly, no matter what the stores may tell you. I think it's a marketing thing. It might also reduce losses at the store, as those fish are constantly under stress :(

Good luck!
 
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