Oto's For My Tank

Someone else will have to address the Otos.

As for number 2, if you've had no bioload in the quarantine tank for over a month (either animals or adding ammonia) to keep the bacteria alive, I suspect you're going to need to establish the colonies again. Keeping an extra filter on your show tank to transfer to your quarantine tank when needed will do the trick. There is an article on quarantine in the Articles section.

A coworker gave me a perfectly good Penguin Mini. I am going to put it on my main tank in addition to the main filter and run it with just the Bio-wheel and no filter cartridge just to build up the bacteria. When I need a quarantine tank, I can transfer the Mini over to a 10 gallon tank.

i have kept a couple of dozen in a 40 gallon tank. Along with other fish. You could probably get away with as many as a dozen. in my experience they are a very social fish. Just depends on where you want to take the tank.

If you are going to keep otos you should really consider keeping them in a well planted tank. They thrive in that environment. They will lightly graze on the plants so you do not need to worry about "algae" supply.

Sully said:

i have kept a couple of dozen in a 40 gallon tank. Along with other fish. You could probably get away with as many as a dozen.

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a couple dozen?! That seems like a LOT of fish all competing for algae, even with sinking tabs. I mean, personally I have one to regulate the algae in my 20gal tank, but that's just personal preference. I'm also thinking about getting a few cories. I just can't imagine having, say, 12 OTOS, and other fish...

Is their bio-load pretty light and that's why you can get so many of them in one tank?

I think that 12 would be pushing it a bit because that is afairly large amount of waste (even if each one doen't make much). I'd keep say, 8 in that size tank, then see how things are going. if all is ok maybe add a few more, but remember they grow about 1.5", so 12 of them could be about 18" which is quite a lot.

dj,

if you want to keep the tank going for an emergency, get some clear ammonia and add a little to the tank (like 1/4 cap full) every other day or so... think of it as 'feeding the tank'... it will keep it cycled. to test it, the tank should remove any ammonia reading within very short amount of time.

chances are good that after a month, the bacteria are GREATLY reduced.

gourami said:

remember they grow about 1.5", so 12 of them could be about 18" which is quite a lot.

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Exactly. I mean, besides the fact that it's a lot of fish for your load, I just can't imagine wanting OTOs taking up that much space in a tank. They're pretty dormant and brown and black colored...not too much to look at.

i think thats what sully meant by 'depends where you want to go with the tank.' 12 otos would behave MUCH differently than one, pwrflpills. and i don't think 12 would be stretching the bioload too far with reasonable tank maintenence. i've never put too much stock in the inches rule, but thats me.

i think a big colony would be cooool... i had one for a little while, then added two more and i was shocked to see the change in behaviour.

just my thoughts on it...

while many people use otos as algae eating fish that is not by default the main component of the diet. I keep my otos in well planted tanks. They keep the leaves clean. And, do minimal damage to the plants when grazing. They also love the roots of plants. They dig in around the base and roots looking for snacks. helps keep the substrate well aerated that way. You avoid some of the anaerobic bacteria so often associated with plants.

Let's face it; most fish eat algae. some more efficiently than others. otos are one that is proficient -- especially with brown algae. But, they really thrive when the diet consists of other items (ie., veggies, wafers of sorts, shrimp pellets, black worms, plants....). I have always felt like an oto in a tank gets neglected if the algae is the hobbyists primary feeding method.

otos love to congregate. they are very social. at least in my tanks. I am a firm believer in giving them company--a world of difference in the behavior of the oto when that happens. they even share a tank at this point with several bristle noses, a gold nugget, and a Royal pleco. Everybody is fat and happy. I do watch the diet. There are other fish (angels, severums, rams, tetras, sidthimunki's....). Nitrate stays in the 5-10ppm range. 50%-60% weekly pwc's. I have not had fish deaths in that tank for years. Or, disease issues.

Establishing what a tank can support in terms of fish is a pretty easy thing to do. A couple of dozen otos is no problem at all. In addition to territory there is also decor, water quality and compatiblity of species to consider. Plants and larger groups make all the difference in the world to the vitality of otos.

I would go with a group of at least six for a 40BR. In your case, I would stop at six considering your stocking level. I have lots of otos of different types in my tanks and they are some of my favorite fish. Be sure to supplement their diets, as Sully mentioned. Romaine lettuce, cucumber, zucchini, spinach greens, etc. are all good choices for fresh veggies. As for algae wafers I recommend HBH brand veggie wafers. I like to alternate feedings between fresh veggies and wafers. Be sure to take out any uneaten vegetables after 24 hours.

*Forgot to ask - is this a planted tank?