Otto question

net_shark512

net_shark512

Useless Chit Chat Posts 999,999
Dec 15, 2002
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I never have any luck getting these fish to live I have know idea why? For my 20g sometimes I get algae building up so I go buy 2 ottos. They live for sometimes 2 weeks tops and die? This has happened several times over the past few years? My water conditons are always very good. Ph is around 7 and stuff. They don't starve they always die before the tank is algae free. I also give them algae waffers. Its not the other fish either. The only thing I could think of is I use some aquarium salt for health. I don't even use the recommened dose I go under that. Are they maybe really not salt tolerant? I have used the same salt for years. I have raised plecos in the same tank and conditions in the past with no problems and I know they don't like salt either but I don't use alot. I really like ottos they do an awesome job when I can keep them alive. Anyone have input on this? Thanks Much
 
I've never kept ottos, but on here, many people say they don't get enough food at the pet shop to keep the bacteria in their intestines alive (or is it in their stomach?), anyway, the bacteria dies so the fish can't really digest food well. So, many ottos die shortly after purchase because they starve to death even though they are eating.
You may want to stop using salt for a while and then slowly introduce the new ottos in. I would also by around 4 ottos to increases the odds that you will have a few survive. Also, if you can, try to buy them the day or the day after the lfs gets the shipments in so they won't have gone without food for so long.
 
There is NO reason to continuously use salt in ANY tanks other than brackish/salt water tanks. For disease treatment, it works well, but never add a soft-water fish directly to a tank with added salt! You also lessen the affects of salt actually doing it's job in disease treatment correctly when you use it continually. Do at least four or five 50% water changes over the next week or two and then try again!

If you still have problems you may have harmful chemicals such as copper in your water supply. I also want to ask....Why aren't you using a quarantine tank? It's always smart to use a separate tank to get the fish used to your water conditions, and be able to observe them for disease before introducing them to the main tank and the stresses involved with that.
 
My fish are used to the salt. If I just stop using it would that have any bad effects on them. I only ever have trouble with ottos. I use some salt in my 55g cichlid tank also for years with no problems I always thought it protects them from nitrates when I get a little lax on the water conditons? There is also a albino cory in the 20 gallon I know they don't like salt but he has been fine for months now.
 
I doubt that the salt is the problem. In treating my tank for ich I added aquarium salt up to 2 tbsps/gallon and my ottos are fine. Though, of course I raised the salt level gradually. It's possible you could be getting a shock reaction, but if you keep a low level of salt then it's unlikely to be a problem.

I've heard the same thing about ottos dying due to losing the bacteria in their stomach. I'd say the best thing you can do is to try to get ottos that your LFS has had in for awhile. My ottos had been at my LFS for awhile, and I never had a problem with them.
 
Ottos are very sensitive in the beggining but if they get passed the first few weeks are quite hardy in my experience. I have an otto that is two years old and it is one of the toughest fish in my tank. When you buy them carefully aclimatise them. The ones that will survive will be in the aquarium for a long time.
regards Vision
 
Two weeks ago I bought eight otos from the local P chain. I am certain that these fish had been in the store approximately a week. I've never kept otos before but IMO, most of these fish looked thin for otos but I would hardly say they were "starving". I put them in a q-tank and fed them fresh zuccini, algae wafers, and there was a little left over flake that I was feeding to a couple of tetras in there. Six of the eight died within a week. The remaining two seem to be doing fine.

Today, I bought 13 more from a favorite LFS. The owner orders otos in schools of 150 at a time and the 13 I bought today were the last 13 he had. About half of the fish are what I would estimate to be full grown and all have fat bellies. So...some say get them asap after they arrive at the LFS so they don't have time to starve them to death. Others say wait as long as possible for the fish to acclimate and any weak ones to die off.

I'll keep you guys posted on the results with the latest batch. They should serve as an interesting control group compared to the first ones.
 
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