Weird issue... Otto question.

[Neo Sithlord]

Well I have a single otto in my tank and he's been arround a about a month or so. He's all but beaten the brown algea problem I had bought him for. The thing is I think he's running out of food. I do drop half a tablet of algea waffer into the tank every feeding but I doubt he gets to it... ever... the corys love them. He looks thinner then when I got him so I'm wondering what I can do to guarentee that he has something to eat. Most of all I was thinking of getting two more since, as I understand, they prefer a group. I have no real plants. I've been really leary (sp?) about adding them for various reasons, but I think it may be time to take the next step for his welfare. Any tips?
I did try putting some brocoly (really not doing well on the spelling tonight LOL) in the tank tonight to try and give some greens to the fish. I know cuccumbers are best, but I'm out.. and a carnivor... I just don't have vegi's in the fridge. I did microwave the broc though hoping that would help soften it, blanched it to cool it down and all.
So if I try the next step and finnally get a real plant what's going to be the easiest to try for a starter? I'm sure all of them would benefit from it I'm just paranoid it's going to cause more problems then it's worth. i.e. snails, algea blooms, water chem crashes...
-Neo Sithlord

 

[Cearbhaill]

Live plants will actually help keep algae down not encourage it- plants compete with algae for the nutrients in the water column. That being said I would still encourage you to get some- they add so much to an aquarium that is beneficial.

Easy to keep plants are stem plants like anachris and hygrophilia, water sprite, any of the vallisenerias, amazon and pygmy swords, and the indesctructibe java ferns, java moss, and anubias plants. Once you get into to keeping them you'll probably want/need to start feeding them a bit of plant food to keep them really happy. I'm not aware of the lighting you have, but you might be able to leave it on a bit longer both for the plants and to encourage a tad bit of algae for your oto friend.

I would probably get two more oto's, and a zuchinni and a bag of frozen broccoli. And eat some yourself- it's good for you!!