Otocinclus, Oto cat, Dwarf Suckermouth- Species Spotlight

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  • Опубликовано: 16 июл 2016
  • Probably one of the most popular algae eaters, Otocinclus are not at all appropriate for small tanks but are well worth the space they need.
    Otocinclus- Dwarf Suckermouth
    pH 6-7.5
    Temp 72-82
    Adult size 1.5"
    Diet: algae
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Комментарии • 340

  • @Wrongald
    @Wrongald 8 лет назад +9

    Loads of easily understandable, relevant and new (for me) information in just six minutes. Great video!

  • @user-op6ob9zq8n
    @user-op6ob9zq8n 2 года назад +2

    I absolutely love your videos, species spotlights especially. you always hit every point and really inform people on how to make the fish comfortable and happy. I’ve been keeping fish for a few years and your videos really really help

  • @nygelgharrot4024
    @nygelgharrot4024 6 лет назад +1

    Thank you for such informative and well made videos Rachel. I'm new to the hobby (just over a year) and came across this video a bit too late I'm afraid. I have a 30Lt tank and have 9 cardinal tetras and 3 ottos. You are quite right , these 3 do act shy and i thought that was their way until i saw them on your film. Darn... I take it the only way to make them happier is to set up a new bigger tank and then in time swap them and add more . I will now start to watch lots more of your information clips. Lovely finding you and thanks again... all the way from England :)

  • @Anabriella
    @Anabriella 8 лет назад

    Just got myself 5 of these for my 120 litre. Already my favourite fish. They're so interesting to watch! I'll see how they get on in my algae farm. I'd love to get more. Always great to use your videos as a reference for new fish. Many thanks Rachel.

  • @trisharay-saulis7831
    @trisharay-saulis7831 7 лет назад +90

    I have discovered something about these fish and why their survival rates might be low. I had gotten three new fish. I have an established 14g hospital tank that has a nice build up of various algae's so that new fish can graze between meals while waiting for their new forever home introduction into the 75g display tank with the school I have already established there. One of these had a nice round tummy (not too round), but looked relatively healthy, though obviously hungry. The second one was noticeably thinner, but also not super unhealthy. While the third had a caved in stomach, rapid breathing and bright redness under the chin and near the gills. I immediately thought "
    uh oh" like anyone else would at the sight of the redness. I don't like to stress this type of fish out, especially when sick, so I decided on an in-tank treatment with water changes. I looked online and found a lot of people who have otos with these symptoms, but no one was listing a cure and as I followed each thread, my heart sank as each fish died from this and then others would follow the same pattern and they eventually would lose all of their otos. Heart breaking (I feel about my fish, the way others feel about cats and dogs). I watched for a couple of days and noted that the redness and rapid breathing got worse and two of my otos now had the symptoms. The third did not. My best guess was that it behaved like a type of bacterial infection. Almost like some kind of fishy pneumonia. So I started treating with betadine. I have been able to save lost cause cases of anemones, frags and freshwater fish with fin damage in saltwater and decided to give it a go before trying antibiotics (which for me is a last ditch effort). I used 0.5ml of betadine and 2.5ml of water in a 3ml syringe (the type used to spot feed) and squirted the solution all around the affected fish. I left the non-affected fish alone. This syringe amount covered all days of treatment and then some. Each fish got only one tiny squirt of less than 0.02ml of solution. Hoping that the introduction of betadine to the water column was sufficient. I did this twice a day after 15 minutes I did my very small water change (5%) at the end of the day. After 24 hours, I felt there might be a slight difference in the amount of red I could see. By day four all the redness was gone and the breathing was normal. I treated one extra day to be sure it wouldn't come back. On week four all of their tummies were the right size, they were all eating well (and not that fast panicky eating they do when they first show up... poor things) and they have no negative symptoms. It is now month four and I feel confident in saying that they are thriving and healthy. The fish that hadn't show any signs of redness remained perfectly healthy throughout, so this might be due to the betadine in the water, or it may simply be that a healthier fish have a harder time contracting it. I wanted to share this experience in case anyone else had the same problem and also to ask if you have heard of this illness and if you know of any other treatments or cures. To be clear, t isn't just the gills that are red. Complete symptom list: the entire area under the chin to the heart and gill area is red on the underside, rapid breathing/rapid heart rate, lethargy, trying to eat and seeming to struggle with it, sunk in tummies (which may be from not eating or not being able to... not sure which because I know they are not fed during shipping).

    • @notaxforlove
      @notaxforlove 6 лет назад +2

      tri morey could you please message me a link to the meds you are referring to. Just in case i need any in the future.

    • @FringeWizard2
      @FringeWizard2 5 лет назад

      I'd just take the ones that survive and breed those and let the others all die until you get a line of otos that are disease resistant. I only had one fish I cared about that I had for almost 2 decades and it recently died because I had someone else taking care of it while I was doing painting in the house. Other than that I don't get emotionally attached to my fish.

