CAE vs. OTTOS

I've got a CAE, an orange one. He eats nothing but algae even though there has been a variety of foods in the tank. He is skittish though, but doesn't seem to mind when the Otto's hang out with him. I think he eats the spot algae that forms on glass.
 
ive had CAEs, SAEs, ottos and a bristlenose pleco. i couldnt keep ottos alive long enough to make a difference. i love my SAE's, but they didnt do anything for my brown algae. same with the bristlenose.

i bought 5 CAEs and they didnt do much at first, but once they started, they did a spectacular job cleaning. ive since take 2 and put them in 2 other tanks, 1 of which was overrun with brown algae. it was spotless in a couple of days or so.

as far as my experience has gone, they have done an excellent job. they are all appr 2.5" long and never stop eating. i supplement them(and the rest of the algae crew) with hikari algae wafers and they also eat hikaria wafers for bottom feeders and shrimp pellets. the SAEs also come to the surface for flake food as well. i think theyll eat anything.
 
Now we know they all do good and bad things. Let's change the gears a little. Can we exchange some thoughts on how to keep them in good health. It looks like one of the concerns I saw from the postings is that some of them tend to be pretty vulnerable.
 
Ottos do much better on algae, hands down, no douts about it!

CAE will only eat algae when they are really young or very hungry. I have heard they get quite agressive when older too. I would NOT reccomend them to anyone.

SAE on the other hand are great. I have SAE and Ottos to take care of my algae and they do well. the Ottos are great on flat surfaces and leaves and the SAE are good for getting into cranys and the rocks.

Don't get the False SAE tho. They look much prityer than the real SAE but the false are muchmuch more agressive (only to other bottom feeders tho.) They defend their territory fearcly.

The article from the Krib is the BEST! I love it...printed it off a few times over the years and gave a copy away.

As to vulnerable, the Ottos are a bit sencitive to amonia and nitrites. You need to make sure your tank is fully cycled befor getting these guys. You have to give them time to get aclimated to the water...no just dumping them straight in after purchasing! I have always had some of these guys and while I do lose one or two the day after bringing them home (due to stress or starvation at the pet shop) they last for years and years.

I hear they do much better in schools of 6 or more too, but I havent had a big enough tank to warent such a school so I dont know. I do know that my one solitary one is very skidish and likes to hide lots. He was more relaxed with other ottos in the tank so there could be truth to the schools idea.

I've heard people trying to keep Ottos in a tank with no reall plants and it always fails...but that should be a broblem if you are useing them for algae control. :) But just thought I'd point it out...I hate seeing these poor guys shiped off to bear homes and starved by unknowing owners....
 
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Originally posted by FuzMugly
I would have to say go with ottos. Great fish! Will keep your aquarium clean of algae. Despite what people have said about having a hard time keeping them, I bought six and none of them have died!
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:) Good stuff!
They are more delicate, but as long as you get a healthy strain from a FS that knows what they're doing...and your tank conditions are good, you should have no problems.
 
The OTTOs cleaned my tank in two days. Now I am wondering how long can they live without algea to eat. I am afread my tank will not generate algea quick enough for them to eat. I put one in my 5 gallon hospital tank.
 
Feed 'em on lightly nuked courgettes, lettuce, spinach, whatever.
 
i have had a CAE for a while and ive never had a problem with him. He was kinda lethargic with my community fish, but no more so than a pleco. He did perk up a lot when he ended up in with my cichilds. all in all they are intresting fish, he likes to walk along the bottom on his fins =)
 
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