what to feed otto fish

^{Feeding Otocinclus}

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

What can I Feed my Ottos?

Zucchini slices and spinach both serve as excellent substitutes for the algae your ottos may be missing out on. These fish may be slow to eat any vegetation you leave in their tank for them, though, so it’s possible you’ll have to fish out the remnants of your ottos’ dinner a day after you placed them into the tank.

What do Otos fish eat?

However, otos doesn’t depend on algae as on the main source of its food in the tank, therefore the fish should be fed with various special vegetable food, some feed with spirulina, flakes, frozen blood worm and gammarid. Fresh steamed vegetables, such as lettuce, spinach, squash and green pea are perfect supplements to the diet.

What kind of algae do Ottos eat?

As has been previously mentioned, otto catfish prefer, and even enjoy, to eat the algae that grow on the inside of their tanks. Softer and greener algae tends to go over well, and provides the ottos with the appropriate amount of nutrients, but brown diatom algae is also an acceptable treat for your fishy friends.

Do Oto catfish eat algae?

However, oto catfish is second to none among any other fishes as for efficient tank cleaning from algae. The fish does it all day long – it looks for algae and it doesn’t harm even the smallest and the most tender tank plant leaves, such as Hemianthus callitrichoides Cuba, Glossostigma elatinoides and even Java moss.

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.

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.

How do I get my otocinclus to eat?

4:0514:58Feeding Your Otocinclus - Why and How to Feed your Vegetarian FriendsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you don't want to go to that sort of effort what you can also do is just cut them up put themMoreIf you don't want to go to that sort of effort what you can also do is just cut them up put them into a glass of water that you sit on top of your aquarium for a day or two let.

Do Otto fish 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.

What do OTOS like eating?

Otos love to constantly graze on soft green algae growing on your substrate, decorations, aquarium glass, and plants. You don't want to confuse soft green algae with Green Spot Algae. GSA is extremely tough to remove and Otos won't eat it.

Can Otocinclus eat cucumber?

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 should be kept together?

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

Do Oto catfish eat brown algae?

Algae eaters. Otocinclus catfish, amano shrimp, and nerite snails are some of the sea creatures that will eat brown algae and some other types of algae. However, don't introduce them to your new tank too early as they may start eating your plants.

How do you feed zucchini to Otocinclus?

1:144:44Feeding Otocinclus and Farlowellas - Blanching Veggies and DietYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then all I do is take the zucchini chunks. Into the water. Do forgive the motion sickness.MoreAnd then all I do is take the zucchini chunks. Into the water. Do forgive the motion sickness.

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.

How fast do otocinclus grow?

Adult Otocinclus catfish won't disturb their eggs nor fry and can be kept together in the same aquarium. The young grow quite quickly and will be almost fully grown within 3 to 4 months!

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.

What is an oto catfish?

Oto catfish (Otocinclus affinis) Oto catfish (lat. Macrotocinclus affinis, ex. Otocinclus affinis) is a small and not bright fish – however , it’s one of the most efficient algae eaters in a tank. That catfish together with Amano shrimp are able to keep you tank and all plants in it clean and tidy.

What do catfish eat?

In a tank the fish will eagerly eat algae from stones, tank plant leaves and glass walls.

How long does an otocinclus live?

Body length may be up to 5 cm long (2 inches). Lifespan is up to 5 years in a tank. Nowadays otocinclus species numbers about 16 or 17 different kinds, which are sold in pet shops like one species. Affinis and Vittatus are more commonly seen.

Why is my otocinclus tank growing so fast?

Care is the same for all Otocinclus species. It’s partly caused by the small size and its intolerability to polluted and dirty water. The latter is the main reason of the good health and fast growth in tanks with low plants density and perfect quality of tank water.

How many species of affinis can you keep in a tank?

In the wild affinis prefers to stay in large shoals, so if you’d like to keep this fish in your tank, then buy at least 6 species at once, or even more, if you can afford it considering your tank capacity and algal covering in it. The healthy fish is very active during the day.

How to make a catfish habitat?

You can create a model of the catfish natural habitat by putting plants with lots of leaves and preliminary soaked tree branches into a tank. Using of sandy bottom substrate will become a good ground for the tank plants and the fish waste products will stay on the substrate surface till the tank filter sucks them in.

Why are catfish's fins transparent?