    • @ClassicPessi
      @ClassicPessi 4 года назад +2

      Jesus.

    • @Ultramulti
      @Ultramulti 2 года назад

      I know it’s like 4 y later haha but I am also super interested in what exact medication you have used. And how can you not get attached to these little sucker’s. They are soo cute and super interesting to watch! Thank you for sharing this successe treatment.

    • @mathiskose5348
      @mathiskose5348 Месяц назад

      Is there a special kind of betadine that needs to be used ? Or any that is also used for human?

  • @LEE-kq9tq
    @LEE-kq9tq 5 лет назад +19

    I just bought 5 for my 40g. I wish I could have gotten more, but 5 was all the store had. Will be sure to buy more as soon as I can! They are cute little suckers ;)

  • @notaxforlove
    @notaxforlove 6 лет назад

    So simple looking yet so beautiful. They are at the top of my favourite fishes list. They are the most adorable.

  • @greggmartin8834
    @greggmartin8834 7 лет назад +1

    I am glad you posted this. Long overdue and should be pinned for all fish keeping sites. thank you.
    Gregg

  • @Smokeyddth
    @Smokeyddth 11 месяцев назад

    I come back to this often. Thank you for making this

  • @mattbradley54
    @mattbradley54 4 года назад

    Yassss thank you so much this is the most on point video I have seen on you tube when it comes to the otocinclus I've been telling people for years I recommend a minimum of 55 and a minimum of 10 to 15 otos in a tank

    • @mlgmemes1063
      @mlgmemes1063 3 года назад

      how many would you suggest for a 10 gallon?

  • @billwnyj
    @billwnyj 6 лет назад

    Thank you for posting this video. Great info. I am lucky enough to find these, sometimes, at my LFS. I’m definitely going to add more to the current population of 10.

  • @jessegee179
    @jessegee179 3 года назад

    Great info thank you x I’d be glad to hear anything else about them, especially breeding behaviour, and care of young fry.

  • @karenjgray5577
    @karenjgray5577 7 лет назад +6

    VERY interesting. One of my favourite fish species. I have often discouraged people from buying them for newly set up tanks or very small ones, but that is because I have come to think that much of the trouble they appear to have in staying alive is due to lack of appropriate food. Being more or less obligate algae grazers, I did not think they would adapt especially well to very many alternate food sources, even if they were willing to eat them.
    I knew they naturally congregate in large numbers and I'm always in favour of keeping the largest possible groups of social fish species. But what you say about shyness makes excellent sense too.
    My experience with them is vastly less than yours, clearly :-). For myself, I find that so long as they're eating well, they seem to do well in my planted tank but I've always encouraged surface algae to grow in the tank all the time. I have even grown it on rocks as a culture for them, rather than try to get them to eat manmade food or even veggies. It's always interesting to see which snails come to clean up those rocks; MTS snails appear to love the stuff, even more than Nerites do.
    I knew they naturally congregate in large numbers and I'm always in favour of keeping the largest possible groups of social fish species. But what you say about shyness makes excellent sense.
    My theory about why they so often appear to be fragile for the first couple of months is diet/immunity related. There's a lag between the time they are caught and the time they are shipped. During that time I would doubt that they get very much to eat. I suppose it would depend on who caught them and the care they get afterward. So far as I know, fish are usually fasted before shipping to reduce water fouling in any case. So by the time they reach retailers, they may have starved for some period of time. They sure look thin when I see new shipments in stores. While most healthy creatures can handle some period of fasting, there are exceptions and I think Otos may be an exception.
    Since they normally spend a vast amount of their time eating, just one week without food could cause a significant die back in their gut biome. That sort of die back may be toxic in itself, but we're learning more all the time about the critical role bacteria play, not only in digestion but particularly in the functioning of the immune system.
    I think herbivorous and omnivorous fish are more similar to humans in this way than they are different. For one thing, algae, in particular, is a very difficult food to digest, thanks to its tough cell walls (cellulose), which require bacteria to break them down. Very superficially, like a cow's rumen, though of course, the fish are NOT ruminants. With a diminished gut biome, they'd likely have some trouble utilizing food they eat, and also be potentially much more vulnerable to immune challenges until the biome is restored. That can take weeks. I have been trying to learn if there are any effective probiotics or prebiotics specifically for fish. (I feed probiotics to my ancient cat with good results). I've noted one or two fish foods that now incorporate something they're calling probiotics but haven't been able to find much information on this topic so far.
    Forgive the pun, but there's a lot of food for thought in what you've said about keeping Otos happy. Stress can also be a serious threat to the immune system. Lack of social interaction can be a major stressor especially for such social creatures, so having sufficient numbers of their own kind around them must be even more important than I'd thought up to now.

