why ottos always die?

[ryan]

i just added 22 ottos into my 4 ft tank...
the tank is about 1.5 months old already...
ph abt 6.8 kh about 4-5...
my 40 diamond tetras are doing fine...
but after adding the ottos Properly...
they die off at an alarming rate...
i see about 5 dead fish in the front of my tank...
what are they sensitive to?
nitrate? co2?
thanks guys...

anyone else with similar experiences please share?

[theodore]

Sorry to hear it man ... 5 deaths out of 22 is a bit on the high side ... Otos r said to be sensitive to poor water conditions but they shouldn't die until a few days after u released them into ur tank ... Perhaps ur batch of otos were unhealthy in the 1st place?

I only lost 1 oto (out of 5) in my 2mth old 2ft tank so far. It's probably my fault for introducing 2 otos when the tank is still cycling (1+wk). 1 died; The other 1 probably suffered so much trauma tat he is dashes for cover once my light comes on - while the other 3 enjoy their new home so much that they "school" together at times.

[jhseah]

Your tank got enuff algae for them to graze on?
If not, u might want to supplement them with some algae wafer?

Heard once that Otto seems to have a certain kind of bacteria to help them break down or digest the algae, if the otto is starve to an certain extent (too skinny), thus will start wasting away and die.

[bclee]

My experience is that Otos need to be acclimatised real slowly in dim lights.

One thing about Otos, those that don't make it usually die within the first few days. The others that pull through the initial phase will last a long time.

BC

[Allen_1971]

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On 2/11/2003 8:44:42 AM
One thing about Otos, those that don't make it usually die within the first few days. The others that pull through the initial phase will last a long time.
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You know, I couldn't agree more... I was going to post the exact same thing
[]

[peterkoh]

folks, sidetrack a little.

how does the brown pleco aka kingsucker usually found in luohan tank compare to otos and chinese algae eaters when it comes to removing algae ?

thks.

[vinz]

Peter,

I think your question warrants a new thread...

[ryan]

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On 2/11/2003 11:41:43 AM

Peter,

I think your question warrants a new thread...
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haha give him a break man...
oh well thanks guys...
was starting to think oxygen for a while cuz i don't see my plants bubbling alot...

[DEA]

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On 2/11/2003 8:44:16 AM

Your tank got enuff algae for them to graze on?
If not, u might want to supplement them with some algae wafer?

Heard once that Otto seems to have a certain kind of bacteria to help them break down or digest the algae, if the otto is starve to an certain extent (too skinny), thus will start wasting away and die.
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derrick is right on the money here
22 for a 4ft tank = starvation diet
his second point is also correct
if the oto is in the lfs for >2 wks, they will survive when they reach your home
i've not lost a single oto ever since i started waiting for the survivors
and i don't acclimatise them at all
soo...

[sherchoo]

Agree with derrick on why otos die but not in this case. It seems that the otos died right after introduced into the tank. I best guess in the travelling shock plus the condition change in environment.

[DEA]

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On 2/13/2003 6:24:10 PM

Agree with derrick on why otos die but not in this case. It seems that the otos died right after introduced into the tank. I best guess in the travelling shock plus the condition change in environment.
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that depends on how one reads ryan's post
from his "die off at an alarming rate" it sounds like they're dropping one by one, not en masse, which would be the case if it were due to shock

[sherchoo]

Ryan, care to elaborate?

[benny]

I've probably bought about 80 to 100 otos in the last 4 months. Now I think I have only 6 or 8 left. How's that for alarming rate. Whether big or small, I can't seem to keep them alive. So now settle for SAE instead despite knowing that they will grow big.

Cheers,

[ryan]

eh?
no lah they didn't die like immediately after i put them in but like every day i'd find 2 or 3 dead bodies... but these are the bodies only around the glass area... so more could be dead inside!
sigh...
but still can see quite a few swimming around lah...
i think i acclimatized them quite well... took about 30 mins...

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On 2/13/2003 7:22:28 PM

I've probably bought about 80 to 100 otos in the last 4 months. Now I think I have only 6 or 8 left. How's that for alarming rate. Whether big or small, I can't seem to keep them alive. So now settle for SAE instead despite knowing that they will grow big.

Cheers,
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woah hahahaaha! &%$&^%$ u rich huh?
sheesh!!!
the money u spend on ur ottos is like my budget to redo my 2 ft tank! grin...