When do you feed algae wafers...

[geowashlaw]

So, I bought algae wafers for my otos a while back. I've thrown them in a couple of times and I'm fairly certain my rainbow shark ate them. Just wanted to know how you know when you need to feed them those versus just letting them live off the algae in the tank. Like now, I can see small bits of green algae on the back glass of my tank. The otos usually keep that very clean for me. So, does that mean there's plenty of food for them since they are not cleaning it all up? Does that mean they don't need any supplement of algae wafers? How do you tell when they do and when they don't need them?

Thanks!

[Fishalicious]

I throw mine in after lights out when I go to bed....which usually ends up being around 2am so the fish are long sleeping except for the nocturnal feeders :11:

Check the Oto's bellies - if they are nice and round and plump they are getting enough :11: Mine all have little pot bellies - sooo cute.

[Lady Hobbs]

Nite time here too. Today I tossed a couple in my tank but you can see why I feed at night!

[Northernguy]

They dissappear every night when I feed after dark!
I toss one in every morning too and all the fish seem to snack on it til its gone.

[geowashlaw]

my fear is making them lazy so that they don't do their job ... those little buggers need to earn their keep and make sure the tank is clean ... I don't want them hanging out waiting on algae wafers :hmm3grin2orange:

[Northernguy]

Don't feed them daily.
Try every other day!

[fishlover49]

Mine also looooove shrimp pellets! thumbs2: I feed them the same time I do all the other fish. They get right in there and eat right along with the rest.

[troy]

IMO and IME veggies are a lot better food for otos than algae wafers. Most algae wafers contain too little algae in them.

[Crispy]

IMO and IME veggies are a lot better food for otos than algae wafers. Most algae wafers contain too little algae in them.

I also feed veggies over algae wafers... alot cheaper and more nutritious! The trick is getting them to recognize it as food, but once they do, look out!! They sure love their veggies!!

[geowashlaw]

I'll try that ... but, again, they don't look famished and there is still a little algae on the back wall of my tank, so I don't know that they need any supplementation ...

[troy]

otos can have a little trouble eating algae growing on the glass. If you don't see them eating the algae at all, you should start supplementing with veggies.

[Anomaly]

Believe it or not, our Otos would touch neither algae wafers nor veggies. We threw them in there at lights out, and they'd still be there the next morning. We finally stopped even trying and just let our Otos fend for themselves with the algae in the tank. We have the same three we started off with 1 1/2 years ago, and they seem to be doing just fine finding plenty of food.

[troy]

Believe it or not, our Otos would touch neither algae wafers nor veggies. We threw them in there at lights out, and they'd still be there the next morning. We finally stopped even trying and just let our Otos fend for themselves with the algae in the tank. We have the same three we started off with 1 1/2 years ago, and they seem to be doing just fine finding plenty of food.
It could be that they don't recognize the veggies as food. have you tried blanching the veggies. The raw veggies might not be soft enough for them. Also what veggies are you feeding. Mine(o.vestitus? and o.vittatus?) like broccoli, squash, spinach, peas, and green beans but don't like apple, orange( I know they are fruit) and carrots.

[Crispy]

here's a pic of one of my clown loaches munchin' on some sweet potato.. even they've grown fond of the vegetables!! It doesn't surprise me to see all five fighting to get to the veggies!!

[troy]

here's a pic of one of my clown loaches munchin' on some sweet potato.. even they've grown fond of the vegetables!! It doesn't surprise me to see all five fighting to get to the veggies!!
I'll have to try that sometime with the otos.thumbs2:

[Anomaly]

It could be that they don't recognize the veggies as food. have you tried blanching the veggies. The raw veggies might not be soft enough for them. Also what veggies are you feeding. Mine(o.vestitus? and o.vittatus?) like broccoli, squash, spinach, peas, and green beans but don't like apple, orange( I know they are fruit) and carrots.

Yep, tried blanching also . . . we tried zuchini, cucumber, and squash and not a bit of interest. We have plenty of algae in the tank though, so I figure they just prefer the algae over anything else we put in there.

[terrapin24h]

Mine eat all manner of goodies off the tank walls, decor, heater, filter intake, etc. They rarely venture to gravel. Mine also ignore all wafers and veggies. I've got four and thus far have had no mortality. When the algae load lightens up from them, I jack up the light time and will allow my nitrate level to drift a bit(i usually shoot for 0, but when i am trying to get algae going will tolerate 5 or 10 for a week or so). Also, I have two words: ALGAE FARM!!!! Steps:

--Get a clear plastic ware container and scoop some (old, pre-water change) tank water into it.
--put some stones in there
--cap it to keep junk and bugs out, but poke a air hole or two in there
--place in south facing window(lots of sun) and wait a week

BOOM! algae. Drop a couple rocks in there every other day after lights out and you will be stunned at how clean they are next day.

The dirty tank water is the secret. Full of algae goodies it is.

--chris

[Algenco]

mine don't do much on the glass, but they get everything in the tank.
Veggies, even with blanching they didn't touch them till the 2nd day, then they went nuts

[geowashlaw]

I put cucumbers in last night and no one has touched them ... but my otos are like terrapin's ... they are constantly on the glass, air lines, filters, rocks, plant leaves and even down on the gravel ... they are busy little buggers and they are fat, so I don't think they are going without food ...

[Crispy]

mine don't do much on the glass, but they get everything in the tank. Veggies, even with blanching they didn't touch them till the 2nd day, then they went nuts

thats funny, cuz mine do the same thing.. barely touch it the first day, and then the second day they're fighting over it... hmmm...