Zuri_08 Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 My Oto died today :-( In death he was buoyant enough to appear to be standing on his tail fins, it was as if he was walking on the gravel. Then I noticed him moving with the current, not against it, and the fact he wasn't moving at all. :-( He is in the garden now. I did notice he appeared stressed the last couple of days; not moving much but the gills were moving very rapidly. I wonder why he died? There were no obvious signs of injury or illness, though his belly was a little yellow (is that normal?). I had been treating for cyanobacteria - could that have made him sick (but not the other fish?). the helpful lady at the shop suggested to test the water so I did that, though the tests are not perfect (multi-strip thing) but seemed to be in the normal range... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 I've lost 6 otos in the last few months to unknown causes. They clean up my tanks and get all fat and then a few weeks later they look droopy and die. The first 2 I had originally were alive for over a year and they were happy as larry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 I've got a couple otos that I have had for about a year, they're all fine and healthy. One thing though is I have never once seen them eat any food that I have fed them, they seem to get enough just cleaning the glass and rasping on wood and leaves. Can't wait to get a few more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zuri_08 Posted September 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 Thanks for the comments. To Sophia, sorry all your Oto's died, they must be a more sensitive fish. I wonder though, do they 'need' wood to eat? I read somewhere they do, and somewhere else they don't... My tank has plants but not any drift wood, did you year-old Oto's have wood? To Godly3vil, I've feed my algae eaters algae chips (from fish store) and zucchini (from veggie store) and they seem to like those things, especially the zucchini. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 26, 2012 Report Share Posted September 26, 2012 It is my understanding it is the Ancistrus sp that need wood and they can get it these days in bottom feeder pellets that contain lignin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 Otos need green algae rather than wood, so I thought. Mine have had various algaes, and wood. This 6 never took to processed food or courgette unlike the original 2 who would suck onto an algae wafer and monopolise it so the corydora couldn't eat it. I wondered if it was something to do with the soft/hardness of the water, or maybe some other bacteria or algae they were getting too much of. I am not sure that I'll ever know. :dunno: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted September 27, 2012 Report Share Posted September 27, 2012 i've found everyone to be a different fish. btw one of mine has gone a bit paler and has a slightly swollen belly.... but has all the attitude she used to have Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sup42 Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 I have six otos between two tanks ( four in one an pair in the other ). Lots of Info on the net about why they die after around a month or so of being introduced to the tank. The capture method is to blame. Some fish collectors use toxins to stun them in the river including cyanide since they are so tricky to catch. My guess is that after a month they go into organ failure from the toxins , pretty rough. Most experts suggest you will have around a 50% die off rate , if they survive the 1st month you are home and hosed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 doubt that in the NZ market due to the shipping times and quarantine times required by maf. that info is more to do with the american market due to the fact they can go from river to shop in around 48 hours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sup42 Posted September 28, 2012 Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 doubt that in the NZ market due to the shipping times and quarantine times required by maf. that info is more to do with the american market due to the fact they can go from river to shop in around 48 hours ah of course, Thanks for that, so i can stop waiting for half my Ottos to go belly up phew ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zuri_08 Posted September 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2012 Thanks for all your comments. I had a look on other websites, it does seem Oto's are more sensitive to things. People must be able to breed them in NZ? Or do they all come from America? I'm also still figuring out the filtering system; I've converted what was a goldfish tank into a tropical tank and I didn't realise the importance of the filter until I read a bit more about tank-cycling. Hopefully it is better now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randomsam1001 Posted April 3, 2013 Report Share Posted April 3, 2013 My Oto died today :-( In death he was buoyant enough to appear to be standing on his tail fins, it was as if he was walking on the gravel. Then I noticed him moving with the current, not against it, and the fact he wasn't moving at all. :-( He is in the garden now. I did notice he appeared stressed the last couple of days; not moving much but the gills were moving very rapidly. I wonder why he died? There were no obvious signs of injury or illness, though his belly was a little yellow (is that normal?). I had been treating for cyanobacteria - could that have made him sick (but not the other fish?). the helpful lady at the shop suggested to test the water so I did that, though the tests are not perfect (multi-strip thing) but seemed to be in the normal range... they tend to die for no apparent reason, my pair died the day I was about to get 3 more &c:ry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.