Fry Tank Decorations

[Kiara1125]

*sigh* Nevermind about taking him back. I'm gone right now, and my dad says that he's alive, but he refuses to take his peersonal time to get the oto out of the tank and put him in a bag of water and take him back with thew receipt. He's so lazy, and he'll probably kill the fish anyway. I had to beg him a minute ago (while talking on the phone with him) to go in my room and check out the fish. Ugh!! He just frustrates me sooo much!!

 

[skjl47]

Hello; A couple of quick comments. 1) While I have not yet kept otocinclus, I have kept several other fish about which it has been suggested that they cannot be kept alone or in small numbers. Zebra danioes for example. I have kept them in shoals of well over one hundred and as single individuals and had them do well. I do know that zebras will swim together if you have several and it is pleasant to watch. I do not know how to determine if they are happy. A fish that eats well, has good color and is otherwise healthy can be ok in groups or alone. Keep your otocinclus if you like it. 2) Your tank does not seem overstocked. I have kept that many and more small fish in a ten gallon in the past. I am in the process of revising some comments I posted about stocking in a thread on glofish (it can likely be found by a search) some time back and will start a counterpoint thread soon. I do think that people new to the fish keeping hobby will have fewer problems if they start slow and not stock a tank heavy while learning.

 

[OrangeCones]

Aww. I'll try to find some zucchini then. You, personally, just put it in the tank and don't blanch it, right?

I don't blanch veggies, I just freeze them then put them in the tank. It does the same thing as blanching (makes them a bit softer), but since I store the excess in the freezer anyway, its the way I've always done it.

 

[OrangeCones]

While I have not yet kept otocinclus, I have kept several other fish about which it has been suggested that they cannot be kept alone or in small numbers.

Otocinclus are wild-caught and do not do well alone, especially not in a newly established tank that does not have a sufficient supply of soft green algae. They do not shoal as danios do, but get stressed if their own kind are not nearby. The lone oto is exhibiting stress with pacing around the tank.

The other fish you mentioned are more likely to be farm-raised in captivity and will usually accept commercially prepared foods (flake, pellet, etc.). They are more adaptable to different conditions.

Just my 2cents
OC

 

[Kiara1125]

Thanks OC and SK!!
SK, I've stocked my tank tthis number within a few months. Is that bad?? At first, I had 3 Platies. After a month of having them, I got my 5 Neons. I've currently had my Neons for a month also before I got the Otos.
OC, I don't know what 'other fish' that I was talking about (maybe the Otos in the lfs??) but they were caught from the wild, but thy were in that one tank for maybe a week before I got mine.
So what do you guys suggest with th e Oto?? Keep it, or take it back?? I can do either.

 

[skjl47]

Hello; While I have no personal experience with otocinclus, I have had fish new to a tank swim around dramaticaly for some time before settling down. Some new fish hide when first introduced, others settle in quickly. I would likely keep the otocinclus, but knowledge gained from actual experience with a particular species should cary more weight than my generalizing from experience with different species.

 

[OrangeCones]

Kiara1125, since you asked me, I would suggest returning the Otocinclus. Other than that, I have nothing more to add.

Good luck.

 

[skjl47]

Hello; Your fish are eating, have good color and are healthy for a few months now, right? (some have reproduced?) You may consider not pushing your luck by not adding more right away, as this sounds like a stable aquarium. By your posts, it appears that you are dilligent and are taking things seriously. When I started, I was eager to add new fish and sometimes made mistakes. Fifty years later I make fewer mistakes, but I am still learning.

 

[Kiara1125]

Thanks OC!!
SK, my fish are healthy, colorful, eating, and my Platies are reproducing (but aborting due to my mistake of putting them in a breeder net. I'm putting the fry in my other 10 gallon tank first, raising them, and giving them to my friends, I MIGHT think about keeping some, but right now I just want to experience my first batch of fry). I think that I might keep the Oto for the experience. Because, even though it's a more safe and humane thing to do, if I take the fish back I won't learn anything then if I keep it and see what happens. Truth be told, the Otos were a, what do you call it?- urge (or something) to buy. They were so cute that I had to get them. That was my second biggest mistake ever. My first, was when I put a male silver sailfin molly and a female black molly in a 1 gallon pitcherwith nothing but gravel in it. Sure they died, in a record time of 4 days. I decided that I was going to learn from my mistake, so I did not take them back for anything (more fish, or store credit). I'm going to take my sweet time with this other tank. My friend really likes Glofish too, so I might think about putting Glofish in the tank instead of a single Betta. *sigh* There are so many possibilities!! But, I'll consult her about the Glofish. At least that way, I won't have to wory about having a picky Betta. I can be fine with the food that I have.

 

[OrangeCones]

I think that I might keep the Oto for the experience. Because, even though it's a more safe and humane thing to do, if I take the fish back I won't learn anything then if I keep it and see what happens. Truth be told, the Otos were a, what do you call it?- urge (or something) to buy. They were so cute that I had to get them.

