Added an Otocinclus to my Aquarium

Been working with my Aquarium recently. Bought a new heater and filter, disconnected the old, set up the new, and in the process now my lights don't work. So need to fix them next. Built up my school of lamp eye tetras to 8. And two days ago, I added an otocinclus! First time I've had one, doing tons of research online. I had planned on getting a pleco, those I've had before. But the gal in PetsMart said with the size tank I have, I should go for something smaller, and showed me the oto.

Oto is a variety of catfish, and a herbivore. Mostly, they live on algae, though they 'may' take to spinach, zucchini and cucumber. You have to blanche it first. For the moment, this one is slowly working on the algae on the glass. I will start growing my own algae for him in another day or 2. Need to buy the proper rocks, and find a glass bowl. They are a shy fish, and I've already spent a good 10 minutes several times trying to locate this one. They also find it difficult to transition from the wild to a tank, the first month is critical. If an oto survives the first month, most likely you are set for a few years.

Anyway, here are some photos. Here is the tank, with the oto hanging on the glass far right.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps46e16d6d.jpg

You can also see a tetra in these 2:
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...pse873da08.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...psa03345ff.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps4a74d692.jpg

A few more coming.

This is really cool! The oto is stuck on the front glass, so you can see the underside. There are 2 'mouths' which pulse as it scoops algae off the glass. There are also 3 tetras in this shot, one to the left of the oto, another to the right and the third is to the right and facing straight in to the camera!
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps6e60972c.jpg

Oto and a few tetras.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...pscc4c14b3.jpg

Otocinclus
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps6673bd2a.jpg

There are 2 tetras in this photo -- can you find them? LOL
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps6729075c.jpg

That's all.

Cool, once I saw the second set, I knew what to look for in the first set! Do you kitties enjoy the fish tanks?

You lost me! (I'm not a fish person) I looked up the oto-:confused:-fish on line and then I understood what I'm looking at. Does it ever swim, or does it mostly stick itself to something?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Karen

Cool, once I saw the second set, I knew what to look for in the first set! Do you kitties enjoy the fish tanks?

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Karen, I often say this place is run for the pets. I initially got into the fish hobby FOR MY CATS! I always keep a step stool in front of the tank, and often a cat is up there looking, head moving as it tracks a particular fish. My RB Dazzle really would get in to it, using a paw to tap the glass, and forgetting he was on the stool, so he'd fall off! :D

I guess I should have used photoshop and put in a red circle or arrow on the first pic or 2, sorry about that.

Elyse, mostly it sticks to anything with algae - tank glass, rock, vegetation. I've seen it swim a bit from one place to another, but that's it.

Thanks for taking the time, both of you!

Nice, Oto! I Love Oto cats I had one named Draco a few years ago. He lived a few years. He was a good little eater for sure. :D

Sandie, I just got an oto a couple weeks ago!:D

Oh that is great! This site has the best compilation of info on them, IMO:
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/catfish/otocat.php

I've never had one before, and was intending to get a pleco (which I HAVE had in the past). So I am having to get up to speed quickly.

Do you have other bottom feeders? I don't, so I think I will need to add at least 2 more otos. And, are you growing algae on rocks in a bowl? I have to start that, as this one oto is rapidly cleaning up the tank! :D My tank location is such that it gets very little direct light, so not much algae to start with.

Finally, what are you feeding? I have put in some spinach, on a clip, but so far this oto is NOT going near it. I also have zucchini and cucumber to add in the tank.

I'd love to hear what you are doing for yours! From everything I've read, the first month has a high mortality rate, so I hope I get this oto through the first month.

I read somewhere else that they love brown algae. That's what I am having a problem with in my one tank. Never had brown algae before.
I hope he can keep it cleaned up by himself, I don't need anymore fish!:D

Is it a new tank? Brown algae is often part of the cycling process, it develops in the first 2 months and disappears in another month.

Otos eat soft brown algae, no blue algae, and no hard, crusted algae. They love green veggies!

Today I added 4 more otos, and 6 long fin zebra danios. That about fills my tank. The new otos are quite a bit smaller than the one I got on Sunday. Lost sight of 3 of them immediately on release.

While the bags were in the tank, getting acclimated, all the tetras kept poking at them ha haaa. Now the danios and tetras are very busy with meet and greet!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freedom

Is it a new tank? Brown algae is often part of the cycling process, it develops in the first 2 months and disappears in another month.

Otos eat soft brown algae, no blue algae, and no hard, crusted algae. They love green veggies!

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No, not a new tank. I did put a softer light in it though thinking it was cool. I think that's what caused it. :o

Just ordered some LED lights, they will arrive in 10 days or so. And 2 silk plants; all my stuff is plastic, and I'm getting the grief on the fish forum. :rolleyes: Also ordered new background, tired of the one I have; it IS from 1995, so I guess I got good use out of it, lol.

Once I have new lights -- once I have any lights! -- I can take new pics. The flash keeps bouncing off the glass into the lens.

Otos are so cool! I swapped out the 3 old strips of cuke and zuke, and put in new. They really ate down on the old ones! Four of the otos eat head up, one eats head down the silly goof!

That'll be fun with a new background, and LED lights! We look forward to progress reports!

Checking for an update -- how are the new fish?

The fish are all settled in.

None of the new items have arrived yet * drums fingers on table* they have shipped, so just waiting and anticipating.

Riley had to make a pee run at 4 AM, so while I was sitting waiting for her to return inside, Tommy came over to me. I had no lights on in the tank room, but in the kitchen, and it was enough to highlight the fish. Then he noticed the fish, went to sit on the stool in front of the tank (which is there expressly FOR the cats), and started pawing, trying to catch them, ha ha haaa. With no lights, it is hard for the cats to see the fish at the moment; just as well, gave the fish time to settle in.