  • @paulitionklee1130
    @paulitionklee1130 7 лет назад

    I have 8 in a 80L tank... after seeing this video I'm going to stock them up to at least 15. thanks for the good info and good examples :)

  • @Amy-dw7ii
    @Amy-dw7ii 3 года назад

    You are amazing. I went down the worm hole of giving my betta some mates, and added ottos. I did not have life and a celebration until I had over ten of them in my 50 gallon. Now I can breath. They are alive. They are eating and I think happy. Ottos need to be in very large numbers.

  • @DJ_LittlePea
    @DJ_LittlePea 8 лет назад

    Excellent info as always Rachel 🤗🤗

  • @SusanforSLCAquatics
    @SusanforSLCAquatics 7 лет назад

    Thanks for this video! I was misinformed about this species and now I am now ready to put them in a larger tank and larger school!

  • @cherrylebee4229
    @cherrylebee4229 6 лет назад

    Thanks for this video. I was considering getting some for my 10 gallon tank to help clean up some algae. But I think I will just try to take care of it my self since keeping them in such a small tank wouldn't be very kind. Great info. :) subscribed :)

  • @isaaclee9965
    @isaaclee9965 5 лет назад +1

    Totally agree, otos should be kept in larger numbers, and they can even be the highlight of a tank. Thanks for putting up this informative video!

    • @s.d.k874
      @s.d.k874 5 лет назад +1

      Im a bit confused on which source to trust as aquarium co op says that in a 75 gallon tank only 3 ottos can be housed and here there is Rachel...
      Im more on the side of Rachel O'leary thought

  • @SonicRhythms
    @SonicRhythms 8 лет назад

    Wow, 15 different kinds. Thanks for the video!

  • @varphotography
    @varphotography 5 лет назад

    Fantastic video Racheal. I love that you give a lot of scientific info in your videos. Can you please make one for the real Siamese algae eaters and put to rest ways to identify the real C. langei ?

  • @burtmcaster4739
    @burtmcaster4739 8 лет назад

    My lord I wish more people understood how easy these can be to keep. I hear so much on how they need cool water, they are very delicate and have to have a well established planted tank. Clean water and lots of them is all you need. Great little fish. Hopefully the truth about these awesome little fish can hit all the misinformed on too many forum out there.

  • @driver527
    @driver527 6 лет назад

    Rachel, thank you for talking me out of getting an oto. I'll get a larger shoal of chili rasboras instead and I think everyone will be happier.

  • @joydas4442
    @joydas4442 5 лет назад +1

    Can you make a video on how to successfully breed them? That will be awesome. Your videos are soo informative!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

  • @dionspot
    @dionspot 7 лет назад

    Very good Rachel, I found this video to be informative and totally agree with what you say about these little gems, I've kept these fish many times and always enjoy watching them - oh bye the way I will like you on Facebook sometime later, keep up the good work babe...

  • @michaelagostino3483
    @michaelagostino3483 8 лет назад +1

    Love these guys in my 15 gallon (have 4 in there). The zebra version is just gorgeous, but darn hard to find iif not impossible in my area. They love fresh veggies (boiled for about 10 minutes just to soften them up, then allowed to cool) like zucchini, cukes, and sweet potatoes a couple times a week. Also, plenty of Cholla wood in the tank.

  • @armadillidium8705
    @armadillidium8705 7 лет назад

    I was considering getting one of these for my shrimp tank, as I've read they are quite docile. But now, I will refrain thanks to your video. Thank you for the information.

  • @tylers6765
    @tylers6765 6 лет назад +1

    Thank you so much for the great otto info! I have 5 in my 65 gallon tank, as I was worried that they wouldn't have enough food from my heavily planted tank. I had no idea that they needed a school and am feeling terrible that I've not been keeping them correctly. How many would you suggest instead for that size tank? I also have a dozen cardinals, one angel, four honey guorami, and three cory cats.

  • @RachelOLeary
    @RachelOLeary  8 лет назад +1

    Stop by my facebook: facebook.com/msjinkzd/
    Visit my website: msjinkzd.com/
    Support my efforts: msjinkzd.com/about_msjinkzd/support-our-site/

    • @dv8760
      @dv8760 8 лет назад

      i didn't know I should have more than one but mine seems to be doing ok
      I have a 20 gallon long with 10 fish and 1 oto.
      I do a 2 gallon water change every day/can i get 4 more otos/don't want to over crowd.I have 6 ballon mollies 2 bettas and 2 plattys.

    • @RachelOLeary
      @RachelOLeary  8 лет назад

      I think you could fit a few more in there

    • @dv8760
      @dv8760 8 лет назад

      OK I will get 4 more then.

