Why do my Otocinclus keep dying?

KarlTh said:
I wouldn't have thought low GH and KH would bother ottos. They come from South American waters which are as soft as you could imagine.
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Agreed, but water too soft isn't good at all. I do realize that there are other fish in the tank, I'd just be curious to see some water readings. That's all.

Best wishes!
 
Opicana said:
I've only had 3 Otos...two different tanks, all have survived quite well. Never a problem. However, I often get the comment that mine "look larger" than people expect...and that's how I got them. I got them from a really good quality store where they were fed well BEFORE I got them...they were nice & chubby when I adopted them. Since then, they have maintained a very healthy weight by eating wafers, blanched veggies, and homemade snail jello. There is not much algae in either tank, and I don't consider that their food source (if they eat it, great, but I make sure they get enough other stuff).

So...my suggestions...buy healthy ones that are larger with round bellies, use drip acclimation, and feed well.
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I just purchased an Oto. Cutest thing. I'm glad to read I can feed him snail jello. I've only had my guy since Sunday but have fed him a blanched green bean and piece of zucchini. He dragged them to the back of the tank and munched. I'll add snail jello to his mix. My water parameters showed a soft, acidic water. I thought that is what they liked.
 
gmcb said:
I just purchased an Oto. Cutest thing. I'm glad to read I can feed him snail jello. I've only had my guy since Sunday but have fed him a blanched green bean and piece of zucchini. He dragged them to the back of the tank and munched. I'll add snail jello to his mix. My water parameters showed a soft, acidic water. I thought that is what they liked.
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I don't know if its good for them, lol, or if they all will eat it. But I can't stop 'em from eating it. Everybody in my tank LOVES snail jello.
 
I know. My goldfish love snail jello. The oto hasn't touched it so far. I found the veggie algae wafers today. But, he loves the zucchini.
 
KarlTh said:
I wouldn't have thought low GH and KH would bother ottos. They come from South American waters which are as soft as you could imagine.
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Not all South American waters are the same. The place where otos come from is on the neutral to hard side. Faster moving streams with some minerals.
 
I have tried otos as well. They like soft acidic water, I think my water is way too hard for them. I honestly don't know what happens to them. Mine would be fine, then quickly develop bloated stomachs and then die. I almost wondered if they ate too much of the wrong kind of algae. I have given up on them because I don't want to kill anymore, even though they are the coolest little guys.
 
I've lost some out of groups I've bought which simply vanished, while others from the same groups, put into the same tanks, at the same times, have thrived and continue to do so. I have no idea what killed the ones that died, but it apears to have been an individual fish issue rather than a tank issue IMO or the ones which continue to thrive would also be dead, or at least have shown signs of a problem at some point.
 
Yup that is my conclusion too. I even tried to pick the ones with fat belly, that doesn't seem to affect the success rate that much. So these days I just buy and hope they will survive.
 
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