Two Questions.

[Klane]

Our 20 gal long tank now has 6 Zebra Danios and a Dwarf Red (actually
orange) Gourami. Today we added to the tank a Dwarf Powder Blue Gourami
and an Oto. I've noticed a couple of things that I'm not sure about.

1) The Red Gourami will swim under the Blue, more or less on it's side,
and the Blue will sometimes touch it with the long feelers (?). Other
times the Red will look like it's harassing the Blue by bumping into it
from behind. Is this normal get-to-know-you behavior or should I keep
an eye out in case the Blue starts showing signs it's being attacked.

2) The Oto is as cute as can be. I had no idea how small it was.
Anyway, it immediately started in on the brown algae I seemed to have
developed in the past two days. Then I notice it swimming in a school
with the Danios. It will swim around, take off and attach to something
for a bit, then swim around with the Danios again. Is this normal?
Everything I've read about them said they were shy and kept to
themselves.

Thanks,
Klane

[NetMax]

"Klane" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Our 20 gal long tank now has 6 Zebra Danios and a Dwarf Red (actually
> orange) Gourami. Today we added to the tank a Dwarf Powder Blue Gourami
> and an Oto. I've noticed a couple of things that I'm not sure about.
>
> 1) The Red Gourami will swim under the Blue, more or less on it's side,
> and the Blue will sometimes touch it with the long feelers (?). Other
> times the Red will look like it's harassing the Blue by bumping into it
> from behind. Is this normal get-to-know-you behavior or should I keep
> an eye out in case the Blue starts showing signs it's being attacked.

Assuming that these are two male Dwarf gouramis, the behaviour is to
determine alpha status (who is the boss). Typically, the problem comes
from a not-so-benign boss pushing the loser into a corner away from the
food. Watch for that.

> 2) The Oto is as cute as can be. I had no idea how small it was.
> Anyway, it immediately started in on the brown algae I seemed to have
> developed in the past two days. Then I notice it swimming in a school
> with the Danios. It will swim around, take off and attach to something
> for a bit, then swim around with the Danios again. Is this normal?
> Everything I've read about them said they were shy and kept to
> themselves.

Many descriptions are typical only. What you're seeing is not unusual,
just not typical. CAEs and SAEs will sometimes do the same thing.
Lonely, bored, happy (?), I'd get him some Oto company.
--
www.NetMax.tk

> Thanks,
> Klane

[Elaine T]

teri wrote:
>>Our 20 gal long tank now has 6 Zebra Danios and a Dwarf Red (actually
>>orange) Gourami. Today we added to the tank a Dwarf Powder Blue Gourami
>>and an Oto.
>
>
> Building up a new tank (first tank actually) is great. I have now
> finished stocking my 20G. Have three platys, two cherry barbs, three
> harlequins, two otos, and the newest addition is the five neons. I
> decided to go with neons over cardinals for now because they are not
> as sensitive to pH - mine is a steady 7.6, and cardinals like it
> acidic so I worried about that, plus I am very much a newbie so I
> thought neons would be safer. Other than the neons, since they came
> last nite, they are all my favorite. The cherries are just adorable,
> and the harlequins get neater every day, and the platys each have
> their own personality which I love.
> My only problem now is that I am afraid the otos aren't getting enough
> to eat. They have stripped the tank of algae, and while it must still
> be growing and they get it right away, I don't really know. A Lot had
> built up in the two weeks before I got them, so hopefully it grows
> enough now for a steady diet. I put cucumber in once in a while, but
> never saw them at it, and I put part of an algae wafer in every few
> nites, but I never see them at that either, and the next morning the
> candy platy always has a suspiciously Huge belly. (I noticed that
> belly after the first time I gave them frozen bloodworms, thought she
> was very pregnant :-) ). But I will get zucchini today and put that
> in, hopefully the otos find it. I don't think they have little round
> bellies like they should, but they do swim around like mad, so
> hopefully they are happy, and not in desperate searches for food.
>
> Teri

Sounds like a lovely tank. You've got a bunch of my own favorite fish.

Otos sometimes refuse anything but algae growing in the tank. In your
case, I wouldn't worry too much. I think only 2 otos should find enough
food in a 20 gallon since you have no other algae eaters. My rule of
thumb for my brightly lit planted tanks is one oto per 5 gallons.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[teri]

>Sounds like a lovely tank. You've got a bunch of my own favorite fish.
thanks :-)

>Otos sometimes refuse anything but algae growing in the tank. In your
>case, I wouldn't worry too much. I think only 2 otos should find enough
>food in a 20 gallon since you have no other algae eaters. My rule of
>thumb for my brightly lit planted tanks is one oto per 5 gallons.
thanks again. so I will keep a good eye on them, but not worry.
Teri