    • @haileycrayon4103
      @haileycrayon4103 7 лет назад

      Can I keep otto's in a non-planted tank? It's a 29 gallon and I REALLY want some!!! They are sooooo cute!!

    • @RachelOLeary
      @RachelOLeary  7 лет назад +1

      +Hailey Crayon yes as long as it's very mature

  • @damionmarkham9835
    @damionmarkham9835 8 лет назад +1

    thank you so much once again

  • @jagskillz9975
    @jagskillz9975 8 лет назад

    I have 8 of these in my 200ltr tank and i love them,plan on getting more.

  • @Jennifermwb
    @Jennifermwb 6 лет назад +1

    I was so scared to buy them after hearing others talk about how sensitive they were. Then I watched a few of your videos on them. Got them a month ago after letting my quarantine tank grow some algae for them. Bought 7. All 7 are doing great a month later and honestly I haven't done anything extraordinary. I throw in some sinking algae pellets and some zucchini from time to time. I did use some prazipro for something else I had going on in the tank. But they have had nice round bellies from day one and have thrived without any more care than I give any of my other fish. Thanks for giving me the confidence to try them out! I love them so much and they will be moving to my main tank very soon......which I have also been intentionally growing algae in so they can have a nice big meal after their move.

  • @reinassancefamous3598
    @reinassancefamous3598 2 года назад

    Thank you soooo much your the best lady.

  • @cindy1274
    @cindy1274 5 лет назад +1

    thanks! for info. I didn't know more the merrier

  • @Unsensitive
    @Unsensitive 2 года назад

    I'm glad I got 10 of em for my tank... In that number they seem quite active.
    They cleaned up the algae on my wood, and my tank in general, but don't seem to be able to clean off the thicker algae off my glass.. at least not yet.
    I've turned up the light to try and grow more algae for em, but just gave me green water LOL. So started tossing in an algae wafer every now and again.

  • @laurenlewis5225
    @laurenlewis5225 5 лет назад +1

    So helpful thank you :)

  • @DominusEnigma
    @DominusEnigma 7 лет назад +4

    How many would you suggest for a 25 Gallon that was put together specifically for otos? The only inhabitants would be otos, shrimps, and Brachydanio tinwini.

  • @jennylynne4414
    @jennylynne4414 8 лет назад +1

    One of my favorite species. I've wanted to do a large species tank with them.

  • @mandarin1257
    @mandarin1257 6 лет назад

    My fave fish! Thank you.

  • @TheMartos17
    @TheMartos17 3 года назад

    Hey Rachel, ive been watching your videos for a while now. Since you have this much success with that food, what food is it exactly that you're feeding them?

  • @MrRvbrown
    @MrRvbrown 8 лет назад

    I did not know that!! WoW Thanks!!

  • @FilbieTron
    @FilbieTron 7 лет назад

    Good info, thanks! Unfortunately I got bad advice from my LFS and got two for my ten gallon..one of which died.

  • @johngonzalez7967
    @johngonzalez7967 6 лет назад

    I keep 2 in my 40 breeder, & they are doing just fine.

  • @At0micAllison
    @At0micAllison 4 года назад +4

    What are the floating pellets you typically would use for these guys?

  • @kdr1048
    @kdr1048 6 лет назад

    I have a bit of a brown algae in my planted 20 long. It's been up now for 2 months. I have 7 cardinal tetras and 4 glow fish tetras. What's a good number of these guys to get? Thank you rachel! I just got a school of 8 of them over the weekend and they are doing a tremendous job on cleaning my plants and algae. Also dropped in some Zucchini that they are loving. Such cool fish

  • @reedhq
    @reedhq 4 года назад

    Thank you!

  • @FeraAcademy
    @FeraAcademy 8 лет назад

    Great talk Rachel, very informative! :)

  • @kosintroubleinthetank7076
    @kosintroubleinthetank7076 8 лет назад

    That is hillarious. I just got home with 6 of them for my 40 gallon planted tank.

  • @ieronimo18
    @ieronimo18 5 лет назад

    Great video...very helpful. I wish I could find an otto video that mentions approximate cost, at least a range of cost.

    • @RachelOLeary
      @RachelOLeary  5 лет назад

      Around here they are $2-3 each

    • @ieronimo18
      @ieronimo18 5 лет назад

      @@RachelOLeary Thanks ....I paid $2.39 tonight at Petsmart in Salem, NH.

