What vegetables do Oto's eat readily besides zuchini? Im getting either a pair or trio for Ferdnan's tank this upcoming weekend. That grungy brownish algae that getts everywhere is getting annoying to scrub off. There's such an alagae growth that my snail actually is almost fully green now and he was a yellow mystery snail...i havent used my liquid ferts in about a month and still rapid growth of everything is happeneing LOL!
Care advice
- Thread starter Fishman1995
- Start date
I have plentiful algae in my tank with four Otos. They're all fat, happy, and pooping constantly (which is a good thing). I know for sure that one is a female because I can see the eggs through her stomach. I'm sorta excited to see if I get babies because I can always separate the rest of the fish from them. I'm not gonna get my hopes up too much, but I'm wishing for the best. 
As for your case:
Otos are fun to watch and, in my opinion, easy to care for. Just make sure that they have enough algae and feed them blanched zucchini every now and again and they should be fine. My Otos (although I've only had them for a month) like to latch onto my hand whenever I put it in the tank. They eat the dead skin cells from my hand and it doesn't seem bad for them (more like a little treat) and it really tickles. They're so friendly and I would definitely suggest them as a permanent algae eater.
As for your case:
Otos are fun to watch and, in my opinion, easy to care for. Just make sure that they have enough algae and feed them blanched zucchini every now and again and they should be fine. My Otos (although I've only had them for a month) like to latch onto my hand whenever I put it in the tank. They eat the dead skin cells from my hand and it doesn't seem bad for them (more like a little treat) and it really tickles. They're so friendly and I would definitely suggest them as a permanent algae eater.
I have an Amazon sword, and 3 aponogetons.
For bob's question...its not green 'spot' algae i hve minimal amounts of that...this stuff is green and gently scrubs off of whatever its on....my plants and walls also have the brown grimy stuf on it which i guess is the "diatoms" you were speaking about or the "brown alagae" google talks about
For bob's question...its not green 'spot' algae i hve minimal amounts of that...this stuff is green and gently scrubs off of whatever its on....my plants and walls also have the brown grimy stuf on it which i guess is the "diatoms" you were speaking about or the "brown alagae" google talks about
To answer your question about what an oto will eat, veggie-wise, it depends on the fish. I keep three different species of Otocinclus. One will not eat anything except algae (either growing algae or algae wafers). One likes zucchini and kale only but will only take it if algae is not available. One will eat anything offered (zucchini, kale, green beans, cucumber, carrots, etc.) and will eat them all with or without algae present.
Sorry, but she won't stay still long enough to get a picture and my camera sucks anyway. I'll try though.
Sorry again, I heard it on tv that fish will eat dead skin cells. I figured that that's what my Otos were doing since my other fish do it too (Platies, Guppies, Fry, Bettas, etc.). Maybe it was somne other fish that ate the skin cells on tv. They looked like Otos and they were at these skin specialist centers somewhere tropical.
I have mystery snails, close enough to nerite snails, but they just eat the fish waste. My Otos visibly eat the green spot algae and they did a wonderful job of ridding my beautiful plants of that ugly algae.
I personally, have a timer and I turn it on at 5:30 am and turn it off at 9:00 pm. My fish don't seem to mind and it helps keep the temperatures up in my tanks during the winter (especially since people are saying that this winter in Indiana is going to be the worst in history). I also keep the lights on for that length of time to promote algae growth for my bustling Otos.
Sorry again, I heard it on tv that fish will eat dead skin cells. I figured that that's what my Otos were doing since my other fish do it too (Platies, Guppies, Fry, Bettas, etc.). Maybe it was somne other fish that ate the skin cells on tv. They looked like Otos and they were at these skin specialist centers somewhere tropical.
I have mystery snails, close enough to nerite snails, but they just eat the fish waste. My Otos visibly eat the green spot algae and they did a wonderful job of ridding my beautiful plants of that ugly algae.
I personally, have a timer and I turn it on at 5:30 am and turn it off at 9:00 pm. My fish don't seem to mind and it helps keep the temperatures up in my tanks during the winter (especially since people are saying that this winter in Indiana is going to be the worst in history). I also keep the lights on for that length of time to promote algae growth for my bustling Otos.
I do not wish to argue with you, Kiara1125, but you likely saw a TV show about Garra rufa or Cyprinion macrostomus. They are often kept as pets and in the Orient, used in spas to clean dead skin from customers' feet. It is illegal to use them in that way here in the United States.
No Otocinclus species consume skin, dead or alive, from people, other fish or any other animal. They cannot digest it, so would not consume it.
