Yeah the same here, I had them survive and die in seperate tanks, its always random. I've had some flourish in tap water with a high mineral content and tanks with reconstituted R/O. No difference in the outcome.
Why do my Otocinclus keep dying?
- Thread starter FlyinFoodieGuy
- Start date
Yeah the same here, I had them survive and die in seperate tanks, its always random. I've had some flourish in tap water with a high mineral content and tanks with reconstituted R/O. No difference in the outcome.
From the research I've done about otos: They are VERY sensitive to many chemicals, and particularly to copper. They will find algae that you didn't even know was there, and in my experience that is all they will eat. Well, algae and diatoms. They will eat the brown diatomes first. You can put some of your tank water and rocks in a bucket in the sun to grow algae for them. They would rather suck onto an apparently clean wall and eat off that than onto the thick patches of algae that you can see. Despite this you need to make sure there is plenty of visible algae for them eat, because if there is no algae, they will very quickly starve. They eat more than anyone who hasn't owned one could imagine.
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echoofformless
Peat Advocate & Defender Of Snails
Again, my experiene trumps the literature. The one oto I have who has lived for over three years is in a tank with almost no visible algae. I'm sure he's finding something because he is very much alive, but as I said, no rhyme or reason. I'm sticking with that story.
One more thing: this guy survived a few months of utter neglect because he was originally in my ex girlfriend's tank and I was under the impression that no one was left in there - when I did go to finally undo the system, I found him not only alive but living in nitrate off the charts. I quickly acclimated him to my system. That was two years ago.
One more thing: this guy survived a few months of utter neglect because he was originally in my ex girlfriend's tank and I was under the impression that no one was left in there - when I did go to finally undo the system, I found him not only alive but living in nitrate off the charts. I quickly acclimated him to my system. That was two years ago.
Wow, all this about OTOS, and now I am wondering, too. I have never lost an OTO yet. Mine have lived for more than 3 years so far. I have no idea why either since I switched tanks from a 55G to a 29G and brought the same OTOS with me. Does anyone know what a healthy, happy OTO's lifetime span is?
I, too, think these little guys are not only cute as can be but also an essential part of a planted tank. They are little workers on algae for sure. I also put in zucchini once a week right after a 50% water change. I think of it as a "treat" for them for being so calm during the water change. And during the night, all 3 of them can be seen going to town on the zucchini. I don't leave it in there the next day, though. I am afraid they will over eat along with the Plecos.
I, too, think these little guys are not only cute as can be but also an essential part of a planted tank. They are little workers on algae for sure. I also put in zucchini once a week right after a 50% water change. I think of it as a "treat" for them for being so calm during the water change. And during the night, all 3 of them can be seen going to town on the zucchini. I don't leave it in there the next day, though. I am afraid they will over eat along with the Plecos.
