what to feed otocinclus fry

What Should I Feed My Otocinclus?

• algae wafers.
• cucumber.
• zucchini.
• spinach.
• lettuce.
• kale.
• cabbage.
• bell peppers.
• yellow squash.
• brussels sprouts.
• peas/beans (de-shelled).

Full Answer

What do Otocinclus fish eat?

Therefore, you should also be sure to feed them algae wafers or catfish pellets. It’s crucial for them to eat frequently, so food needs to be available almost all the time. Some supplemental foods to give your Otocinclus may include blanched zucchini, spinach, peas, and cucumber.

What can I Feed my Otocinclus instead of algae wafers?

If you can’t cut up, freeze or boil vegetables for your Otocinclus every single day, then substitute them for algae wafers. If you offer these foods at night, your Otocinclus will be alert and active enough to find it at the bottom of the tank while its tankmates are asleep. Make sure these vegetables sink to bottom. Frozen slices sink faster.

How often should I Feed my Otocinclus?

You should feed Otocinclus daily. All frozen foods or vegetables remaining after feedings should be removed from the tank within 6 to 8 hours to avoid ammonia surges. You do not want such things to rot if not eaten.

What do Otocinclus need to survive?

Otocinclus are herbivores and they need to be constantly grazing on green matter in order to survive. Most tanks do not have enough algae to sustain a group of otocinclus so it is up to the fish keeper to provide supplemental food on a consistent basis. The main food of Otocinclus is algae.

What do Otocinclus fry eat?

Quick Notes about the OtocinclusNameOtocinclus CatfishNitrateLess than 20DietAlgae eater / herbivoreTemperamentPeacefulLife spanup to 7 years12 more rows

What is the best food for Otocinclus?

Soft Green Algae The main food of Otocinclus is algae. They will eat the soft green algae that grows on the surfaces of the tank and its contents. This surfaces include the inside of the tank walls, gravel, decorations, and plants.

Do Otocinclus need to be fed?

Your Otos will graze on algae from your plants, so I recommend you use slow-growing plants. Fast-growing plants will often consume the carbon dioxide and dissolved nutrients before algae get a chance to feed and grow.

How do you keep Otocinclus alive?

8:0921:33How to Keep Otocinclus ALIVE | What to Feed Oto Catfish - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis around the tank. So that they can naturally graze like autosynclus are going to they look onMoreThis around the tank. So that they can naturally graze like autosynclus are going to they look on any surface for food and so this will especially be helpful. Because it can lay.

How long can Oto catfish go without food?

A healthy, grown-up aquarium fish can go from 3 days to 1 whole week, without eating any food. Some fish species can even live for more than 2 weeks without eating. Whether in nature or in an aquarium – an adult fish has sufficient body mass and fat reserves to skip a couple of meals once in a while.

Will otocinclus eat baby shrimp?

The Otocinclus Catfish is the only fish we know of that is not likely to eat shrimp fry. While most fish will prey on dwarf shrimp fry, a heavily planted aquarium can be very helpful in offsetting this predation.

Do Oto catfish need driftwood?

Otocinclus are herbivores, feeding mainly on algae. The ideal tank has a lush growth of algae for them to feed on. Driftwood tends to support a healthy growth of algae for them to consume.

Do otocinclus eat cucumbers?

0:356:52How to Feed Cucumbers to Shrimp and Otocinclus - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt they're all over the place. And just given that the cucumber. Itself if you slice it the way IMoreIt they're all over the place. And just given that the cucumber. Itself if you slice it the way I did it just provides a much bigger. Surface.

Are otocinclus bottom feeders?

Another great bottom-dwelling fish is the Otocinclus. These little guys are pretty much the perfect low-maintenance fish for a freshwater tank. They're cute, easy to care for, and will methodically snack on any algae they find.

How often should you feed otocinclus?

You should feed an otocinclus two to four times a week. Despite its reputation as an algae eater, an otocinclus cannot live on algae alone. Sometimes, a stable and well-cycled tank may not be able to produce enough soft algae to sustain an otocinclus.

What temperature do otocinclus like?

At a glanceMinimum tank size:10 gal (38 l)Lifespan:up to 5 yearsSize:up to 2 inches (5 cm)Temperature:70 to 78°F (21-25.5°C)pH:6.0-7.54 more rows•May 8, 2022

Do otocinclus produce lots of waste?

Yes, otocinclus produce a lot of waste. They constantly graze on algae around the tank, so even though otocinclus can help you control the tank's algae growth, they are also constantly producing their own waste.

How often should you feed otocinclus?

You should feed an otocinclus two to four times a week. Despite its reputation as an algae eater, an otocinclus cannot live on algae alone. Sometimes, a stable and well-cycled tank may not be able to produce enough soft algae to sustain an otocinclus.

Do otocinclus eat cucumbers?

0:356:52How to Feed Cucumbers to Shrimp and Otocinclus - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt they're all over the place. And just given that the cucumber. Itself if you slice it the way IMoreIt they're all over the place. And just given that the cucumber. Itself if you slice it the way I did it just provides a much bigger. Surface.

How many Otocinclus Catfish should be kept together?

How many otocinclus catfish should be kept together? We recommend at least 4-6. Just be sure that your tank is large enough.

Will otocinclus eat plants?

The Otocinclus is a dwarf sucker-mouth catfish that only grows to be about 2 inches long. This little guy loves nothing more than to eat the algae off of your plants, glass, and other tank décor and are not known to eat your aquatic plants.

