An Honest Conversation About Otocinclus Fish
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- Опубліковано 5 лип 2024
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Otocinclus catfish have the reputation of being very sensitive and hard to keep. Find out why as we show you how otos travel from the wild to your home and what you can do to bring them back to full health again.
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WHO WE ARE
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At Aquarium Co-Op, we focus on your aquariums. We specialize in freshwater tropical fish, aquatic plants, and the overall betterment of the freshwater fish keeping hobby. Our goal is to help you with your first pet fish and graduate you to an advanced aquarium hobbyist. If you'd like to take it to the next level, subscribe to Aquarium Co-Op and check out our weekly videos.
Cory McElroy is employed by Aquarium Co-Op LLC. He also owns Aquarium Co-Op LLC. Therefore, all content is sponsored by Aquarium Co-Op.
0:00 - Intro
0:34 - Otocinclus Fish in the Wild
1:41 - Sorting Otocinclus Fish at the Exporter
3:17 - Otocinclus Fish Feeding
9:01 - How many Otocinclus Fish should you keep together?
9:30 - Keeping Otocinclus Fish in Your Aquarium
10:30 - Trick with Repashy Food
11:35 - Why Otocinclus might be more sensitive
#Aquariumcoop #Aquariumfish #Fishtank - Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини
*What's your best tip for keeping otocinclus happy and healthy?* Also, if you're looking for more algae eaters to clean your aquarium, see our favorites here: ua-cam.com/video/h94Jp82Dk_U/v-deo.html
How is this comment from a day ago when this video was uploaded an hour ago?
I started with 3 otos in a 10 gallon (controversial, but there was plenty of algae) and a betta. They bred, and I ended up with 17 of them. I've only lost about 3 over the course of a year since then (due to not enough oxygen in an incident), and now have 14 left in my 40 gallon community, including 2 of the original parents. I find they love wood like you say and also smooth, algae-covered rocks. I leave a bunch of rocks out in a clear container of water in the sun to grow algae on them as food. Once they're covered, I grab a few, put em in the tank, and cycle out the rocks once they're clean so I have a continuous supply.
@@bageljade2165 it was probably uploaded but unlisted, he then will be able to write comments on his own video. The later post the video to the public. Which the video will show it was uploaded at the time made public.
I didn’t realize they needed so much space, I did a lot of research before I bought them but there’s not a lot of info out there. I started with 7 in a 40 gallon breeder, I lost 3 after a water change because I didn’t realize in Arizona our tap water comes out at 85-90 degrees even on cold lol :( I lost another one a few weeks later and I think now it was probably lack of food, I have lots of algae but it’s mostly hair algae. I really appreciate Corey doing this update, I think I’ll keep my 3 otos and not get anymore, especially since I plan on getting amano shrimp too.
Thank you Cory, posting the link in our local fish group on FB.
After I look at the link for algae eaters, as I need something that will do well in a 4' long, 8" - 10" deep set up where year round temp fluctuations are 62° lows, to 75° highs.
Guppies (may actually be guppy/ endler hybrids) have acclimated nicely, and eat a lot of algae.... but not all.
After half a year of having my group i saw my first baby otto yesterday! Seems like they're happy with me 🥳
they do need brackish water ,right?
Nope, they’re freshwater
I have seen that theyre quite a challenge to breed on purpose. Any tips on your setup??
@@MrTurboTurkey my tank is 230 liters. I was feeding lots of life baby brine and other frozen foods to get my bolivian rams in breeding mode.
Then the dressoir the tank was on started to slowly collapse so had to take all the fish out & place the tank on the floor. Effectively resulted in a 90% water change. Few weeks later i noticed the fry.
I have +- 15 ottos in that tank which is a lot, but i feed heavily. They all have nice fat bellies. Also have lots of wood & plants. Heavy feeding also results in algee but for the ottos that is a plus haha
oh wow, congrats! We can't keep this fish alive but you have managed to breed, well done!!! :)
As a shop owner, typically Otocinclus spp. come in looking rather skinny.
