Otocinclus and Oscar

[Guapoako318]

I have a 11'' Tiger Oscar and a 9'' JD in a 115 gallon aquarium. Recently I have been getting brown algae and I am considering getting a few otos. The cichlids refuse to eat any live fish and they have a school of Giant Danios with them.

How risky would it be to try some otocinclus?

 

[wfex4]

I can almost guarantee they would get eaten. Try some bristlenose plecos instead, they max out at 4 or 5" and wouldnt become an instant snack for your oscar and jack.

 

[GhostShrimpMan]

They are a dollar right now at petsmart though, so if you want to, give it a shot, since you said they don't eat live fish.

 

[jonclark96]

I agree. I tried otos in a grow out tank with much smaller fish (cons, HRP's, geos) and the otos were slowly picked off one by one. BN plecos do a decent job on the algea, but I would really recommend nerite snails. They will clean up a tank in no time, are rarely even noticed by my cichlids, and do not reproduce in freshwater. I have them in all my tanks with everything from fry to 8" adults and they do an excellent job.

 

[Guapoako318]

I agree. I tried otos in a grow out tank with much smaller fish (cons, HRP's, geos) and the otos were slowly picked off one by one. BN plecos do a decent job on the algea, but I would really recommend nerite snails. They will clean up a tank in no time, are rarely even noticed by my cichlids, and do not reproduce in freshwater. I have them in all my tanks with everything from fry to 8" adults and they do an excellent job.

I had some otos with a smaller pair of breeding cons and they somehow managed.
Problem with nerites is I don't know how many I'd need for an 100+ gallon aquarium.

 

[jonclark96]

I had some otos with a smaller pair of breeding cons and they somehow managed.
Problem with nerites is I don't know how many I'd need for an 100+ gallon aquarium.

Rule of thumb that I have been told is one nerite per 5-10 gallons should do the trick. Try contacting Ms. Jinkzd in the vendor forum. She is who I have been getting mine from and I think she currently has 3 or 4 different types. All seem to do a similar job on controlling algea.