Oto question

[LouRey]

Does anyone know how long it takes an oto to get it's colour back? I bought 2 wee little guys and they are deathly pale and stressed even though I TRY not to look at them to often. I got them yesterday and tried acclimatizing them in a pot with a little aquarium water every half hour.

Thanks!

 

[jackiomy]

Does anyone know how long it takes an oto to get it's colour back? I bought 2 wee little guys and they are deathly pale and stressed even though I TRY not to look at them to often. I got them yesterday and tried acclimatizing them in a pot with a little aquarium water every half hour.

Thanks!

They need to eat. And have a place to hide. They are happy little guys once they settle in. They will be okay in a couple of days with some good quality water, someplace to hide and a little blanched zuchini and maybe a wafer.

 

[LouRey]

They have LOTS of algae to eat but I can put wafers in there too. I have lots of plants where they can hide and a coconut too. One seems to be doing better than the other I guess it depends on personalities. Now what is scaring me is that Sat I'm moving my rasboras into the 25g tank and I don't want to stress out my otos yet again! These poor little guys have been through enough!

 

[gmh]

I wouldn't worry about the harleys stressing them. If they have enough to eat and parameters are good, I bet they color up in a few days.

 

[rocker92]

give them some time..also some might just be a pale color, no 2 fish are exalty a-like!!

 

[ct-death]

IME the more sensitive fish can take up to 2 weeks before they appear to be at peace in their new surroundsing. A week is normal.

 

[steveywinet]

Excellent advice Jackiomy. Oto's are skiddish and like some places to hide. Mine like to attach themselves to the heater behind a thicket of Vals.

 

[LouRey]

The oldest of my otos (the one with the big belly) is still alive and has started sticking to the glass again YAY however, this morning his nose seemed to be out of the water and he seems to be sticking more and more to the top of the aquarium. Any ideas to what this might mean?

 

[bluetik]

Check your water parameters. These guys are really sensitive. When I had my 4 in QT, I forgot to pre-treat the water before a water change. I realized in the midst of adding the water and ran to get the Prime from the Kitchen. By the time I got back, one was dead and the others were exhibiting the nose out of the water, as you describe.

Something might be burning their gills, so check for ammonia and nitrite if you haven't already.

By the way, my original three are now going strong, healthy and happy. I got them around Thanksgiving. They didn't really color up until I moved them from QT into my heavily planted display tank. I really think they need a lot of plants to be healthy.

 

[LouRey]

Well got home at noon and my big Oto was dead. Worst still I can't find one of the new little guys. I looked everywhere not even a body! Would rasboras eat an oto? I'm about to give up on otos and they are my favorite fish