Feeding Otos: How much? How often?

[doreenjoy]

:help: I have a small tank (10 gallon) with 3 otocinclus. They have cleaned out the tank of all diatoms and algae (hooray!) and are working on a Hikari algae wafer right now.

How often should three otocinclus be fed? A whole tablet a day? A whole tablet every other day? Keep in mind that my tank doesn't produce a lot of algae for them.

I have tossed in a blanched vegetable or two, but the otos ignored it (my gourami loved them though).

Stats & Inhabitants:
ammonia = 0 ppm, nitrites = 0 ppm, nitrates = < 10 ppm
pH = 7.2
1 honey gourami, 3 otocinclus, 7 cardinal tetras
Tank was established ~ 6 months ago
1 large piece of driftwood, live plants.

 

[Bk718]

most of the time if i throw a wafer for the bottom dwellers its not only the bottom dwellers who get it and if otos dont finish it someone else will. So i would probably say throw 1/2 in the morning and the other 1/2 before lights out.

 

[Fishy_Fun]

i didn't have luck with mine eating from the bottom.i couldn't tell you what to feed but i hear they like veggies you could try some cucumber with a veggie clip

 

[FtwayneFish]

I feed my 20 something cherries and my 4 otos a pinch of flake and a hikari sinking wafer about once a day. Its the sinking wafer, more goodies ect then the algae wafer.

 

[Nolapete]

Cucumber is your friend with Otos

 

[D.C._United_Cap]

Cucumber is your friend with Otos

What about lightly blanched Zuchini? I have read they like that too. Do you just do the Cucumber raw, thin slice?

I feed an algea wafer once in a while, but my 3 ottos are usually so busy elsewhere they dont spend much time actually on the bottom, so it takes them a LONG time to even notice the wafer.

Thanks!

 

[jpappy789]

Pretty much any blanched veggie (within reason) will work if your otos are eating them, but cucumber/zuchinni are the most recommended to try out. Just dont be discouraged if they dont eat any the first time. Its an acquired taste

 

[Nolapete]

You don't need to blanch cucumbers. I just cut a piece off and stick it with a fork then drop it in the tank. The fork keeps it from floating around. When they are done with it, I remove the skin and repeat. I also attach a string to the fork for easy retrieval.

 

[jpappy789]

You don't need to blanch cucumbers. I just cut a piece off and stick it with a fork then drop it in the tank. The fork keeps it from floating around. When they are done with it, I remove the skin and repeat. I also attach a string to the fork for easy retrieval.

Good point. Its just a suggestion that many have said, not a necessity...

 

[Fishfiles1]

how do you blanch fruit