oto question

[Denise]

I have a newly cycled 10g tank (planted) with 1 platy, 1 marbled hatched, 5
zebra danios, 8 baby platies, a small snail and 2 otos. I do a 20% water
change weekly, all tests are in normal ranges w/0 ammonia & nitrites. I feed
CO2 into the filter from a yeast/sugar/water bottle (about 1 bubble every 3
seconds and I run a small airstone at night.
Everybody seems happy and all looks well but the two otos seem to spend more
time on either the heater cord or a bit of plastic tubing than they do on
the plants or the glass. Is that normal? I tried adding an algae wafer in
case they weren't getting enough algae, but they ignore it. TIA
Denise

[Keith J.]

Look at the ottos abdomens. If their belly looks round like they swallowed a
pea or something, they are full and have plenty of algae to eat. If their
bellies look flat or caved in, they have a problem.

My ottos spend most of the day sitting on plants, rocks, or the heater too.
They're just getting fat and lazy from having more algae in the tank than
they can eat. Time for me to get 6 more...

Keith J.

"Denise" > wrote in message
...
> I have a newly cycled 10g tank (planted) with 1 platy, 1 marbled hatched,
5
> zebra danios, 8 baby platies, a small snail and 2 otos. I do a 20% water
> change weekly, all tests are in normal ranges w/0 ammonia & nitrites. I
feed
> CO2 into the filter from a yeast/sugar/water bottle (about 1 bubble every
3
> seconds and I run a small airstone at night.
> Everybody seems happy and all looks well but the two otos seem to spend
more
> time on either the heater cord or a bit of plastic tubing than they do on
> the plants or the glass. Is that normal? I tried adding an algae wafer in
> case they weren't getting enough algae, but they ignore it. TIA
> Denise
>
>

[Denise]

Their bellies are flat but they don't look sick. Is there something else I
should be looking for?
Denise
"Keith J." > wrote in
message ...
> Look at the ottos abdomens. If their belly looks round like they swallowed
a
> pea or something, they are full and have plenty of algae to eat. If their
> bellies look flat or caved in, they have a problem.
>
> My ottos spend most of the day sitting on plants, rocks, or the heater
too.
> They're just getting fat and lazy from having more algae in the tank than
> they can eat. Time for me to get 6 more...
>
> Keith J.
>
> "Denise" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have a newly cycled 10g tank (planted) with 1 platy, 1 marbled
hatched,
> 5
> > zebra danios, 8 baby platies, a small snail and 2 otos. I do a 20% water
> > change weekly, all tests are in normal ranges w/0 ammonia & nitrites. I
> feed
> > CO2 into the filter from a yeast/sugar/water bottle (about 1 bubble
every
> 3
> > seconds and I run a small airstone at night.
> > Everybody seems happy and all looks well but the two otos seem to spend
> more
> > time on either the heater cord or a bit of plastic tubing than they do
on
> > the plants or the glass. Is that normal? I tried adding an algae wafer
in
> > case they weren't getting enough algae, but they ignore it. TIA
> > Denise
> >
> >
>
>

[Keith J.]

Do they appear to have other symptoms of disease? Things like white fuzzy
growths, ich spots, fin damage, cloudy eyes, etc ? If they appear otherwise
healthy, I would just continue to feed them a couple of algae wafers a day
and keep an eye on them. If they don't improve in a week, they may have some
kind of intestinal parasite.

My ottos had flat bellies when I got them, but now they are shaped like
cigars with a tail and fins. Yes, I have lots of algae in my tanks.

They are also more comfortable in groups. Maybe adding another otto or 2
would cheer them up a bit. I have a school of 5 in my 29 gallon and another
8 in my 40 display tank. Four or five ottos in a 10 gallon wouldn't be too
crowded.

Another thought , do you have glass or other sharp objects in the tank? If
they cut themselves on the gravel, they will be reluctant to sit on the
bottom.

Keith J.

"Denise" > wrote in message
...
> Their bellies are flat but they don't look sick. Is there something else I
> should be looking for?
> Denise

[Denise]

Nothing sharp in the tank and the gravel isn't coarse. They don't appear to
be ill and the occasionally eat algae off the glass or plants but most of
the time they're on the heater cord or the plastic tubing which, as far as I
can see, don't have any algae on them. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll keep
an eye on them and add one more to the tank.
Denise
"Keith J." > wrote in
message ...
> Do they appear to have other symptoms of disease? Things like white fuzzy
> growths, ich spots, fin damage, cloudy eyes, etc ? If they appear
otherwise
> healthy, I would just continue to feed them a couple of algae wafers a day
> and keep an eye on them. If they don't improve in a week, they may have
some
> kind of intestinal parasite.
>
> My ottos had flat bellies when I got them, but now they are shaped like
> cigars with a tail and fins. Yes, I have lots of algae in my tanks.
>
> They are also more comfortable in groups. Maybe adding another otto or 2
> would cheer them up a bit. I have a school of 5 in my 29 gallon and
another
> 8 in my 40 display tank. Four or five ottos in a 10 gallon wouldn't be too
> crowded.
>
> Another thought , do you have glass or other sharp objects in the tank? If
> they cut themselves on the gravel, they will be reluctant to sit on the
> bottom.
>
> Keith J.
>
> "Denise" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Their bellies are flat but they don't look sick. Is there something else
I
> > should be looking for?
> > Denise
>
>