  • @grey_roses
    @grey_roses 8 лет назад +1

    So happy to see this spotlight! Actually I was about to ask you about them...I had three in my 10 gallon (the first female was always busy & visible but I thought she needed friends), & perhaps two weeks after introducing my other two--male & another female--spawning everywhere!! i didn't think the wild-caught fish (petsmart sold them as affinus, so who knows...) would readily spawn, especially with an amateur keeper. This is currently a species tank & gah, I've considered tying the male up in a condom so my tank doesn't spill over with fry! I keep them well-fed, fat bellies & little poop trails everywhere, although the zucchini drives me nuts by fogging up my crystal-clear water...everybody's happy & busy...but I really feel like there's too many (& I just spotted new eggs this morning!) for this small tank & wanted to know your opinion on approaching a (non-petsmart!) lfs about selling some very zesty 'home-grown' ottos. Does that offset the potential negative feelings a shopkeeper might get from being approached by a private seller? I'm a little bit at my wit's end, especially because I don't know when these cute little guys hit sexual maturity! 😓

    • @RachelOLeary
      @RachelOLeary  8 лет назад

      +grey roses I imagine you would have a laundry list of folks eager for home grown otos!

    • @grey_roses
      @grey_roses 8 лет назад

      +Rachel O'leary Oh, I hope so! They really are marvelous little fish & so fun to watch in a species tank. Also, I've never had to clean any surface in the tank. :) I'm so glad to see that my ottos' behavior is on point...I've never seen any other reference like yours here. I was a bit worried about how jolly they seem--I was wondering if was a sign of anxiety!

    • @AdamTillontheWeb
      @AdamTillontheWeb 8 лет назад

      +grey roses Mind my asking what your water parameters are like, and what you're feeding? Are they o.vittatus?

    • @RachelOLeary
      @RachelOLeary  8 лет назад

      +grey roses a sign of health and happiness!

  • @bubbletea_kitty
    @bubbletea_kitty 6 лет назад

    Hi Rachel, I'm looking to expand the diet for my otos, what kind of pellets are you feeding here? I normally feed them zucchini but they seem to prefer the algae in my tank.

  • @THEWATCHERISLOOKING
    @THEWATCHERISLOOKING 7 лет назад

    Thank for the info

  • @AdamTillontheWeb
    @AdamTillontheWeb 8 лет назад

    I have about 55 otos of various species in my 90 (along with a dozen pygmaeus corys and 10 brochis splendens), but the otos are still very shy. I've never seen a planted tank where they COULD hide, but weren't. I'd love to add some dithers to draw them out, but they'd have to be fry safe. Any suggestions? Blackwater/very softwater tank.

  • @travis112890
    @travis112890 5 лет назад

    hi ya! love the great info provided in your vids. Was just wondering what brand of floating pellet are you feeding. I've had a lot of trouble with ottos in the past eating sinking pellets. Would like to try the floaters. Thanks in advance!

    • @FabriceTo
      @FabriceTo 5 лет назад

      Could you share what issue you had with them and sinking pellets? Would a feeding bowl be useful you think?
      I am considering getting some ottos soon...

    • @travis112890
      @travis112890 4 года назад

      Hey sorry I didn’t respond sooner... I had issues with sinking pellets fouling my substrate. They never seemed to be eaten and would eventually grow his white stringy film. I stopped using them and started keeping live plants. The ottos constantly graze on he plants and seem to be happy but I am still looking for supplemental nutrition for them.

  • @macylouwho1187
    @macylouwho1187 5 лет назад +1

    Thanks for the info, you just stopped me buying them for my betta tanks. I would have bought them today. Since the tanks are 5.5 gallons, that’s not enough room.

  • @evita1643
    @evita1643 4 года назад

    Hi, in this video you talked about getting corydoras in the same tank as the oto's to make them more at ease. In my tank I have several Otocinclus vittatus. My tank contains 250 liter water. Which kind of corydoras would you recommend?

  • @mrgrumpy6408
    @mrgrumpy6408 2 года назад

    I know this post is old but, I have never kept Ottos till today and I trust Rachael's advice

  • @SimonJones265
    @SimonJones265 2 года назад

    I picked up 3 today (will definitely pick up some more) and they went straight to my 9 corydora when i added them :)

  • @ThePatatonga
    @ThePatatonga 7 лет назад

    hi Rachel 🌱🐋👍👍🤗 I enjoy very much listening to your vids! Very informative!
    Thank you!!!
    I have a tipical beginners 'question':
    As an complete beginner I started my 30 gallons tank 11 days ago (with starter licquid and licquid bacteria). lots of plants, stones and 2 roots. Last friday I was told "yes the water is in perfect shape, get some fish" though I planned to wait 3 weeks at least, I was driven away and bought 5 otos vittatus. The saleswoman said come back in a week and if all's gone well and they're still alive, get more. So yesterday died 2. Then I changed water and filled 80% new tab water in. Here it is good, soft water without chloride. Soon after I did that the other otos that werent 2 be seen/found, swam happily ever after arround..! Now, 20 hours later I am worried cause again one just keeps hiding and the other 2 just hang out since nearly 1 hour and move very very little. It is so difficult to not know what to do to help them! or to understand their condition...
    Would it best I wait and do nothing? I hope all is going well..! if that is so, I thought about 13 of 'em, plus 15 Hyphessobrycon amandae and if it "fits well" a couple of Laetacara dorsigera or a couple of Apistogramma nijsseni/ or ~ borellii.
    What do you think?
    Thanks a lot - you are really cool! keep rocking!

