discus vs oto

[_Uncle Party_]

hello guys, i just started a new tank of about 3 weeks that houses a whole load of cardinals and a number of otos.

today i added 4 discuses. i've noticed that the otos have taken an interest suckin on the sides of the discuses. after much difficulty shrugging them away, the otos return again.

am i missing something out, or is this unusual behaviour?

its a planted tank so im quite apprehensive removing the otos...

[wks]

Better move the otos out of the tank if you want the discus to stay. Otherwise get another tank specially for the discus.

[BFG]

Well, if you must know.

Discus excrete mucus from their body. During breeding cycle, discus young will suck this mucus as food. So for the otos, they seem to like what they have tasted and treat it as a food source.

How many discus and otos do you have? What are the sizes of the otos and discus?

[_Uncle Party_]

im quite reluctant to seperate the discuses from the planted tank, unless as a last resort to ensure their survival.

since my last post, i've noticed two otos in particular who were suckin on the bodies of the discus. have removed them to another tank, and all *seems* well, for now at least. (1 of the two removed otos are now terrorising a molly of another tank, so it might be safe to conclude this may be an oto thing, rather than discus)

i've 4 discus, size is about 3.5 inches vertically. the otos...not too sure how many. i bought 15 when the tank first setup. im quite sure some are dead.

anyone else experienced this when mixing discus in a planted tank?

thanks all for the help thus far

[juggler]

In my experience, it is only certain otos that develop that habit. Catch those culprits and put in another tank.

Currently I have discus with otos and CAE and luckily the suckers did not bother the discus.

[vinz]

Yes, I've read of this. But no personal experience.

[Simon]

the mucus on their bodies serves as a protection to them thus you must prevent your otos from sucking to the discus