I always keep one of my QT tanks under the lights “dirty” growing plenty of algae and then I also add new pieces of vine wood to the tank pre their arrival which allows for all the lovely mulm and periphyton to grow all over it. Once they arrive they will feed on this as it’s “Natural” and once they’ve cleaned that up, you can start to ween them onto dried foods. Works a treat 👌🏼😁
Yeah I think this is the big part of the issue - they aren’t getting much if any food between river and fish store, and even in the store they often don’t get the right foods
nice! From what i've read, otocinclus naturally have a bacteria in their gut. This bacteria breaks down food. If the bacteria dies during the whole process, or the oto isn't fed well, they will not be able to properly digest the food, leading to deaths 1-2 weeks after purchase
This is apparently no matter what I’ve tried , with just 3 in a 36 gallon , heavily planted , driftwood, they die in 9 months to a year. And even had rounded bellies. A few times I lost one after a small water change, I never do more than 5 gallons at a time. I use RO water .This tank was running for 1 1/2 yrs before they were added. I had dirt with medium sand cap. So I stopped buying them, I hate to see them keep dying. I do have a very good local fish store, that I can buy a Siamese algae eater , and when they become too big I can take them back. They put them in a tank they need one in. I don’t get any store credit. But they give my tank a good clean up. No matter what we do , we are still just trying to mimic nature, and that’s impossible really isn’t it ? Thanks for this good information on the poor little Ottos.
@@jmdq1 further to my above tip, they generally come in with internal parasites and flukes, so even though they look squeaky clean, it would be worth running a fluke and wormer powdered medication through them to flush them through. Depends how long these fish have had issues for but that can take a while to show its colours and cause issues down the line!
Hi Cory! I am a breeder of Otocinclus looking to make change in ending their journey of being wild caught! I have many resources in my videos, and we even brought one fry up to adult! I would love to have a conversation with you to change their future for the better.
My tips. (And I’ve had them live to 9 yrs old)
Lots of wood. Different types if possible.
Brown algae is your friend.
Almond leaves.
French cut green beans.
Small tankmates. They are the perfect shape to be eaten, and they lie in plain sight. Even a small Jurupari can eat them.
Sinking food.
Low 70s for temp (at least for the winter)
I'm wondering if I manage to spawn way autos I know my guppies did and the babies escape the breeding cage but one is black and acts more like a catfish the Autos are the only other kind of fish.
Sounds like my tank. I have 6 ottos right now and no deaths so thats a win 😆
That’s awesome you should share your tips in your channel
They are definitely right up there with goldfish and bettas for the most abused/neglected fish in the hobby. Poor wee things.
😭🙏❤️🐟💚
Like plecos
@Austin Duke yes
Like common plecos and oscar fish
@Austin Duke going for worlds worst setup I see! Nice.
Love this. Simple, clear, honest and true. You speak for the fish, and that is great. We can do better by them.
I really hope we can get these guys captive bred soon
It will never happen EVER. They know were there home is.
@@OWlsfordshire I mean that's been said about many species before. Assuming we can grow an ideal food source in large quantities it seems possible
Catching these fish from the wild is actually very sustainable and good for the environment. Wild caught aquarium fish from South America/the Amazon keep the Amazon from being destroyed as it keeps fishermen in work and those people campaign not to have their livelyhood destroyed. Theres zero fish in the area who are endangered and most are in the billions in their numbers. Also half the fish are caught in the season where the water is low, and they are trapped in small pools and stuff with predators, overheating and still water meaning most would die anyway.
Theres fish from Asia I think are endangered but South American fish it is actuallly better to have wild caught.
@@celticbarry9877 fair enough, I just dislike the idea of so many post catch deaths. I understand though that these lil dudes breed like crazy and are eaten like crazy and thus by comparison the catching isn't likely to harm their numbers
@@celticbarry9877 glass cats are endangered. Somehow fish farms in Asia have discovered a way to breed them but won't share the secret.