Due to its intestinal respiration catfish can breathe with outer air. Body coloring has some yellowish tint and there is a wide black-brown stripe along the body. The fins are transparent and colorless with some greenish tint. Female is fatter and larger than the male. Body length may be up to 5 cm long (2 inches).

What kind of algae is good for ottos?

Softer and greener algae tends to go over well, and provides the ottos with the appropriate amount of nutrients, but brown diatom algae is also an acceptable treat for your fishy friends. If you’re concerned that your ottos may not be getting enough to eat, though, there are alternatives available to you.

How big is an otto fish?

Keep some of the following details in mind, too, before deciding whether or not an otto fish is the right type of fish for you: Size: 1.5 to 2 inches. Water Temperature: 72 to 79 degrees.

What is the oto catfish?

The Otocinclus catfish has many alternative names and is also known as the oto catfish, as well as the dwarf sucker and the otto fish. This genus of fish can most frequently be found in freshwater streams and cannot thrive in brackish or saltwater. Oto catfish are also scavengers, though they are primarily herbivores, preferring to eat algae, ...

Why are ottos so aggressive?

All three of these types of fish are especially aggressive, and because the ottos have no manner of teeth or aggressive tendencies with which they could protect themselves, they are effectively ideal prey. You will reduce your ottos’ stress levels by pairing them with more mild-mannered tankmates.

What can I use instead of algae in my otto tank?

Zucchini slices and spinach both serve as excellent substitutes for the algae your ottos may be missing out on. These fish may be slow to eat any vegetation you leave in their tank for them, though, so it’s possible you’ll have to fish out the remnants of your ottos’ dinner a day after you placed them into the tank.

How to tell if an otto is failing?

Because your ottos have a particularly delicate immune system, you should take care to watch for any symptoms of their failing health . A reduced appetite, lethargy, heavy breathing, or general inactivity can all serve as warning signs that your ottos have some sort of issue with their health.

Where do otto catfish live?

So long as the water around them moves a little more slowly and is bubbly with oxygen, the otto catfish are content to live out their lives in the temperate, freshwater of the continent , enjoying as much algae as they can get their mouths on.

What is the food of otocinclus catfish?

It seems that algae is the preferred food of otocinclus catfish. If they ignore all the other types of food you offer in the tank, there is a chance they may be getting enough from the algae itself. It's a good idea to first give them a while to notice what you've left in the tank as food, don't remove it right away.

What to feed otocinclus before laying eggs?

Some spawning reports spoke of feeding brine shrimp and blood worms to otocinclus prior to them laying eggs. I will most likely try this out on some of my own and see if they go for the worms or shrimp. Perhaps this is a trigger for the fish to begin spawning... ingesting protein-rich food.

What do otocinclus eat?

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.

Can otocinclus eat green algae?

This soft algae isn't to be confused with green spot algae that you can barely get off with a razor blade. It's obvious that the rasping power of the otocinclus mouth isn't strong enough to remove that type of algae. They also eat brown diatom algae, which is common in newly setup aquariums.

Is an otocinclus happy?

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. 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.

Can otocinclus eat sinking food?

The most important thing to pay attention to when feeding sinking foods is that there can't be any major competition for these algae tablets.

Can otocinclus eat rainbowfish eggs?

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.

What to feed a fish?

Pet stores that sell fish often have algae wafers that can be used to feed them too. Other kitchen staples can also be used, and some terrific natural food items include: 1 Zucchini 2 Lettuce 3 Spinach

How many otos can you keep in an aquarium?

Otocinclus Tank Size Requirements. The minimum Otocinclus tank size should be around 10 gallons. This means you can safely house 4 to 6 Otos, and more can be added as the tank size increases. Plants should be added to the aquarium, and natural light with some shading is preferred to help these fish thrive.

How to tell if otocinclus are ready to mate?

This is how Otocinclus breed in their natural environments. When the fish are ready to mate, you might notice male Otos chasing female ones .

How big do otocinclus get?

Most varieties of Otocinclus are small with adults rarely growing more than 2 inches in size. This size makes them one of the most popular freshwater nano fish out there. Some of the smallest Otos measure only 1 inch in length.

What is an otocinclus?

Otocinclus are considered a small catfish that live in freshwater. These fish come in roughly 19 different species of the Loricarlidae family. Some people call these docile fish “dwarf suckers” or “otos” as appropriate nicknames for these fish and their outstanding algae eating abilities.

