Otto?

rshxt9

Large Fish
Sep 18, 2006
236
3
0
rolla, missouri
#1
Are there different kinds of ottos? I got two this past week and they were listed as midget algea eaters. I have pictures, that aren't very good. How can you identify the sexes between them?

 

Mom2Angel

Medium Fish
Aug 27, 2006
59
0
0
CA
#2
I have one of those...I had asked for two otos out of the tank at the fish store and when I got home I had this different looking algae eater from my other three otos at home and it seems to be getting alot bigger than the ones which I know are otos! I hope it does not grow too big...ugh. I think I will try to research...
 

dogdoc

Large Fish
Sep 6, 2005
393
1
0
#3
Hard to tell from the pic. But I would say that looks like a chinese algae eater to me. They get bigger than ottos, and are known to be aggressive as adults.
 

Oct 25, 2006
148
1
0
33
Coolville, Ohio
#5
That doesnt look like the otos I have. So i would say thats a Chinese Algae Eater. If so it will get pretty big (up to 10") which would be much to big for your 10 gallon tank. Once they get that big they can get agressive and start sucking on your other fish. So it will be fine when its small. But it will get bigger and need to be removed.
 

MissFishy

Superstar Fish
Aug 10, 2006
2,237
5
0
Michigan
#8
Yes, that is a chinese algae eater. They had it labeled "midget algae eater"??? That's a new one. Those guys are sold far too often to people looking for algae eaters, truth is, the older they get, the less algae they eat. They get very aggressive and pick on other fish. I've heard that as they age, they turn into carnivores and start preying and picking at other fish. Maybe ask to return them and tell them to rename their tag, that is terrible!
 

rshxt9

Large Fish
Sep 18, 2006
236
3
0
rolla, missouri
#9
I don't mind keeping them, I am getting a big tank soon. I'm just worried about the other people. The LFS people are really nice so I don't think they'll have much heartache if I ask them to relabel and research that fish.