Should I get some Oto catfish?
- Thread starter gmh
- Start date
Wycco, a bn pleco is something to consider. They are pretty messy, no? And I do have coarse gravel substrate.
They die for two reasons.
1) the harsh method by which they are collected using cyanide to stun them from the wild as explained above.
2) pet stores typically don't want algae on their glass and so clean it off meaning the Ottos don't get any food and starve to death in the store. Make sure you don't clean the algae on your tank too well!
here's a you tube of otos being collected http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilnitMs1LRk, no cyanide is used but you can see how many are in the bag using only a net.
The fish are often not fed before shipping & are starved by the time they get to stores. Otos need to learn to eat zucchini, algae wafers etc in captivity if there isn't enough algae & other "bio-slime goodies". I've seen zucchini offered at chain stores, some do try.
BN plecos often aren't carried or are overcharged for in LFS in my area. However, check out the Marketplace on here, it has an awesome array of BN pleco morphs, all colors and patterns! I have regular ones, as I'm kind of crazy when it comes to keeping a natural motif in my tanks 
