Oto deaths

Clurin

Clurin

Melf
Sep 14, 2005
157
0
0
44
Maynard, MA
I picked up 4 Otos on Friday night. 2 for each of my tanks. I acclimated them by floating for 20 mins, adding water to the bag, and floating another 20 mins before adding to the tank.

I did a 50% water change on each tank yesterday (I do it every 2 weeks). This morning, one Oto in each tank was stuck to their respective filters. One was already dead, the other is very near death.

I tested my parameters about an hour after the water change yesterday.

38 gal:
0ppm Amm, Nitrite, Nitrate. 8dGH. 3dKH. PH 7.4. Temp 78F

10 gal:
0ppm Amm, Nitrite. 10ppm Nitrate. 7dGH. 2dKH. PH 7.2. Temp 84F

The LFS I got the Otos from has a 48hour death policy, so I brought in the dead Oto and a water sample. They only gave me a credit (for 2 Otos, since I mentioned the other one was also near death) and wouldn't replace the fish right now because my PH "is too high." They will give me the replacement fish once my PH levels "are brought down to an acceptable level of around 6.8."

My PH has been stable for weeks. I figured 7.4 is fine, as long as it isn't fluctuating. I told the LFS that I'd consider adding some peat to the filter, but I shouldn't need too, should I? Are Otos susceptible to getting stuck in the filter intake? There were no outward signs of the cause of death, aside from being stuck to the filters.

Should I just eat the $3 and go elsewhere?

PS - I know I should quarantine, but right now I do not have a tank to do so. I have a 40g Breeder that I plan to set up in a couple months. I may relocate the Rams to that and use the 10g as a quarantine.
 
Well your PH is a bit on the high side, but the deaths should be mainly attributed to the Ottos nature. I believe these are very delicate fish. From what ive read, most are wild caught and undergoe a great deal of stress getting to your fish tank. I put these in with cardinal tetras as one of the more difficult fish to acclimate to a new tank. Best thing I can tell you is on your next go around......acclimate as slow as you can and cross your fingers. Filtering through Peat cant hurt things rither especially if you have other South American fish in there.
 
I agree that ottos suffer greatly. I love them as algae eaters but always lose some when first intoduced. Provided they have vegetable matter to eat they do well once established.
 
Ah. I didn't realize they are so fragile. Everyone has them and loves them (it seems), so I figured they were at least somewhat hardy.

Are they any suggestions for lowering my PH without making it rollercoaster? The 7.4 is the PH of my tap, and I'm assuming from my hardness that it should be easy to change, but I don't want to drop it, change water and raise it again over and over.
 
I know there are ways to naturally lower the ph, but I personally think your LFS is full of crap ;) !! 7.4 is fine for most fish, including the otos. I would just bet you got a bad batch, they are somewhat fragile from what I hear. *Also, is your tank still cycling, the one with 0 nitrates? Or do you have alot of live plants? *And did this store specify that your water had to be a certain way in order to buy and/or return (if necessary) a fish? It is only 3 dollars, but a return policy is a return policy. If they don't tell you that your ph has to be a certain way before you buy I would tell them to take back their defective fish :D :soda: !!!
 
I wouldn't do anything with the PH Clurin...Otos are pretty delicate as the others have said, and messing with the PH will just throw everybody off. That's something that's difficult to stabilize once you start monkeying around with it. The fish will adjust...the tougher otos will make it ok...the weaker ones won't.

I have ottos that are doing quite well in a PH of 7.8-8.2 !! My water is on the softer side though...about 80ppm. I do loose one from time to time in some of my tanks but the original 3 I put in my 29 are still doing well. They were added about the first of this year.

What I find is, when you first get otos you will loose some...but the ones that make it will last you a good while if they have live plants and driftwood in thier tank.

OH !!....you definitely DON"T want to add otos to a tank that isn't cycled...they'll keel over on you for sure if you do that...
 
The tank is not cycling. ^^ Should have said that. I think the current bioload is just pretty low. The barbs and cories are still small 1" or less. I was surprised it read 0 as well, but it may have been kinda between 0 and 5. Still quite low.

As for their policy, they just say "clean water." They don't post specific numbers. I may go chat with the guy I usually talk to down there and see if he'll give me replacements. Since today is Sunday, they are very busy, and I'm sure that played into it.
 
im no expert but i have read that ottos can die for no apparent reason because they are so sensitive to being moved into new environments.
 
Have you got a ph test kit at home? A ph of 7.4 is fine imo for all community fish, stable as you said is better, whether it be high or low, than a fluctuating level. I have a lfs that gives you gurantee slips that say if you return a fish because it is dead you hae to bring in a 4 ounce water sample and if the sample tests ok they will refund or replace your fish. Have you got a ph test ikit at home? If so measure the ph of your water and add some distilled water or tap (test this water to see wha the ph is first) to it until it reaches 6.8 and then take it as a sample to the store. You will not be being dishonest because you did get the sample form your tank, you just "enhanced" the sample lol. I definetley would not mess with my tanks ph.
 
Yes, I have a kit at home. ^^ I check all my levels after my water changes. The tap is the 7.4. I'll mix the solution and head down sometime this week.. hopefully the guy I usually deal with will be there.
 
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