I give up. Goodbye.

 

[Kiara1125]

Jeez, sorry OC. You live and learn you know?? Besides, another choice I have is to give him to my friend who has a tank with only 1 zebra danio, and some sort of shark. Rainbow shark maybe??

 

[Dan Steveo]

some real good advice here. i do suggest having a shoal of ottos though. if it can;t be done something has to change ie tank size or other fish going.

 

[IThinkTherefore]

Kiara, I will add my own two cents as well: If the oto cannot live happily in your tank (or your friends tank alone), he should go back to the store.

You have learned a ton from this experience - about growing algae, about veggies your platies and neons like, and about keeping sensitive fish (that sometimes, they just can't survive without more work).

I think that it is time to take what you've learned to heart and bring Fang back to the store so he can be happy with his friends.

Keep it, or take it back?? I can do either.

Best of luck with your tank, regardless of your decision!

 

[Dan Steveo]

well said.

 

[Kiara1125]

Ok. I'll take him back. But instead of the Betta Tank, I'm going to get some Zebra Danios. Is that ok?? That way, I won't have to learn about the finickiness of Bettas. What do you guys think about that?? Next week, I will have had my sponge filter cycling in my tank for 3 weeks. I think that that is long enough, because it's just sharing and growing more bb.

 

[skjl47]

Hello Kiara 1125; Apologies for my part in clouding the question about keeping your otocinclus. I am not comfortable with the way some posts claimed to know what makes a fish happy. I am not sure how fish happiness can be determined. I do not feel that a lone fish is being treated poorly just by not being in a group. Some species indeed do shoal or interact notably with their own kind when in groups. I can accept that this more closely mimics the way they may often exist in the wild and perhaps this is what is being interpreted as fish happiness. Even so, a lone fish is not being mistreated by simply being the only one of its kind in an aquarium. Reading the posts, it is apparent that the tone is to make you feel guilty if you do not keep your fish according to their standards of fish happiness.
I do however know that some species are very difficult to keep and require particular conditions. As an example; some fish come from waters that have a higher salt content and will be healthier with some salt in the tank. For other fish salt is damaging and unhealthy. Fish that require such different conditions should not be kept in the same tank. That your otocinclus seems to require special attention with regards to feeding or water conditions are valid concerns. Perhaps someone will start a thread explaining the methods they use to determine how happy a fish may be. If fish happiness can be determined, that would be a good thing to know and I will be willing to learn.

 

[lauraf]

I think the main concern is not so much that the oto was alone, but its behaviour indicated that it was stressed. I agree, skjl, sometimes fish are not kept in the 'ideal' numbers, and that doesn't on its own mean it is 'suffering'.
Kiara, doing a betta would be fine if that is what you would prefer. All fish are a bit different - sometimes a combination that 'shouldn't' work, does - see, for example, your friend with two male bettas in the same tank! I think the point is that one should try not to deliberately do something that will likely cause harm to the animals we take care of; and if, despite our best intentions, we see our fish, or cats, or horses, in distress, we are willing to alleviate their suffering. With fish, that often means rehoming them.
Kiara, please know that the suggestions here come from years and years of combined experience, and genuine concern for the wellbeing of your fish.

 

[IThinkTherefore]

@Kiara: That sounds great! A zebra danio tank would be very active and fun


@skjl47: The problem wasn't just tankmates, but the tank also lacked algae and hadn't been established for long. Of course, lacking algae is a really great thing and the tank is perfectly healthy for most fish! But the oto wasn't likely to thrive there :/

 

[skjl47]

Hello Ithinktherefore; No problem with the advice given about the special feeding needs of an otocinclus. That is sound advice. I have had fish that required special food in the past. Kiara 1125 was trying hard to supply proper food. The statements about a fish not being "happy" and somehow being harmed by being alone are the ones I hope someone will take the time to present evidence about. Not here please, we have taken over kiara 1125's thread and this is not her concern. Someone start a thread on fish happiness, or if they do not then I will in a few days.. I apologize again kiara 1125 if my butting in has caused you any problems.

 

[Kiara1125]

Oh no, skjl!!! Your advice helped me, a lot!! With my other 10 gallon, I'm going to have Platy fry in it in about 2-3 weeks, and probably keeping 2-3 fry. I'm thinking about when I get the Betta, (after the fry are full grown and mostly gone) that I would divide the tank. I'll let the Betta get settled in with the temperature and pH, then I would put him in. I'll let him look at the Platies for 2 or more weeks and watch his reaction. If he reacts fine to them, I'll remove the divider and watch them for a few hours. I know what fighting looks like, so I can quickly remove the Betta for a few minutes to put the divider back in. Is this a good strategy?? And skjl, I respect you the most (no offense to anyone else) because of the fact that you've had over 50 years of experience with fish.