    • @RachelOLeary
      @RachelOLeary  7 лет назад +2

      I would keep doing water changes, as your tank is probably just not cycled. Otos are sensitive, and a poor choice for the first inhabitants.

    • @ThePatatonga
      @ThePatatonga 7 лет назад

      Rachel O'leary here in northern Germany the oppions about that seem to split. thanks for answering!

  • @besthobbit
    @besthobbit 4 года назад

    They are soooooo cute.

  • @yvesdaigle3840
    @yvesdaigle3840 7 лет назад

    With a 55 gallon and 12 Amono Shrimp how many do you recommend in my tank.

  • @devinmurphy7616
    @devinmurphy7616 5 лет назад

    I have a 11 gallon tank with 4 betta fish. it is a very very well planted tank, how many otocinclus would you recomend for that?

  • @RicardoJunqueira
    @RicardoJunqueira 8 лет назад +18

    Thank you Rachel! Another great episode. I was considering buying a couple of those for my 5 gallon nano tank, but I'm convinced otherwise now.
    How about snails? What are your thoughts on them?

    • @RachelOLeary
      @RachelOLeary  8 лет назад +10

      +Ricardo Junqueira snails are great, one of these days I will do a spotlight on them as well. Nerites should be stocked at 1 per 5g of tank space

    • @RicardoJunqueira
      @RicardoJunqueira 8 лет назад +8

      AWESOME! I can't wait!
      I'm learning so much from you and Joey. I'm very gratefull for both of you sharing your knowledg, experience and passion with the rest of the world.

    • @RachelOLeary
      @RachelOLeary  8 лет назад +8

      My pleasure! It's fun reaching people I would otherwise never encounter!

    • @abbystevens5693
      @abbystevens5693 6 лет назад

      Rachel O'leary do you know how to breed nerite snails? can I get the eggs of the wood and pkants and put them in a brackisch tank? do they then do the rest themsekds or do they need other extra care in that brackish tank before or after they hatch?

    • @michaelpressler5132
      @michaelpressler5132 6 лет назад

      i have two mystery snails, two guppies, and a adf in my 4 gallon they do well but use alot of filtration

  • @michaelmecham3477
    @michaelmecham3477 3 года назад +1

    otocinclus tapirape at 2.4 cm max would be much more well suited for nano tanks because they could be kept properly in smaller tanks. I think we should get them into the hobby and it is too bad they are virtually completely unknown. if anyone is going on a collecting trip near the upper and middle Araguaia River in Brazil you should go find some. I think they would be excellent for the fishkeeping hobby.

  • @worddunlap
    @worddunlap 5 лет назад

    Yours look very healthy. Mine were a bit off after buying from the local chain fish store. I've had them a month and they have improved much but think they are out of algae. I tried some pleco food and they get on it so I assume they do eat at least a bit of it.

  • @FooYoungHi
    @FooYoungHi 8 лет назад

    I had a few of them (Otocinclus affinis? They don't have the black dot at the tail, the black line just keeps going), but unfortunately all but 1 died. The one that is left is doing surprisingly well alone, surviving for more than a year now. I'm on the lookout for some more, but the stores around me tend to only have bigger variants in stock, that are double it's size. I had more in the past, but they do seem to die quickly. The ones that make it seem to be very tough. I'd love to have 15+ in my tank. I love these fish.

  • @Rhiilynn
    @Rhiilynn 5 лет назад +1

    my Oto hates when i put the tank light on for night feeding, are they naturally nocturnal, or am I just "spooking" the fish with the bright light?

    • @kpov2533
      @kpov2533 3 года назад

      I've found mine to hang in the back during the day but I've come up at night and see them all over the glass and moving around. So I think they might be a little more active at night

  • @andrepetrini8837
    @andrepetrini8837 5 лет назад

    Hello Rachel, do ottos eat other fishes eggs? and do you think they go well in hard water? thanks

  • @VijaySivasankaren
    @VijaySivasankaren 8 лет назад

    Thanks Rachel for sharing. Will they eat shrimplets? I have a shrimp only tank and I am actually planning to introduce some Otos... what do you recon?

    • @RachelOLeary
      @RachelOLeary  8 лет назад

      +Vijay Sivasankaren they do not eat shrimplets

  • @johnkevinignacio3137
    @johnkevinignacio3137 3 года назад

    Badass fish keeper. Nice. 🤜🤛👌👌🤘🤘

  • @FringeWizard2
    @FringeWizard2 5 лет назад

    I have a 90 gallon planted tank with tons of different algaes growing in it. I am researching different fish species that eat algae so that they can keep the plants clean of algae that grows on their leaves... I just want to try out a whole bunch of different random algae eating fish and see if they can help at least keep the plants from being completely covered in algae.

