Missing Otocinclus

[disneytvl]

I have a ten gal tank that's been running for about 9 months now. We had an otocinclus, 2 zebra danios, 3 rasboras, 2 male guppies, and a cory catfish - all seemingly happy and healthy. I went to feed them this morning and the Otocinclus is gone. I've looked everywhere. Could he have been eaten by his tank mates? He was the smallest of the group.

He was a favorite of mine and my 4 year old daughter. I don't want to get another if this will happen again. I've never seen anyone acting aggresive. There's no places to jump out, and I checked the filter and under/around all plants, ornaments etc.

Thanks

 

[qtaquaman]

Sorry, but this will become a biblical rule for you: If you haven't seen a fish for more than 48 hrs/ 24 for me i visit often. Its either dead 90% chance(aveg of breeding vs community tanks) or or breeding-10% chance. congrats on the 2nd-the other fish will eat the fry.

 

[parrotfish100]

Do you have any decorations (I.E. Rocks) that it might hide under?

 

[disneytvl]

Thanks for the quick reply - it's ot hiding anywhere that I can see. I'm assuming its dead, , but did the others eat it? Shouldn't I have found the body?

 

[NotCalebSherida]

this has happened to me twice, the second time just like aabout a week ago... i'm assuming he's dead becasue he had a stressful four hour car ride but the first time, i could not find them, then when doing an espeically violent water change, he got stirred up and i was able to fish him out sad day, one of the best fish, espeically in groups of 4-6

 

[Rometiklan]

Not to give you any false hope, but I have an 80 gallon densely planted tank. I had 4 Otos in there and for a couple of months, I hadn't seen any sign of them, and assumed they had all died. One day while doing a larger than usual water change, lo-and-behold, there they were all rushing to the front of the tank. I think my Otos turned nocturnal or something. They'll hide during the day and come out at night. But I know what you mean, they are sure entertaining little buggers.

 

[coolwade]

I had four. They decay very quickly. I love them but you really need to keep the water changes up. They lived while I did water changes every week, but as soon as you are too busy or away and the water quality drops, bam! They are the first to drop.

 

[L046]

It's happened to me quite often as well. My otos will go missing from time to time and I have to replace them every few months.

 

[Neo Sithlord]

I recently had one disapear on me I assume he died then was eaten by his tank mates. I've lost 2-3 fish that I can't explain where the bodies went. I figured hey jumped but when I recently moved my fish into their new tank I didn't find and floor mumies so... They were most likely eaten after death. pretty common as fish will almost always eat their dead. Just look for a dead fish in a store you'll most likely see the others picking at it.
-Neo Sithlord

 

[cdawson]

IMO Otos do not do well in non-planted tanks, simply because of the lack of abundant algae food source. Otos are very sensitive to stress, if they make it past a couple months they should do well until the end of their lives. However, without the source of natural food from the diatom algae they usually don't last long. Otos are difficult to find often though, I know I have 6 in my 50g planted tank. We see them all every so often in a group, but we go months without seeing more than 3 at a time. They love to hide on driftwood, which they need to eat. They also benefit from being in groups. One single oto will generally not do well.