Introduction

As mentioned in the introduction page... a fat oto is a happy oto. An otocinclus should never be gaunt or have a skinny stomach. If it does look skinny, then something is wrong. Otocinclus are herbivores and they need to be constantly grazing on green matter in order to survive.

Soft Green Algae

The main food of Otocinclus is algae. They will eat the soft green algae that grows on the surfaces of the tank and its contents. This surfaces include the inside of the tank walls, gravel, decorations, and plants. This soft algae isn't to be confused with green spot algae that you can barely get off with a razor blade.

Prepared Foods

There are products out there which people have tried with some success. One of the most common types are Algae Wafers which are sold in most stores. Hobbyists have often reported that their otos go for these on a regular basis. This may be a good food to use while acclimating the otocinclus to your tanks.

Green Veggies!

We can supplement an oto's diet with vegetables from the supermarket. Every fish is different, and some will flock to one vegetable type and shun another. It's important with all vegetables to wash them completely and make sure they are free of pesticides. Some of the more common vegetables to feed:

Protein

I once saw an otocinclus eat a rainbowfish egg. That's right, an egg! It was partially hanging out of its mouth, by a thread. Then in one quick motion it slurped up the egg and ate it. Yum! This may mean that otocinclus can digest protein, and even seek it out in certain circumstances.

Natural Habitat of the Otocinclus

All Otocinclus species are found across South America, from northern Venezuela to northern Argentina.

Description of the Otocinclus

This is a very small fish. They can measure between 4 and 5 centimeters (1.5 – 2 inches) in length and have an elongated shape, rounded on the back and flattened ventrally.

Otocinclus Species

Currently, the genus Otocinclus contains 19 species of freshwater catfish. Although they have many different small morphological characteristics (useful for scientists) the easiest way for us is to look at colors and patterns.

Behavior of the Otocinclus

Otocinclus is a social fish. In nature, Otocinclus are generally found in large schools. In some cases, the schools can have hundreds or even thousands of fish. Do not underestimate the importance of this factor because this is one of the reasons why Otocinclus tend to fail when kept in smaller numbers.

Feeding Otocinclus

Otocinclus are herbivores. In the wild, they primarily eat algae and slime ( biofilm) that builds up on rocks and plants. Therefore, it’s important to keep live plants in your aquarium to encourage algae growth and leaves for the biofilm growth.

Otocinclus and Feeding Problems

Consider yourself very lucky if you Otocinclus can eat something other than algae! The problem is that often they do not learn to eat anything else but fresh algae. Therefore, feeding them algae wafers or even blanched vegetables, will not be a guarantee they eat well.

Keeping and Housing Otocinclus

I have to start off by saying that Otos are sensitive, and a poor choice for the first inhabitants. In addition, they are highly susceptible to tank changes and need extra attention in the first few weeks.

How Often Should I Feed My Otocinclus?

Try to come up with some sort of vegetable offering once per day. Your Otocinclus will enjoy eating until they are full. They won’t overfeed, but the leftovers they leave behind should be picked up before it affects your water quality.

How Fast Will My Otocinclus Eat?

Your Otocinclus can eat all day by grazing on diatoms or algae on rocks, the substrate or the glass. You may not notice it because the grazing occurs at night in most cases.

Why Do Otocinclus Starve?

Otocinclus eat with the assistance of gut bacteria that breaks down waste and absorbs nutrients. If the living bacteria doesn’t process the food or stop functioning due to being unfed, they will die. Your Otocinclus won’t be able to digest food and will not survive soon after.

Will Otocinclus Eat Flake Food?

Your Otocinclus may develop a taste for flake food when they discover pieces of it in the substrate. Some flakes meant for their tankmates may go uneaten. Your bottom-dweller may get to it and like it.

Do Otocinclus Eat Leaves?

Your Otocinclus will enjoy a well planted aquarium. They will definitely munch on leaves if they find it tasty. Slow-growing plants are best to consume less carbon dioxide.

Conclusion

Otocinclus may seem picky at first, but give them time to settle in. They made it through a long journey to get to you. They arrive stressed and need time to understand that the vegetables we are offering can be eaten.

Trader Feedback

So I have what I believe to be a very pregnant otocinclus. I have 5 of them in a ten gallon along with a still very tiny pea puffer. Literally about the size of a pea still. I got the otocinclus a few months ago for the purpose of trying to breed them.

Trader Feedback

I have had Otos bred on their own in a couple of tanks over the years. I have had them survive when there is plenty of surface algae for them to graze on. If you don't have any in your tank maybe you can put a small piece of wood in something else under intense light to try and grow some quickly.

Trader Feedback

Honestly, that sounds like a pleco diet for the most part, not an oto diet. Other than the little aufwuchs they get grazing on rocks etc, they don’t need animal protein. Soilent Green Repashy and blanched veggies, combined with maybe a little Community Repashy, is all I’ve needed to raise my otos and their babies. A seasoned tank helps too.

Introduction

Soft Green Algae

• The main food of Otocinclus is algae. They will eat the soft green algae thatgrows on the surfaces of the tank and its contents. This surfaces include the inside ofthe tank walls, gravel, decorations, and plants. This soft algae isn't to be confused withgreen spot algae that you can barely get off with a razor blade. It's obvious that therasping po...

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Prepared Foods

Green Veggies!

Protein