Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping => General Fishkeeping Chat => Topic started by: ColinB on June 20, 2016, 06:09:55 PM

Title: new Oto's
Post by: ColinB on June 20, 2016, 06:09:55 PM
oooo - the proud owner of four Otocinclus macrospilus..... they seem to be doing their Oto thing quite happily at the mo'.

I've got an algae farm going (actually, it's been going for ~10 days now) but not too much green stuff is growing?
Any hints and tips from the ThinkFish ThinkTank?
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: apache6467 on June 20, 2016, 06:26:55 PM
My 5 Otos in my 190 l love the algae on the glass. Do you have a conservatory? Grow algae on rock in a plastic clear container facing the sun if possible!
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: Sue on June 20, 2016, 07:16:44 PM
Have you added ammonia and/or plant fertilser to the water?
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: ColinB on June 20, 2016, 07:34:57 PM
My 5 Otos in my 190 l love the algae on the glass. Do you have a conservatory? Grow algae on rock in a plastic clear container facing the sun if possible!

Have you added ammonia and/or plant fertilser to the water?

Yup - doing both of these, with added light from a desk lamp as it's been a bit gloomy the past week.
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: fcmf on June 20, 2016, 07:38:32 PM
Congrats on your new acquisitions! I wonder if some algae wafers to supplement what you already have would help, at least in the short-term? Courgette (blanched) is also an option.
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: Littlefish on June 20, 2016, 08:41:44 PM
Otos are so cute. Congratulations on your new acquisition.  :cheers:
I have a 19L tank on the windowsill that gets the most sunlight during the day. I also have a heater & filter. Occasionally I throw in a few flakes of fish food. This is where I breed snails for my puffer tank and where I grow algae on rocks for the BN & BAE. It has taken a month or so to get to the point where there is so much algae I almost can't see through the tank.
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: Hampalong on June 20, 2016, 08:58:33 PM
I would get at least another two. Otos live in huge groups numbering in the thousands, so the golden rule of at least six applies even more to them than most shoaling species.
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: ColinB on June 21, 2016, 07:37:51 AM
Otos are so cute. Congratulations on your new acquisition.  :cheers:
I have a 19L tank on the windowsill that gets the most sunlight during the day. I also have a heater & filter. Occasionally I throw in a few flakes of fish food. This is where I breed snails for my puffer tank and where I grow algae on rocks for the BN & BAE. It has taken a month or so to get to the point where there is so much algae I almost can't see through the tank.

ooo - good idea. I'll get the old 20L tank out of the loft.

Congrats on your new acquisitions! I wonder if some algae wafers to supplement what you already have would help, at least in the short-term? Courgette (blanched) is also an option.

Yep, I forgot to get algae wafers when I was there (doh!) so I'll see if the Local Pet Shop has anything except goldfish flakes. They got a slice of blanched courgette over night but are studiously ignoring it.

I would get at least another two. Otos live in huge groups numbering in the thousands, so the golden rule of at least six applies even more to them than most shoaling species.

That's the plan as soon as I get my algae farm producing enough. Their bioload on the tank is negligible so another four will be joining them soon.
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: Cora on June 21, 2016, 09:41:28 AM
You want algae? Have some of mine!  Please?

 :vcross:
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: Sue on June 21, 2016, 12:23:16 PM
Otos apparently eat sushi nori if you can put up with the mess it will make  :)
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: ColinB on June 21, 2016, 12:37:16 PM
Otos apparently eat sushi nori if you can put up with the mess it will make  :)

Huge coincidence.... I've just returned from Tesco's with a pack of Sushi Nori and a 2x2 square has gone in the tank. As for the mess..... time will tell.
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: Sue on June 21, 2016, 12:43:29 PM
Great minds etc  ;D
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: Matt on June 21, 2016, 07:25:17 PM
Their bioload on the tank is negligible so another four will be joining them soon.

Interested in this, do we think the community creator overestimates this??

Another quick question: Can any tell me if Zebra Otos are any bigger than 'normal' Otos?
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: ColinB on June 21, 2016, 07:36:23 PM
Their bioload on the tank is negligible so another four will be joining them soon.

Interested in this, do we think the community creator overestimates this??

Another quick question: Can any tell me if Zebra Otos are any bigger than 'normal' Otos?

The CC has the Oto's at 3cm, which is the same as they have for my Lemon Tetras, yet the Tetras have 2 or 3 times the 'bulk' of the Oto's. I have just a trace of Nitrates in my tank so I'm not worried about the bioload, and they don't take up any 'elbow room'.

How big are your Zebra Oto's and are they full grown?

'scuse the typo's..... Engaland are putting up a dismal defense of Sri Lankas poor score and I'm trying to find 'comfort' in a rather nice Spanish red! (That's a wine, not a girl!!!!!!)
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: Matt on June 21, 2016, 07:48:18 PM
It's normal Otos I've got currently, looking to restock them and fancied the zebras but can't find a consistent message online ref their size
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: ColinB on June 22, 2016, 07:32:49 AM
Well... England tied the match by hitting a 6 off the last ball!!! What a fantastic game of cricket it was.

...and Sue's right... Sushi Nori makes a mess as it falls apart!

...and Oto's deserve their reputation as algae eaters. They're doing a grand job.

Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: Fiona on June 22, 2016, 08:39:50 PM
You seen em blink yet Colin?
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: ColinB on June 22, 2016, 08:43:29 PM
You seen em blink yet Colin?

Nope - I always blink first! They've got a steely gaze - reminiscent of Clint Eastwood in Fistful Of Dollars.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/09/18/article-2422952-1BDFE6DA000005DC-336_634x411.jpg)
Title: Re: new Oto's
Post by: Fiona on June 22, 2016, 08:46:50 PM
They dont do it often but it surprised the life out of me first time I noticed.