Health of Otocinclus

[hb3133]

I recently purchased 4 Otocinclus fish from the local PetsMart. I put 2 of them into my 20 gallon artificially planted tank and 2 into my 10 gallon heavily planted tank. The 2 fish in the planted tank seem to be thriving while the other 2 seem to be getting thinner around the abdomen. I have offered zucinni in both tanks but I don't know if they are eating it. The Otocinclus in the 20 gallon have been eating the brown debris off the tank walls but I fear for their health. The question is, should I move at least one of them into the planted tank? Any suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated!

20 gallon high ( up and running for 14 months)
temp: 78 degrees
Ph: 7.4
ammonia: 0ppm
nitrite: 0ppm
nitrate: 30 ppm

Inhabitants: 1 thick lipped gourami, 2 bronze corydoras, 2 Otocinclus, 6 harlequin rasboras, 6 black neon tetras and 2 ghost shrimp

10 gallon planted tank ( up and running for 3 months)
temp: 76
lighting: 2x15 watt compact flourescent @ 11 hours per day
Ph: 7.4
ammonia: 0ppm
nitrite: 0ppm
nitrate: 0ppm
ferts: Flourish x 4 days per week, Flourish Excel x 3 days per week, Flourish Nitrogen x 3 days per week, Flourish Potassium x 3 days per week and Flourish Phosphorus x 3 days per week( dosed seprately).

Plants: 1 green wendtii, 1 red wendtii, 6 java ferns, 10 dwarf sags, 6 anacharis, and some java, willow, and christmas moss.

Inhabitants: 6 brass tetras, 2 Otocinclus and 30+ red cherry shrimp.

 

[liv2padl]

oto's are a very sensitive species and often do not thrive despite your best efforts. i doubt the fact that one tank is planted has much to do with it, but just in case, why not take the two that seem to be doing poorly and place them in the tank with those that seem to be doing well.

let us know what happens down the road.

the brown debris is diatom growth, a form of algae that otocinclus are known to eat.

 

[Rbishop]

Good suggestion. Keep us informed.

 

[Native American]

Otos in 3 tanks...

...4 in my 100 gal, one in the 38 gal, one in a 10 gal.

All my tanks are planted, and from what I've seen, they eagerly eat algae off the leaves as their first preference, then do cleanup on the tank sides as a second choice.

The single Oto in my 38-gal is healthy and happy (plenty of food), and doesn't seem to need the company of another Oto. Same for the one in the 10-gal. You need very few of them to make a difference, and too many will compete with each other for available food.

I'm going to get some spirulina flakes and pellets for them, since they seem to be active after lights out as well.

v/r, N-A