All,
I would really like to put a pair of otos in my 10g tank. Not so much for their functionality (algae eating) but cuz they're too cute to resist!
I have been warned, however, that they'll only eat algae and if you don't have tons of algae for them, they'll starve or get sick. (One of the people who said this has otos in a larger tank (where she moved them because there wasn't enough in her 5g and they wouldn't eat algae wafers).) I've also read that algae is helpful in acclimating them but that they'll eat algae wafers and zucchini as well...
Can anyone with experience counter or confirm some of this?
I've actually been allowing brown algae to grow on one side of this tank (on the lower half of the glass, ornaments and gravel) in hopes that this would help acclimate a pair of otos, but don't know how quickly it grows or how much of it they need, and therefore don't know if it would be enough for them long term.
Finally, this tank is not planted, no plans to adding plants (it wasn't set up for plants, so Java Fern and Moss are probably the only things that could go in there without major work - which I don't want to do on this tank). I've heard this can be a problem, but the otos at my lfs don't seem to mind eating algae off plastic plants (have observed them for some time). I do plan to get some driftwood for them as I hear they like this and it shouldn't be a problem for this tank.
Advice appreciated.
Liz
I would really like to put a pair of otos in my 10g tank. Not so much for their functionality (algae eating) but cuz they're too cute to resist!
I have been warned, however, that they'll only eat algae and if you don't have tons of algae for them, they'll starve or get sick. (One of the people who said this has otos in a larger tank (where she moved them because there wasn't enough in her 5g and they wouldn't eat algae wafers).) I've also read that algae is helpful in acclimating them but that they'll eat algae wafers and zucchini as well...
Can anyone with experience counter or confirm some of this?
I've actually been allowing brown algae to grow on one side of this tank (on the lower half of the glass, ornaments and gravel) in hopes that this would help acclimate a pair of otos, but don't know how quickly it grows or how much of it they need, and therefore don't know if it would be enough for them long term.
Finally, this tank is not planted, no plans to adding plants (it wasn't set up for plants, so Java Fern and Moss are probably the only things that could go in there without major work - which I don't want to do on this tank). I've heard this can be a problem, but the otos at my lfs don't seem to mind eating algae off plastic plants (have observed them for some time). I do plan to get some driftwood for them as I hear they like this and it shouldn't be a problem for this tank.
Advice appreciated.
Liz