When should you feed otos algae wafers?

[dman]

I just got some otos the other day and noticed immediately the plant leaves becoming clean! They are great. I am wondering if you should still drop in algae wafers, or should you wait until the tank is clean and they have no more algae to eat.

[MCHRKiller]

I would still supplement their scavaging around the tank with atleast 3-4 feedings per week. Algae wafers are great, but dont be afraid to try some lightly blanched zuchinni or cucumber with them either.

[Red]

Agreed with above, otos love veggies and should at least be fed 3 times a week. Algae wafers are decent, but only good brands have algae in them. Hikari has one of the best wafers.

[dman]

I did buy Hikaris and put one in the other night. In the morning I noticed some stuff all over in there where I dropped it, so I am assuming that was the wafer dissolved. The ghost shrimp were working on it and I would see an oto there eating it too and then the next morning it was all gone. Do they usually last that long? I will get some zuchinni too. If you blanch it, does it sink then, or do you need to put a rock on it or something? Should you peel it? Just leave it in there until its all gone or take it out? Thanks for the tips!

[MCHRKiller]

It still wont sink alone youll have to stick a fork in it or something to get it to sink. Blanching just softens it up so the otos can eat it easier. Peeling it is optional, theyll usually just dive into the middle of it, and dont leave it in your tank longer than 12-16hrs. Put it in at night and remove it in the morning :22:

[hannah24l]

Quick q while on topis of ottos - i am getting some in a couple of months do you need to clean the glass still?

[MCHRKiller]

I always do atleast the front pane with the otos already in the tank. Definatly keep up on cleaning the glass until you get the otos. Otos are very efficient algae eaters but no need to have your tank look dirty until you get them...and its always ok to give them a little help cleaning the tank :22:

[dman]

The first time I fed a wafer, I didn't know how much so I put in a whole wafer at night. The next day I could see a lot of it dissolved and scattered in the area I dropped. I vacuumed it out a couple days later after they stopped eating it. Then last time I put a half in and it seemed to be gone by morning. I put the other half in that night and they didn't eat it all. So should I just try a half maybe a couple times a week? I still need to get some zucchini to try that. But if they don't eat the whole wafer, does it hurt to leave the remains in there or should I vacuum it out? I do see them or some shrimp munching on it still, but its not going away very fast.

[incorporeal_x]

Mine don't like the algae wafers at all so I give them zuchinni or cucumber instead.

[Sharkman]

thanks for the info. This is a very informative thread.

[dman]

I blanched a piece of zuchinni last night and stuck it in the tank, and it did sink on its own. It drifted a little thought with the current and ended up lodged against some plants but wasn't laying flat. Does that matter or will they only eat it if its flat on the ground? And I suppose I should take it out in the morning?

[neilp]

I have 2 otos in tank and I have tried to get them interested in algae wafers (Hikari) and some cucumber.

They don't seem to find the wafers easily and the platies and serpae tetras get there first and squabble over them which keeps the otos out of the picture.

Occasionally they get there first and get to eat some. Feeding flakes at the same times seems to help.

The cucumber was ignored by all the fish. I mirowaved it to soften it up a little and used a fork to sink it. I left the "skin" on it - would peeling it help?

[dman]

Well, I noticed the zuchinni this morning and it looked like no one touched it, and I got sidetracked and forgot about it and didn't take it out. Then tonight I noticed an oto and two shrimp eating off of it! So maybe they do like it. Does it hurt to leave it in there for more than just overnight?

[Sharkman]

I leave my cucumbers in the tank for atleast 24 hours. Gives the fish enough time to get a few snacks in and the cucumber is just about gone or to mushy to keep in there by the time I take it out. It took my otos nearly 5 times to figure out the cucumber was food so don't get down if they don't eat it right away.


I use a veggie clip and have my cucumber slice in there, but they will eat it flat, vertical, on an angle, it doesn't matter.