Oto eats Anubias flower

[NicholasChua]

My oto recently started munching on my Anubias flower. why is this happening? could it be due to lack of algae for it to eat? How do i ensure my oto has enough to eat?

[Urban Aquaria]

Thats interesting, i guess your Oto probably found a taste for the Anubias flower... or maybe the flower was starting to wilt or have algae on it, so the oto ate it.

Usually there is enough algae in a tank for otos to graze on (even if cannot see, there is microscopic algae and bio film on the tank glass and on plant surfaces), but if you want to supplement their diet, you could try algae wafers (some otos will eat, but some might be abit fussy with it, so have to try and see).

So far, the favorite food supplement i've found for my otos is fresh green zucchini, just buy one from the supermarket, cut it into thin slices, boil them for 2-3 minutes, let them cool, take half and make salad for yourself to eat (they taste quite nice and are healthy for you!), the other half put into a zip lock bag and keep in freezer.

Every few days, take out a small slice, let it thaw abit then drop it in the tank, Otos and shrimps will go crazy over it.

Not sure if its this diet which helps, but i've noticed that my Otos and shrimps seem to have much nicer color after feeding them zucchini slices, probably it provides good vitamins and nutrients for them.

[NicholasChua]

Ya maybe... but my flower just bloom less than a week ago. probably it just likes the taste of the flower. i noticed it is less active recently... dont know if its hungry or what..

Oh wow didnt know that. Thanks for the info. shall give it a try soon. Btw, will fishes like guppies, cardinal tetras and albino cory eat the zucchini? how do i ensure only my oto eats eat? hahah!

[Urban Aquaria]

Ya maybe... but my flower just bloom less than a week ago. probably it just likes the taste of the flower. i noticed it is less active recently... dont know if its hungry or what..

Oh wow didnt know that. Thanks for the info. shall give it a try soon. Btw, will fishes like guppies, cardinal tetras and albino cory eat the zucchini? how do i ensure only my oto eats eat? hahah!

So far i've had various tetras, danios and rasboras in my tanks and none of them showed any interest in the zucchini slices, they just take a bite and then spit it out (like little kids being forced to eat vegetables).

Only the otos and shrimp attack the zucchini like its a delicacy... here is a photo of one of my otos taking a well deserved break and enjoying the treat:



I have not kept corys before though, but since they are bottom dwellers its possible they might take to fresh vegetables too, i guess you could just try and see.

[bennyc]

Zucchini is not common in singapore.( correct me if i am wrong) personally, i use cucumber and prepare it the same way. In my small tank, the otos rest on it everytime, sucking at it constanly. In my 2ft, they are more interested in other "food source"

[Urban Aquaria]

I agree, zucchini are usually found at supermarkets like Cold Storage or Marketplace... i don't seem to find them as often with vegetable sellers at the neighborhood market.

[NicholasChua]

that means if i cant get zucchini, i can use cucumber as an alternative? also, how long can i leave it in the tank before i need to take it out?

[Urban Aquaria]

that means if i cant get zucchini, i can use cucumber as an alternative? also, how long can i leave it in the tank before i need to take it out?

Yes, cucumber can be used too and prepared the same way.

I usually leave a slice in the tank for 4-5 hours at most, then i'll remove any uneaten bits after that. It depends on the number of otos and shrimps in your tank, after a while you'll know how much to put in to match their appetites.

[NicholasChua]

thanks for all the info

[jrt]

didt see oto eat my plant before... but i oto cat safe with shrimp babies? is it the same for corys too?

[Urban Aquaria]

didt see oto eat my plant before... but i oto cat safe with shrimp babies? is it the same for corys too?

Otos are usually safe with shrimplets... for corys, they are omnivores so it is a possibility they might snack on a shrimplet (maybe those slow or weak ones).

I guess if you are planning to breed shrimps, its best not to have fish in the same tank.

[Regis]

I have 2 oto look-alike fish in my tank with the shrimp. Do you know what fish is that? Looks like oto but with 2 whiskers!

[Urban Aquaria]

I have 2 oto look-alike fish in my tank with the shrimp. Do you know what fish is that? Looks like oto but with 2 whiskers!

The whiskers indicate that they are probably Corydoras Pygmaeus or Habrosus, they sometimes tend to look abit like Otos too... but tinier and rounder.

[Regis]

OK got it! They have been living with my shrimps peacefully for close to a year already

[nicholasliao]

Cool. Looks like i found my answer right here. I'm planning to purchase 16 pgymes from a buyer. I'm pretty sure they'll be a great addition to my shrimp tank. Looks like the bioload is gonna get real high.

I might be planning to get oto's into the shrimp tank as well.

[stormhawk]

Understand first that your shrimps may not like the presence of Corydoras in their tank. Since these catfish spend most of the time rooting about on the substrate, the shrimp can and will get stressed from the activities of the catfish. Choose wisely because the only catfish that one can trust with shrimps is basically Otocinclus and/or the Red Lizard Whiptail, without worrying too much.

As for the Oto eating the flower, it basically means that the flower has begun to rot underwater. Most Anubias sold locally are grown emersed, so any flowers they produce will not survive underwater. The Oto is just making use of the flower bud as a snack of sorts.