URGENT: Dying Otto

[Angelfish]

Ive had my ottos for two to three weeks now, they have been doing great until about two hours ago. One of them is laying on his side on the bottom of the tank panting. I see no sign of disease and I have been feeding him. Anyone have any ideas of what is wrong with him and/or how I can save the little guy?
- Thanks.

 

[Lotus]

I'm assuming you did water tests and everthing turned out normal. Is it possible he got caught somewhere in the tank or was otherwise injured? Is it only one of them that's sick?

 

[FroggyFox]

Thats a tough one...usually I hear of them just dying for no apparant reason. Short of showering him with food to make sure he's been eating I have no idea....I'm sorry

I'd say raise the temperature, but I think they like lower temperatures....I'd say add salt...but I dont think they like salt...I'd say add meds, but I dont know which ones

 

[Angelfish]

I cant do a water test until tomorrow, I gave my bf a betta a few weeks ago and left the test kit with him while the betta tank cycles (very stupid thing to do, I know).
I dont think he got cought anywhere in the tank, and just the one otto is sick.
Have to say I dont know if he has eaten lately (in the last few days) I have fed him algae wafers, but didnt watch to see if he actually ate them (but why wouldnt he? Also wouldnt it take him a little longer than a few days to die of hunger?)

 

[FroggyFox]

Well you said you've had them for 2-3 weeks right? I think one could starve in that amount of time...especially since I've heard that the reason that so many of them die right after buying them because they dont eat or aren't given enough food at the petstores. Then we bring them home and stress them out with another move and they just can't handle it...of course if he's been ok for a couple weeks then that didn't happen...but it could be possible that he hasn't been getting enough to eat I dont know what you can do to get him to eat though, maybe try some zucchini or cucumber? My ottos loved it

 

[Angelfish]

Ah sorry, I have seen him eat since I got him, just not, within the last 4-5 days. Tomorrow (hopefully he will still be alive) I'll give him some cucomber and hope that cheers him up, but until then I guess Ill just have to wait

 

[FroggyFox]

Well I hope he gets better!!

 

[Angelfish]

Thanks Froggy, but sadly he died last night right before I went to bed I saw him laying still on the bottom, he took one last deep breath before laying life less

 

[Lotus]

Sorry to hear that Angelfish

 

[Angelfish]

Its very sad, but I am grateful for the remaining one I have *weak smile*.

 

[Angelfish]

No more ottos to be greatful for, the other one just died

 

[jelly bean]

Sorry to hear that.

 

[toshiba]

dying otto

I too lost a few ottos not knowing why.
I have 3 left, 2 in one tank and 1 in another
and I have no idea why these 3 made it.
The smallest one I have is the only one that
survived from 5 I had gotten a few months ago.

I have never fed them cucumber tho I've been
reading about it, stupid question but do you feed
it raw, do you peel it, and do you remove the seeds?
I'd much appreciate these answers.

 

[ashleigh]

I would recommend zucchini over cucumber, boil it for a few minutes, buy organic if you can, if not really rinse it, I cut them lengthwise to exclude the seeds.

 

[Angelfish]

Wow I made this thread over a year ago!

Toshiba I'm impressed that you were using the search method for your info

IME (from last year) some times ottos just die, after the two described in this thread passed away, I got two more and did nothing different, and they lived for quite some time (infact I imagine they would still be lilving if it werent for a mal-functioning heater).

 

[ashleigh]

that is funny (not that your fish died of course) mine tipped over for no apparent reason also. As mentioned by others before, I think a lot of it just has to do with the care they get before they even get to the store.

 

[blueturq]

sorry to hear about your loss