What can these fish eat? Experts on fish food needed!

[Aquaticfrog32]

Hey, now that Iv'e bought the oto cats, and food for them, I'm having some trouble feeding them. I'm not sure if they see the algae wafers ( which blend in perfectly with my gravel ) but they keep swimming past it! They can smell it, I think. No loss though! My Molly absolutely LOVES them. She'l pick pick pick at them, then when anyone comes near, she'l chase them off. All the other fish seem to love them too. Which is the problem. The oto cats can't get to them! How can I get them to eat?

 

[Tifftastic]

I've never had luck with feeding ottos off of algae wafers. Look into the repashy (http://www.repashy.co.uk/) (that's the UK website, but they are available in the US too). I bought the soilent green from my LFS when I lived in WA and that was the only thing I could get them to eat.

 

[Aquaticfrog32]

Hmm, I could try that! I'm just gonna let the algae grow for now until I get them to eat. How often ( once I find something they will eat ) Should I feed them?

 

[Tifftastic]

I fed mine once every other day (at night) and that seemed to work.

 

[Aquaticfrog32]

Okay. For now I suppose I'll just try them with cucumber and see how it works. Thanks!

 

[Tifftastic]

Hopefully it works for you, but I have my doubts. Mine wouldn't eat cucumbers, zucchini, broccoli, squash, sushi nori, peas, or algae wafers. . . They're very picky little guys

 

[Aquaticfrog32]

They are, aren't they. Good news! They did like the cucumber after all! So I will follow your feeding time recommendations, and are they the same times with cucumber? Thanks!

 

[Tifftastic]

Every other day should be fine, but do try to get them some variety. Switch it up with other veggies if you can. Squashes and zucchini have more nutrients than cucumber so if you can get them to eat that it would be great. Also, I'm sure you're aware, but make sure to remove any uneaten fresh bits after about 4 hours or so or the water quality starts to deteriorate, especially in a 20 gallon tank.

 

[Aquaticfrog32]

Yep! I tried the zucchini with them and they like it fine. Thank you for all the advice!

 

[Kannan Fodder]

Not sure about ottos, but I've had people tell me that their plecos LOVE sweet potato. Tossing this out because I know someone will set me straight if I'm wrong.