  • @bng188
    @bng188 4 года назад

    I have a 20g planted tank (medium to heavily planted) and 4 otos. Having trouble trying to get them to eat...algae wafers or zucchini...other than having more numbers, any recommendations to try and get them to eat? They don't look very skinny but they don't have rounded bellies.

  • @lystrung5437
    @lystrung5437 7 лет назад

    Mine has been living for a long time now, it let's me get up close and touch it before darting away.

  • @ourdaysgoby
    @ourdaysgoby 4 года назад

    Tks for the great info. So for 20g, you reckon 6 otto & 10 lamb chop rasbora will do well together? I got a filtration, eheim 2117 on that tank :D

  • @blackclover240
    @blackclover240 7 лет назад

    I keep 3 in my 30 gallon that currently has green hair and beard algae. These fish active, constantly searching the tank for algae and I feed them squash, cucumber or apple 2 times a week. All have round bellies healthy coloration. but I have one concern. My dwarf lily plant is coming up with holes on its leaves and I feel the otos are the culprits behind it. They are constantly grazing on its surface and I feel the leaves of this lily plant aren't quite sturdy enough to withstand so much sucking. Prior to these otos i had a bristlenose pleco for the very purpose of the algae issue, and it wrecked the same lily, so this isnt the first time I see this incident. It was eventually sent back to the lfs as I could not see any more damage being done to my plants. The otos also reside on the leaves of my temple compactas but no real harm seems to come to those. they're active eaters, constantly leaving waste but I wonder if the food source is from this lily plant itself which has been faltering upon their introduction. Anyone have a similar experience?

  • @urbansk8r231
    @urbansk8r231 5 лет назад

    Hi, i look up to you in the hobby. I got 2 common ottos as i cant get any other varieties in Australia. My 2 ottos are very active always on the front glass of tank eating algea going in all directions on glass- even upside down. or they're on soil substrate near front glass. Or on plants, they're thriving even though i only have 2. they have full round tummy.

  • @sebastiancalara1289
    @sebastiancalara1289 4 года назад

    Hello, with which dwarf corry they can have a mimetic relationship?

  • @davidperrin1675
    @davidperrin1675 7 лет назад

    How would you set up a 5foot. Tank. With small fish

  • @fishfinesser506
    @fishfinesser506 8 лет назад

    Ever thought of keeping orange spotted sunfish? They are amazing in color, but they are pretty hard to get to eat sometimes. I have 2 and i lucked out and they readily ate my bloodworms

  • @christineann3041
    @christineann3041 4 года назад

    Great video! I kinda wish I knew more about this breed before I bought 2 for a 10g tank with 4 black skirt tetras for my classroom. Do you have any suggestions for me to keep a healthy and happy ecosystem for them? I have 3 Echinodorus 'Bleherae' plants in the tank which they seem to like going on. Thank you!

    • @tanishanason6664
      @tanishanason6664 4 года назад

      Get a few more :) they will be a il happier in a larger group .

  • @Amy-dw7ii
    @Amy-dw7ii 3 года назад +1

    Every time I try to buy them they don’t survive the shipping or live for just a few days. I’ve only been able to keep 3 alive, they will not be happy in that small a group. Where can I buy them from a reputable source?

  • @douglasbird5246
    @douglasbird5246 6 лет назад

    I know this post is old, but I bought 5 Otto's in two weeks I only have one left. They are in a 20 with 10 Neons and a bottle nose pleco. I bought three bottle nose and am down to one. I don't usually hqve problems with my fish, I have a 120 with tons of fish and no problems.

  • @DuyAnh1
    @DuyAnh1 6 лет назад

    I have 2 Ottos but they are lazy, not moving around rather hiding on a driftwood.
    What should I do?

    • @snapguy2218
      @snapguy2218 5 лет назад

      If you don't have alge prob , you're ok. They work when your not watching .

  • @taylorjoe
    @taylorjoe 7 лет назад

    I`ve had my group for 3 days now. They all seemed very healthy and active and were grazing a lot! I of course fed them extra, got algae tabs, cucumber, some oak leaves. Now this morning one of them was lying on their back. I panicked did a small water change (although the water parameters were fine) and got in extra oxygen. Unfortunately the little guy didn't make it.
    But I am a bit freaked now as this happened with no prior warning. No visible signs either. All the Other fish in the tank (3 Black Mollys and 2 Rineloricaria fallax) and the remaining ottos are perfectly fine. I keep them in my 120 liter tank (31Gallons? I think)

    • @smolsquirrel
      @smolsquirrel 5 лет назад

      Honestly, it happens. Some are weaker than others and don't take to change well. I also realized that when netting, the healthier ones are going to have an easier time escaping the net, whereas the weaker are more likely to get caught. An established tank with proper food, proper acclimation and proper quarantine gives them the best chance. I've had dozens die when I didn't know better and I felt SO bad about it, but over time, the ones that have survived I've had for almost 2+ years.

