Otto's death

**WeiXiong** · 30th Mar 2009, 19:08

http://www.fishlore.com/profiles_otocinclus.htm (click here to see pic of fish)

Otocinclus(algae eater)

Dear all otto experts I desperately need your help in this!!! I am a newbie who bought a new otto on friday. I placed the bag of the otto fish into my tank and allowed the temperature of the water to be constant. After releasing my otto fish, I left it in the tank with two endlers. When I came back to school on Monday, the poor fellow died

I am humbly asking all otto gurus to guide me on how to take care of otto fishes.

Do I have to feed this fishes anything special? Do I have to change the temperature of the water? Why do newly bought ottos drop like flies?

Please guide this helpless student. Thanks so so so so much!!!!

UPDATE ON SITUATION!!!!!!

Guys, the death of my one and only otto, my friends and I went to buy more. (^-^) This time, we bought them in group of 3. I recieved news today that one of the ottos from this newly bought group of 3 just dead. (T_T) I am so puzzled now, why are all my ottos dying? Now my ottos are in groups and they have company. Can I conclude that ottos are weak fishes? They die so easily!

**terence** · 31st Mar 2009, 07:54

Can you share with us your setup? Is it bare with just the endlers or it's planted with endlers? Also tell us about your water change regime.

**barmby** · 31st Mar 2009, 09:26

Sometime it is not the owner. But the condition of the fishes when first bought make it very difficult. Try to buy from LFS who is known to have quarantined the otocinclus. Also, try to buy those active and has standing dorsal fins.

**Morgan01** · 31st Mar 2009, 10:34

ottos are quite sensitive to water conditions and itself is already more fragile than other algae feeders...though some will disagree.

i will buy them occassionally and by way of survival, only the fittest will remain in the end.

**Jaws** · 31st Mar 2009, 11:09

Originally Posted by Morgan01

ottos are quite sensitive to water conditions and itself is already more fragile than other algae feeders...though some will disagree.

i will buy them occassionally and by way of survival, only the fittest will remain in the end.

Agree with what you said. I had problems keeping Ottos too in the beginning but after sometime which I think the water has stabilised, my ottos survived. I think its very important to cycle the tank first.

**WeiXiong** · 31st Mar 2009, 16:35

Originally Posted by terence

Can you share with us your setup? Is it bare with just the endlers or it's planted with endlers? Also tell us about your water change regime.

Reply
HI HI,

Thanks for being lending a helping hand. hm... My setup was ok. Lots of plants, cycled tanked, Clear waters, ok pH. I don't really know about the ammonia the nitrate levels. I need to ask, do ottos eat a lot?

I mean, my tank didn't have loads of algae. My poor fish may have starved to death

throughout the weekends. Btw, can you explain to me what is water change regime? (^_^)

**WeiXiong** · 31st Mar 2009, 16:51

Originally Posted by barmby

Sometime it is not the owner. But the condition of the fishes when first bought make it very difficult. Try to buy from LFS who is known to have quarantined the otocinclus. Also, try to buy those active and has standing dorsal fins.

Thanks for the advice (^_^) Hmm... I feel that bought it from the famous clementi shop. I think the shop is called polyart aquarium. I think the otto should be of good quality =)

**inque** · 31st Mar 2009, 16:51

Originally Posted by WeiXiong

Reply
HI HI,

Thanks for being lending a helping hand. hm... My setup was ok. Lots of plants, cycled tanked, Clear waters, ok pH. I don't really know about the ammonia the nitrate levels. I need to ask, do ottos eat a lot?

I mean, my tank didn't have loads of algae. My poor fish may have starved to death

throughout the weekends. Btw, can you explain to me what is water change regime? (^_^)

WC routine / regime : normally in % per week / bi weekly / monthly !!!!
(there are ppl who do wc monthly)

10 ~ 15 % required for most tanks.

if u not too sure just remove 10%~15% of your water level away
for WC.

**Navanod** · 3rd Apr 2009, 16:12

Originally Posted by WeiXiong

Reply
HI HI,

Thanks for being lending a helping hand. hm... My setup was ok. Lots of plants, cycled tanked, Clear waters, ok pH. I don't really know about the ammonia the nitrate levels. I need to ask, do ottos eat a lot?

I mean, my tank didn't have loads of algae. My poor fish may have starved to death

throughout the weekends. Btw, can you explain to me what is water change regime? (^_^)

Ottos should be constantly eating and their tummies should be abit bloated all the time if healthy and eating well...

If your tank is too clean, you can buy algae sinking pellets and see if yours take to it

Mine fights over the pellets so much that i had to break the pellets up so everyone get a piece...

**inque** · 3rd Apr 2009, 23:05

Originally Posted by Navanod

Ottos should be constantly eating and their tummies should be abit bloated all the time if healthy and eating well...

If your tank is too clean, you can buy algae sinking pellets and see if yours take to it

Mine fights over the pellets so much that i had to break the pellets up so everyone get a piece...

i think mine 2 ottos got tooo bloated tummies

and died on me

**WeiXiong** · 7th Apr 2009, 19:10

Hmm... Thank you for the advice

Currently, my one of my ottos are doesn't have a pot belly. The colour of the fish looks ok, but I am very worried that this otto my die out of starvation. I gave it algae wafers but it doesn't seem to be consuming it. I am so worried now. I am not sure if my otto fish has a small belly because it is a male otto fish or because it just refuses to eat!!!