What fish have brown armor?

One common trait you’ll notice is that most types of Otocinclus have a distinctive brown stripe that stretches down their body. Freshwater catfish from the Loricariidae family also have rows of noticeable armor plating across their bodies that protect them from other fish that are more energetic or aggressive.

Why do fish stay in groups?

They tend to graze on algae and often stay in groups to better protect themselves from larger fish.

What fish can be used in a shrimp tank?

These fish are also excellent for tanks that have babies or shrimp inside them. The Otocinclus Catfish has great qualities that can enhance any tank, but you should take caution when purchasing these fish from the store.

How much does an otocinclus catfish cost?

In stores like Petsmart, Otocinclus Catfish are usually listed for about $2 per fish, but they are skinny. The problem with a skinny Otocinclus Catfish is that they will stop eating if they do not get enough to eat in the first place. Once the Catfish is starved, it cannot be brought back and will stop having the urge to eat.

What is the best catfish to keep in a tank?

Otocinclus Catfish is a peaceful fish that like to keep to their school of buddies. They are the perfect fish in both their calm demeanor and cleaning skills. The Otocinclus Catfish will clean glass, but they absolutely love to clean plants. They are great at delicately cleaning your greenery and your Catfish with stay happy and healthy eating any particles off the leaves. These fish are also excellent for tanks that have babies or shrimp inside them. The Otocinclus Catfish has great qualities that can enhance any tank, but you should take caution when purchasing these fish from the store.

How long do otocinclus live?

A healthy Otocinclus Catfish can live for 5-7 years. You know you will have reached success in finding a good food balance if your Otocinclus Catfish has lived in your tank for more than a month or two.

Can otocinclus catfish eat algae pellets?

Often one algae pellet is dropped in the tank and one algae pellet cannot feed 100 fish. The Otocinclus Catfish does not like protein and only wants vegetables. Another fault can be that they are placed in a clean tank, which does not provide a sufficient number ...

Can you add otocinclus to a tank?

These little Catfish have no mean bones in their body and will not attack other animals in your tank. You can safely add numbers to your tank without risking shows of aggression with the Otocinclus Catfish.

Do wholesalers provide catfish with food?

As the Catfish are shipped from the source to the wholesaler, they risk not receiving adequate food. The same goes for when they arrive and are housed at the wholesale location. Many wholesalers do not provide adequate food for the Otocinclus Catfish and they can become drastically thin or die from starvation.

What is an Otos eater?

German fish keepers refer to Otos as ‘Aufwuchs’ eaters. This is a term they use that means a fish is more or less an obligate algae grazer, though most fish like this probably also consume some tiny microfaunae that live in the algae layers as well.

How long does an Oto live in a tank?

I don’t consider any Oto to be out of the woods until it has lived at least two months in my tank. If an Oto lives that long, its chances are good for a decent lifespan.

How long does it take for an otos to die?

It is depressingly common for them to die within a week or two of purchase, or within the first two months. If you cannot offer a mature, heavily planted tank, with algae and other fresh green foods available all the time, then please, don’t buy any Otos.

Can you feed otos algae?

This means you really can’t just toss a few pellets in the tank, as you might for Cory cats and be sure the Otos will be fed. Some Otos don’t learn to eat anything other than fresh algae, so feeding them algae tabs/pellets or even fresh veggies, won’t be a guarantee they eat well.

Why are fish so hard to keep alive?

They can also be a challenge to keep alive. In part, this is because of some specific dietary needs ; in part, because of the way they are caught in the wild and handled afterwards; in part, because some, if not all, will be infested with various parasites, common to many wild caught fish.

Can you put otos in a quarantine tank?

Unfortunately, Otos in particular would not do very well in a small, bare quarantine tank.

Do snails eat algae?

Personally, I’ve always found that snails make the best algae eaters if you really need some, with the plus that most of the common snails are omnivores that eat almost anything else they can find, with the exception of Nerite snails, who need real algae to eat as much as Otos do.

Habitat in The Wild

Description

Difficulties in Keeping

Care and Keeping in A Tank

Feeding

• The stomach of catfish species caught in the wild is mostly filled with algae and other nutritive organic substances. In a tank the fish will eagerly eat algae from stones, tank plant leaves and glass walls. However, otos doesn’t depend on algae as on the main source of its food in the tank, therefore the fish should be fed with various special veg...

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