Do otos really only eat algae?

[rebecca2]

Read a few stories about them but only have my experience to go by.

Never seen slime-coat sucking in mine.
Mine have a strong affinity for live plants and spend the whole day shuffling around almost invisibly in the java fern.
Mine also like chowing down on the driftwood and actually whittle it away. I think this helps their digestion.
Mine eat algae but also like bottom feeder foods. Algae wafers or vegetables may be more healthy for them than standard fish food.
Mine are strange workers. Sometimes they'll ignore something like a rock until it's until it's completely green and then scrub it spotless in one night.

 

[Mr Fish]

I have eight ottos in a 125, I feed them zuchini and they love it. Also have wafers I put in but usually they get eaten by plecos or corries.

I've seen one otto suck on my bristlenose pleco but usually the pleco just bustles and shakes and the otto runs for the hills.

 

[Sully]

Roan,
It is interesting that this topic came up here. I a member on another board. The same topic was recently raised there because several members were observing the behavior in their otos. Caught me way off guard. I have never seen it. I have had armies of otos. Mine piggyback on larger plecos or cats of one type or another--but never actually going after slime coat.

I don't know what the diet deficiency would be--i obviously have a guess--I would think a balanced diet in a well planted tank will eliminate the behavior.

 

[Roan Art]

Roan,
It is interesting that this topic came up here. I a member on another board. The same topic was recently raised there because several members were observing the behavior in their otos. Caught me way off guard. I have never seen it. I have had armies of otos. Mine piggyback on larger plecos or cats of one type or another--but never actually going after slime coat.

I've not seen piggy-backing, but then you have a lot more otos than I do. I was thinking about what you and Mr. Fish said and I'm wondering if they are piggy-backing and it's being misconstrued as an attack?

I don't know what the diet deficiency would be--i obviously have a guess--I would think a balanced diet in a well planted tank will eliminate the behavior.

hrm, could be. My tank is well planted and I supplement with veggies. Never seen any of mine even approach another fish. I've seen my ghost shrimp try to take a bite out of an oto, but that's it.

If you hear anything interesting in the other forum, could you throw it here? I'm always interested in things my fishies might do.

Roan

 

[Holly9937]

All,
I have been warned, however, that they'll only eat algae and if you don't have tons of algae for them, they'll starve or get sick. I've also read that algae is helpful in acclimating them but that they'll eat algae wafers and zucchini as well...

Well, I've never had them myself, but spent some time researching when I was considering them... It is my understanding that otos are just a bit more sensitive than some other fish and usually the presence of algae means that they will be guaranteed some food right from the start. This will give them some time to get used to the new environment and find other food sources, like fresh veggies, wafers, etc. that should supplement their diet, regardless of the amount of algae present.
As long as your tank is well established and you have the room for them, I say go for it

 

[ParadoxLiz]

Thanks for the replies everyone - sorry I'm late getting back to you - my mom came to town and there was no time for reading forums...

I went ahead and got the otos (last addition to my 10g). They seem to be enjoying the brown algae and either they like the feel of rasping clean glass or there's something there I can't see! I've given them a couple days to get used to things and will start feeding wafers and veggies tomorrow to supplement the algae.

Oto and Inky <g> seem to be doing fine (they're great hiders - usually takes several minutes and two of us to find both of them!) They were a bit pale in the beginning and I gave them some extra lights-out time to adjust and now they've got their color back - Oto has a sort of dark diamond shape between his eyes and then is darker lower in his body and Inky is evenly dark along his entire back. And they're doing a pretty good job on the algae - hopefully enough will keep growing for them to enjoy forever.

Thanks for the info on your betta tank, Roan. I'll wait and see if algae developes or if Dart starts getting bored. (Dart is short for "Dart Feeder" - an accurate (if corny (when pronounced right, you'll get it)) name.

Thanks again,

Liz

 

[Roan Art]

. . .Thanks for the info on your betta tank, Roan. I'll wait and see if algae developes or if Dart starts getting bored. (Dart is short for "Dart Feeder" - an accurate (if corny (when pronounced right, you'll get it)) name.

ROFL! We were just about to watch Episode II again

Love the names for your otos! I named the ones in Jaker's tank Octavius and Olivia (but I don't think Olivia is a girl )

Never got around to naming the ones in the 36g. I DID find two platy babies! My platies, Spackles and Goldie, were in there and Goldie gave birth. I really didn't expect any to live at all, but we found two of them and have been keeping an eye on them. They're a bit longer than ¼ now and look like Goldie (orange) with Spackles black specs. We named them Speckles and Spickles Hope I can get some pics soon. They're SO cute!

Love to Oto, Inky and Dart!

Roan & Jakers

 

[reziztor]

I keep normal Otos and Zebra Otos. I have had them breed and lay many eggs, but can't keep the fry alive. I can't stress this enough: If you love your fish, keep Otos in a heavily planted tank. Supplement their diet with algae wafers and cooked zuchini. Go easy on the chemicals in your water, they are really sensative... especially to medications. Good luck.

 

[swinneyw]

i've seen mine eat zukinnie and shrimp pellets

 

[Reframer]

They used to be hard to feed because they were wild caught. Now they have been bred for awhile in tanks and are much easier to feed. Mine love snail jello, algae wafers, zuchhini, and green beans.