You said they eat dead skin. I say they do not. Now anyone coming to the forum can make up their own minds and do their own research.
As for Fishman1995's issue with algae, he said he wanted to reduce or eliminate algae, not encourage more to grow, which is why I recommended the timer. If you keep your lights on even longer to grow algae, that is your choice. Do what you want, its your tank.
Fishman1995: If you want to just not have the algae, I'd recommend a timer to keep the lights on no more than 10 hours a day, and increase water changes. Keep nitrates at or under 10, ammonia and nitrite 0, and lights 10 hours, and you should be able to eliminate the algae. If you want to try otos to eat the algae you don't want, I wish you and the otos the best of luck. I personally wouldn't put one or several in so small of a tank. But, as it often happens, do what you wish, its your money and your tank.
No more 2cents from me. Happy fish keeping, y'all.
OC
No Otocinclus species consume skin, dead or alive, from people, other fish or any other animal. They cannot digest it, so would not consume it.
You said they eat dead skin. I say they do not. Now anyone coming to the forum can make up their own minds and do their own research.
As for Fishman1995's issue with algae, he said he wanted to reduce or eliminate algae, not encourage more to grow, which is why I recommended the timer. If you keep your lights on even longer to grow algae, that is your choice. Do what you want, its your tank.
Fishman1995: If you want to just not have the algae, I'd recommend a timer to keep the lights on no more than 10 hours a day, and increase water changes. Keep nitrates at or under 10, ammonia and nitrite 0, and lights 10 hours, and you should be able to eliminate the algae. If you want to try otos to eat the algae you don't want, I wish you and the otos the best of luck. I personally wouldn't put one or several in so small of a tank. But, as it often happens, do what you wish, its your money and your tank.
No more 2cents from me. Happy fish keeping, y'all.
OC
Before i even type this, sorry Thyra but im makin a point
Thyra has Oto's in every small tank she has...i have neve seen you get this way with her, i feel us younger fish keepers are often treated differently than an adult fishkeeper. It seems everytime open debate comes on OC you just get mad and say bye instead of trying to help us care for the fish we want. Now after saying that, i wish you'd just help instead of all this "Bye ya'll no more 2 cents from OC"
Thyra has Oto's in every small tank she has...i have neve seen you get this way with her, i feel us younger fish keepers are often treated differently than an adult fishkeeper. It seems everytime open debate comes on OC you just get mad and say bye instead of trying to help us care for the fish we want. Now after saying that, i wish you'd just help instead of all this "Bye ya'll no more 2 cents from OC"
I see where OC is coming from. I feel her(i think OC is a her) frustration too. Many of us feel that keeping fish is like keeping a dog or a cat. You need to have appropriate surroundings and environment for them. Its like if you had a one bedroom studio apartment with only a parking lot with a small patch of grass, a bad animal choice would be a Saint Bernard or Mastiff where as a cat would be a better choice. Sure you could raise either dog there but, would it be truly happy and have an enjoyable living style? Not likely but it would live. Its the same with fish, its hard to provide for them in to small of an environment, its not impossible though, its just not an easy task to take on.
It is true, I have one 2 1/2g tank with a betta and two otos. They have been there since shortly after I joined the forum and got the betta out of the bowl. That tank takes the most up keep because of its size. Historically, Fishman, you have not been known for your maintenance (by your own admission) and unless I missed something, you still do not have a test kit and in fact at one point you even stated you didn't think it that necessary. I also get the impression you think the otos will do the maintenance for you - I certainly don't find that mine do. IME my small tank is just harder to manage than my 30g tanks. I have toyed with the idea of putting the betta in one of the community tanks, but after this long I think it would just be too stressful for him so for now he stays on the kitchen counter by me. And I will also say to you that OC has time and time again tried to give you helpful info so you wouldn't waste your money - I remember the incident with the Paradise fish, among others, where she tried to help you avoid the problems you ran into.
I realize in the past i was stubborn but i have changed, i havent asked or bought a fish besides ferdnan since the Crayfish episode....These will be the only 2 fish to go in with Ferdnan ever. I simply want to know hot to care for them and what i need to feed them to keep them happy and how often? What do your's eat Thyra and what do yours eat Kiara and if OC cares to contribute, what hers eat also. I have bought a liquid test kit Thyra, a month ago, dont use it often because everytime i check readings are all the same.
I just got back after a nine day vacation and all fish have survived very well with out me. I put some of those 7-day feeding capsules (or whatever you call them in each of the tanks) We left the house thermostat at 65. All was well. I do not feed the otos any other food but they are all apparently fine. I will say that some of them seem to like being in the dark while others are out even when the lights are on.
