The Oto Journal

Kewlness! Do keep us updated.
 
Since buying my first 5 Otos in April 13th I have already counted 3 fry! The adults are happy and healthy, and I'm working on setting up my larger tank for them to grow into. Can't believe it has happened so quickly!
 
Went down to dose the tanks this morning and found a lot of activity in the tanks. Since the lights were out, I couldn't 100% confirm that this is a spawn in the makings but from what I saw, it displayed all the tale-tale signs of one. Hopefully. We'll see this afternoon.

All tanks received a 20% water change yesterday. Will be doing some more plant thining in the coming days. The crypts have really taken off recently and have really overgrown the area again. I will also be swapping out the main C. Wendtii 'green' with bronze again as the green one has now became too big for the tank it is in.

Briggs arrived of Friday and have them in their new homes.
 
Update 09-May-2011

Very sad day today. Came home and made a startling discovery. Mama Oto has passed away. :( I'm at a loss for words actually. I took her out and gave her a quick exam. Her underside between the mouth and belly looked a grayish brown as if it were burnt actually. Temp in the tank is 74.

I'll do some maintenance in the tank today and get things tiddyd up. So sad.

All other tanks look normal. There was no spawn as yet but the Oto's remain active.
 
I lost an otherwise healthy oto just last week as well.

Perhaps they did get burned after falling asleep on the nice warm heater and stayed there too long and got too hot that it killed them. Makes me worry now about my borneo suckers and otos and bristlenose that love to go near the heaters in the other tanks.

Meanwhile, for how to make sure your heater doesn't overheat the water, this is what I have done with my thermostats that I bought a few weeks ago: http://www.mrbeerfans.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/213475/1.html
I haven't made mine look that good just yet, but I'll do that over the next weekend and take photos and post up my own how-to page on it. Neadless to say it is great knowing that i can set the temperature and walk away and forget it.
 
Not much activity going on of late. Things have kind of settled down. Just regular maintenance items planned.

Working on relocating the Tiger shrimp from the Vittatus tank. For the most part, I have most of them moved out. I'm still finding one or two here and there and remove them when I find them. The plan is to replace them with Red Nose, Caridina gracilirostris.

Tons of rain these past few days which has turned our water brown. Grrrr! Hate when that happens. Water changes will be done with spring water.
 
Update 27-May-2011

The reset of the Vitattus tank is now complete. I didn't change the format or layout of tank though. Just gave the entire substrate a very thorough cleaning, trimmed and replanted. Main crypt switched back to a 'bronze'. Have some small touch up things to do with it still but nothing major. I'll get a water test done this evening to see where we stand.

Just checked the status of the Caridina serratirostris. They should be here today. These will be the new clean up crew for this tank instead of the planned Red Nose at this time.

Now we wait to see how Papa Oto will be without Mama. The question is, will he decide to hook up with the others after the loss.
 
Well...I've heard the stories....but never believed...until now. I have a missing fish. My female O. Macrospilus has gone AWOL. I have scoured the tank, looked in the filter, around the outside of tank and on the floor. Nothing. There is absolutely no sign of her anywhere. Not even a fragment of a bone. G-O-N-E ... gone. I am completely cornfused. I run a prefilter on the HOB so there is no chance of that. LOST is what I am. Oh...and no critters in the basement that would have taken her. I really don't know what to say actually.

The Vitattus are showing signs of spawning so will keep an eye on that. There have been several false spawns in the past so we'll see.

Cocama's are doing well. I'm actually seeing the guys hanging closer to the ladies. Now granted this means nothing, but hopefully it will be a start.
 
Update: 23_Jun-2011

And the moment we have all been waiting for. Eggs! Woohoo!

Looks like Papa Oto is no longer in mourning. I was affraid with the loss of Mama, he wasn't going to have interest in the other two ladies. Today finally tells a different and much welcomed story.

OtoEggs1_062311.jpg


OtoEggs2_062311.jpg


These were found today. Now I didn't check the tanks yesterday as I didn't get home in time but judging by their appearance, they were laid last night/early this morning. I have counted (78) at the moment. There is (1) that looks like it will be non-viable. I have some other work to do in the other tanks but will try and count again later.

Majority of the eggs are in the Bacopa and Crypt jungle. There were very few found in the Ludwigia this time.

I'm so relieved now.
 
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