Problem with Otocinclus

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I

Iwhoopedbatman

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Aug 3, 2011
229
54
61
Baltimore
I've got a 20 gallon high planted tank. 78 degrees. Low light. PH - 7, Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates ~5

Stock is

1 dwarf gourami
5 julii cory cats
8 neon tetras
currently 2 Otos (all pictures I see online place them as Otocinclus affinis)

plants are crypts and java fern, also some aponogen bulbs from walmart that actually grew. Also have driftwood.

Plenty of filtration and current, AC 30 (kept on half strength), Aqueon 10, and a sponge.

For some reason I keep on losing Otos. There is algae in the tank (not overrun, but present) and they get veggies once a week. Food is not the issue and I really don't think water quality is (unless there is something specific/unusual I should be testing for - anything?). I try to keep 3 in there, but they keep dying after a few months. Longest surviving Oto (8 months - part of first batch I bought and my salvation whenever I start blaming myself) just died overnight. Can't figure it out. Didn't seem sick, behavior normal up until this morning when I found him/her on the filter intake. And I haven't lost so much as a neon otherwise in over a year now - rest of the fish look great and have been in that tank for 2 years.

Every time (except most recent victim) they last 2-3 months and then die 'out of nowhere'. I've replaced them a few times now (because they are so great with the algae) and it's not like they're expensive, but are they not supposed to last longer? I've gotten them from the two best stores (ime) in my area.

Is this a common problem and what can I do to help these guys survive and ultimately thrive?
 
Try feeding Cucumber/ Zuchinni
 
Are their bellys fat?
 
sometimes, yes. Is that bad? At first I was worried they were overeating, but everything online says that's what they do.

Cucumber or zucchini is what they get once a week (usually zucchini) like my plecos in other tanks.
 
Can you take a pic. of their bellies?
 
I can't right now. I'm at work. But it just gets a little rounded out, looks like they're full. They don't always look like this, so I assumed they were filling up and digesting and then filling up again.
 
Is there a specific concern? If it's a disease/condition you're worried about, I could check some pics to see if it looks at all like that.
 
Otos just die... They're almost all wild caught and I suspect quite a few are collected with cyanide. If you buy a dozen, you might only have one or two make it past the 1 year mark. Sounds like you're doing everything else right.


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Well thank you. So there is no special care required. That's what I had read, but you never know. I've also read about how frail they are, but everything said the weak (perhaps poisoned, though I was unaware of this possibility) ones usually die off really fast, I guess I was prolonging that process.

Do you suggest continuing to use them (I get them for 3 for $5), and if not, what might I use for algae control in this tank? It really does need a little help and I don't feel like having to clean decorations all the time (it doesn't get overrun, but I like it to look pretty clean and the Otos have done a wonderful job while they last). Bristlenose get kind of big for this tank and it's tankmates, had to move the last one when it started picking on the corys.
 
How likely is it that they are using cyanide or some other poison to catch them? I'm not certain I want to replace this guy if that's what's killing them.
 
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