otos for a 20G

[zzyzx85]

How many otos can there be in a 20G? My friend currently has 2 in her planted tank (she saw my tank and started her own ) and they were quite active, swimming around and playing leapfrog with each other. Both had full bellies. I read they like to be in groups of 3+ but these guys looked happy.

Her stock (iirc) is: 8 black skirt tetras, 4 albino corys, ramshorn snails and these two otos.

 

[Mustang Boy]

2 should be fine in a 20g 3 couldnt hurt but just make sure that there is enough algae for them to all be happy

and i have found through personal experience that they eat better and are more active if there are plants in the tank i just bought a 3 for my 29gal about 4-5 days ago and they were eating a decent amount of algae but last night i added 3 amazon swords and 1 broad leaf sword and i woke up this morning and low and behold almost all of the algae is gone and i had ALOT cause my is right next to a window and i didnt do anything about the algae for about a month and since i have added the plants they swim around more and dont just stay in one place until something spooks them like they were doing before there were plants in the tank

 

[zzyzx85]

Cool. Her tank is planted, but not very grown in yet. I'll guess I'll surprise her with some of my extra plants and 1 or 2 new otos.

 

[lilim10]

My ottos eat algae plants or no plants...crazy little eaters. Algae lawn mowers!

 

[nguyendetecting]

she could add 3-4 more otos, I would drop an algae wafer or some blanched veggies once week or so. gl

 

[67chevelle]

she could add 3-4 more otos, I would drop an algae wafer or some blanched veggies once week or so. gl

Make sure to feed them algae discs,don't count on there being enough algae,espically in a planted tank,for them to survive on.In a 20 gallon,3 or 4 should be fine.Here is a pic of one of mine,as you can see,mine do not eat hair algae.

 

[jones57742]

I read they like to be in groups of 3+ but these guys looked happy.

IMHO five is the minimum number. Your friend's tank can easily handle three more. With five they exhibit the social behavior which they enjoy. All five should be be of the same or similar appearance species.

Two Additional Items

I do not know how long your friend has kept Oto's but they require pristine water conditions.

As previously indicated I supplement their diet with sinking algae wafers which are principally spirulina.

TR

 

[DAVIDFBT]

I had 5 otos in my 20 before the biggest one died for no reason. Tell your friend she can get 3 more of them.

 

[zzyzx85]

Thanks! I'll let her know that when I visit her again this week. hahaha...I hope she doesn't get mad at me for telling her what to do with her tank.

Maybe I'll get to see where she got her's. I think I want to pick up a group of my own. They look like cool little guys.

 

[Cory Keeper]

My little guys eat nothing but algae, and won't eat anything else, same goes for a rubberlip I have in there. All 4 fish have fat bellies, which is great because the rubberlip has really thin when I got him.