Otos and Temp

[OgreMkV]

How sensitive are otocinclus catfish to temperature? I have two smallish ones that aren't doing very well (resting on the bottom, slow breathing), the other four are fine.

The other fish are in good shape as well, but I know the temp increases during the day. It might get to about 80-81 F in the tank during the day. Night time temp is around 77 (heater comes on at 76).



Also, One of my otos is FAT. I'm not sure if it's just eating too much, food not digesting, or pregnant(?). Any ideas.

Params are
Nitrate and Nitrite are 0
Ammonia is 0
(tank is planted)

Thanks for any ideas

 

[jm1212]

they should be fine at 80º. try to keep it as stable as possbile.

 

[FreakIndeed]

I keep mine at about 83 in a planted tank (Discus) and they are thriving. Have you considered just keeping the heater set for about 79 or 80 and keeping the temp more stable?

 

[jpappy789]

Otos are more sensitive to water quality than temp and as people have said, they do fine in discus tanks with higher than normal temps.

Otos should be chubby around the belly, a sign that they are being well fed, but I do not know how "fat" this one is. Post a pic if you can.

 

[mellowvision]

they do a lot of resting during the day. that's just what they do.

 

[hitman12131976]

The 'fat' one might be a female. She may not be pregnant, but the females tend to be larger than the males.

I have two Oto's. One 'fat' and one not-so-fat. The 'fat' one is fine, thriving and all. No babies. So I figured it had to be the female and the other a male.

 

[RedScare]

I have 5 ottos in my Discus tank. Temps 84-86. No problems.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

Not to be doom and gloom, but I've had trouble with Otos too. I have 3 of the original 5 left and one was REALLY fat before it died. I read somewhere that they are wild caught by some sort of poisoning.

 

[hitman12131976]

To catch them in the wild they use something to slow them down. Drug them, of sorts.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

To catch them in the wild they use something to slow them down. Drug them, of sorts.

After some research it looks like they "drug" them with Arsenic in the water.