  • @tristenezell1204
    @tristenezell1204 6 лет назад

    How many should be in a 40 gallon tank. I have 3 already

  • @keangoh
    @keangoh 5 лет назад

    Is it ok to have two of them in a 12 gallon guppy tank . I got them to eat algae on glass

  • @USinchains
    @USinchains 7 лет назад

    I just bought 11 in USA for $50 shipped overnight. It's the most I've purchased yet, hopefully they do better. Fragile little guys by themselves. In a perfect world they would be sold in prepackaged schools, not chased around by a net individually in a big LFS tank. I prefer to order wild caught fish online when I can, or there is an aquabid seller that I found literally four blocks from my house with a small building full of holding tanks. I got 30 rummy nose from him cheap.

  • @worddunlap
    @worddunlap 4 года назад

    Mine has run off. Doing fine and POOF! He (perhaps) was attacking the others and I segregated him. For a week he seemed well, not bothering but just hanging out with the guppies. Are they escape artists? Do they jump? Keep in mind he was my favorite...

  • @ClumsinessExtra123
    @ClumsinessExtra123 6 лет назад

    Would have bought more but they only had 3 at the store. Would it be a good idea to go looking for more? The books I have suggest 2 at a minimum, the books are very accurate otherwise so I’m leaning towards their ‘advice’. My tank is very planted and clean. Will they be ok? Tank mates are 7 rasbora hq and 5 Amano shrimp

    • @ClumsinessExtra123
      @ClumsinessExtra123 6 лет назад

      They seem like they have red under bellies but I’m not sure if that’s a normal thing 🤔

  • @ThermicLight
    @ThermicLight 6 месяцев назад

    I'm a beginner yet to dip his toes in the water. Was looking to get some tetras and shrimp in a planted 10 gallon tank. Any suggestions which pair of glass lickers would suit?

  • @Streamlines
    @Streamlines 7 лет назад

    Would these fish be OK to keep with a betta? I am a beginner and never had an aquarium and am currently researching everything for my first tank. I'll probably start with a 120L (30 gallon) tank or greater depending on my budget, but I have already decided on a minimum of 120L. I do wish to do aquascaping with plants and I do know that these fish like moving water or even require it in order to breathe. Would it be OK to have a school of around 5 of these with a betta?

    • @RachelOLeary
      @RachelOLeary  7 лет назад

      +Streamlines they should do finr with a beyta, though you may want to let the tank mature for a few months before adding the otos.

  • @ladywarrior1775
    @ladywarrior1775 4 года назад

    do you feel twenty gallons would be good and how many will thrive? I am thinking a species tank can't do more than twenty gallons though. I love these fish! I bought six last year in my ten gallon with my beta and they are now one year old! I love them Love them Love them. I want as many as possible.

  • @Wrecker-ji5hf
    @Wrecker-ji5hf 7 лет назад

    How many gallons of water would one group of otos need?

  • @globalzero
    @globalzero 7 лет назад

    Rachel can you please advise me what to do? I have only 4 otos in my 75G planted aquarium and rarely see them . I would like to add 10 more but my temperature is 80 degrees because of my ramirezis. Can Otocinclus handle those temperatures longterm?

  • @crankedshaft43
    @crankedshaft43 5 лет назад

    Would they fare well in an aquarium with dwarf hairgrass?

  • @Linoleum82
    @Linoleum82 7 лет назад

    Definitely adding some Otos to my 120 gallon. Just need to figure out how many. I'm thinking somewhere in the 12-24 region?

  • @Silentwisher
    @Silentwisher 8 лет назад

    I wish LFS had these. Ugh I want some of them!

  • @jackylee9395
    @jackylee9395 7 лет назад

    Hey Rachael I think of putting couple of otocinclus into my temperate tank, for algae purpose, I've turned the temperature up to 23 degrees,I've got a weather loach not to be mistake with the yellow dojo and whites clouds minnows, various danios and various platys, what's your view on this

    • @RachelOLeary
      @RachelOLeary  7 лет назад

      +Jacky Lee I would suggest gaatromyzon, sewellia, or the like over otos

  • @amyflower743
    @amyflower743 6 лет назад

    How many should I have in a 10 gallon tank?

  • @--Paws--
    @--Paws-- 4 года назад

    My otos are now 2 inches long. I don't know how old they really are but I had them for about +3 years now.