A couple days ago I discovered one of my otos is still alive. I started out with a group of 5 or 6 two-ish years ago when I set up my 46 gallon and found most of them when I upgraded to the 75, but they've gradually disappeared over time (I figured dead and their little bodies consumed by the other inhabitants)...I haven't seen any sign of them for months. This little male has decided to come out of the plants, and I noticed the tip of his nose has turned bone white. The tank is pretty densely planted so it was hard to get a shot, but I upped the contrast and drew an arrow to what I'm talking about. What's going on, and is it related to his age (2+ years)?
Tank has been established over a year and was set up using the established materials from the 46 that had been set up for a year before that, no ammonia or nitrites, nitrates are appx. 20 ppm after a waterchange a week ago, haven't added anyone new for a good 6 months at least, all other inhabitants appear healthy. Now that I know he's alive, I also wonder if I should buy him more friends, but the ones I see for sale look small enough I think my boesemanis would eat them, as well as I don't know their average lifespan....if he's already over 2 and has this weird nose thing going on, will he live long enough to make adding more otos for his sake worthwhile?
Other question is about cherry shrimp coloration, I've noticed there's a lot of variety in my females. I have a couple that are an amazing, solid cherry red, I have one that's almost plum colored but kind of spotty looking, and I have lots that are more like a pale speckly pink with a brown stripe down the back...is this kind of variation normal? There are differences both in color and in the density of their pigmentation...I'm including a couple pics. They all share the same tank/food so I can't attribute it to differences in living conditions...I've been curious about it for a while.
Tank has been established over a year and was set up using the established materials from the 46 that had been set up for a year before that, no ammonia or nitrites, nitrates are appx. 20 ppm after a waterchange a week ago, haven't added anyone new for a good 6 months at least, all other inhabitants appear healthy. Now that I know he's alive, I also wonder if I should buy him more friends, but the ones I see for sale look small enough I think my boesemanis would eat them, as well as I don't know their average lifespan....if he's already over 2 and has this weird nose thing going on, will he live long enough to make adding more otos for his sake worthwhile?
Other question is about cherry shrimp coloration, I've noticed there's a lot of variety in my females. I have a couple that are an amazing, solid cherry red, I have one that's almost plum colored but kind of spotty looking, and I have lots that are more like a pale speckly pink with a brown stripe down the back...is this kind of variation normal? There are differences both in color and in the density of their pigmentation...I'm including a couple pics. They all share the same tank/food so I can't attribute it to differences in living conditions...I've been curious about it for a while.