Is it bad to QT otos?

**hyp0r** · 02-23-2012, 06:17 PM

I wanted to get some more otos. The ones I had before all died when I upgraded to a larger tank. I have a 5 gallon tank up that's cycled. I was just curious, since I feel like I should always QT fish before putting them in my main tank. But will otos survive in a QT tank? I've heard they'll only survive in a well established tank.

**Brhino** · 02-23-2012, 06:24 PM

if you don't QT them, you run the same risks as you would with any other fish. Perhaps moreso than most since they are wildcaught fish. The trick is making sure they have food to eat in there. When I decided to get otos, I grew green algae on rocks before I got them. In the QT tank, they had their choice of zucchini, green algae on rocks, and diatoms on tank decorations. They did fine.

**Fishin Phil** · 02-23-2012, 06:42 PM

The problem is most people don't think ahead like Brhino. You have to keep the little buggers eating, and most people don't have any algae in their QT. If you can get them eating veggies like zucchini, spinach, etc. the will do fine in QT.

**Goes to 11!** · 02-23-2012, 07:01 PM

QT is not optional IMO.

And as stated:
To feed them you can previously have set rocks or drift wood under lights for several weeks straight to grow nice buffet.[24hr photoperiod].

One other thing I have done is [Provided you have spares] place all my [Large enough] filter intake tubes/grates in there and they will clean them inside and out for you.

Freely fed fish and funk free filter intakes - It's win win.

**hyp0r** · 02-23-2012, 08:13 PM

So while you wait a few weeks for your QT to grow some nice algae. Do you keep fish in there to keep it cycled? Or do you just let the BB die and then seed with media from your main tank before you introduce the otos to your QT?

**Brhino** · 02-23-2012, 08:19 PM

I grew my algae rocks in a shallow plastic container on the windowsill. No added light, just sunlight. Threw in some fish food to decay into ammonia. I've heard of an airstone being recommended but I didn't have one. A few weeks later they were good to go. Then I set up a 10g tank just like any other QT/hospital tank, and added the rocks to that a couple at a time for as long as the otos were in there.

**Goes to 11!** · 02-23-2012, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by hyp0r

So while you wait a few weeks for your QT to grow some nice algae. Do you keep fish in there to keep it cycled? Or do you just let the BB die and then seed with media from your main tank before you introduce the otos to your QT?

My rocks grew algae in a rubber maid tub in the basement. The BB for my QT tank is on a sponge filter that runs in my 90, I simply move it over to the QT when I need it.