This is right on, 100%. Otos need good food sources, biofilm on wood or rocks, algae on just about anything, as well as supplemental foods. I feel the number on cause of death in a home aquarium is the lack of proper nutrition for them.
Did I just watch a fish poo for 2 seconds and it was entertaining
Such a long time for such a small creature to go without food! I think most average knowledge fishkeepers assume that by this point any "common" fish they buy are captive bred unless otherwise marked - in fact there is an expectation of wild caught to be more exotic AND more expensive. Seeing these huge numbers of fish being pulled from the wild can also raise questions about over collecting, but videos like this can open up good discussion about a sensitive topic.
I used to think of Otos as good for small tanks, but not anymore. My nano tanks got shrimp and snails for cleanup knowing that the main source of cleaning is two legged and sans gills.
I’ve heard someone say that collecting them is actually good for the environment, because they end up overbreeding so much.
Going to start an aquarium maintenance business but instead I just throw 20 otto’s in the tank so that they get fed properly 😎 Leaving rocks in aquarium water outside and then putting them in the tank once they’re covered in algae is a classic tip on these guys!
I knew fish were fasted, but I appreciate the way you take care of the fish and plants before you sell them. You really bridge the gap from wild to our tanks. Thank you!
Otocinclus are such great fish! I bought 4 a year and a half ago when I was newer in the hobby they went from my 5g to my 15g and now live in my 29g I set up a couple months ago. My Apisto Borellii shares his frozen brine shrimp with them. Also when I’m doing maintenance and water changes they stay grouped up and swim very tight together really neat to see.
oh wow. i learn alot from this video. i kept group of oto before, and failed miserably. hearing that they are really sensitive about parameters, i deliberately keep them in stable tank to keep soft algae low. i was happy for a week and a half that my tank is spotless, and then they start to wither away.
I know you’ve probably covered this but you didn’t mention it so I’m gonna ask, do you feed them other than algae and biofilm?
i tried zucchini, green beans even carrot. but they nibble it for a bit, but they doesnt really eating it. and i dont bother trying algae wafer, i was afraid that they won't like the taste of a real algae. and i kept them in a high tech iwagumi setup, so it doesnt have any wood in the tank.
@@setyahartade3335 my ottos like red pepper, I freeze the pepper to make it easier to eat.
Wood may be more important than we think, its a food source but tiny bits of wood may be important to their diet, like a pleco, another catfish.
I’ve found it’s getting past the first week settling in. If they last the first week they tend to be really hardy. When you’re selecting them at a store make sure you’re looking for the fattest ones.
I've kept 11 in a 10 gallon for well over half a year and none died out on me. Currently moved 9 into a 40 and left 2 in the 10. It really comes down to water quality and having food available
I like that AquaticArts has sourced someone who is captive breeding them for sale now. I’m not sure if Dean is breeding them captive or not?
I love that I can always trust you guys to give good, honest information. You advocate for the best practices in the hobby and as a self-taught fish keeper, it's invaluable!
I absolutely love otos, I had my best luck with them when I was a kid and "neglected" my tank quite a bit more than I would now. My small pleco (never did figure out what he was but he stayed small) and my pair of otos outlived everything else that ever went into that tank, one oto died after about six years and the other had to have been in my tank close to ten years. I haven't had nearly as good of luck with them since, and I truly believe it all just boils down to a little maintenance neglect.
I totally agree! Less maintenance allows for more detritus buildup. Detritus is the best home for small micro-organisms and micro algaes (exactly what otos eat). Theoretically, with a high light and enough detritus, you wouldn't need to feed them a single time
Great nuanced and interesting video! Love how you mixed experiences and perspectives from being in the wild, working as a shop owner, and caring for otos as a hobbyist.
Totally agree about the wood. Looking at pictures of tanks where they have spawned, I'm not sure I've seen one without driftwood. Eric Bodrock said once they need to perch on narrow twigs to feel safe enough to spawn but I suspect it might be a dietary factor too
Mine lay on my Java fern and hang upside down in a cave under my roots it's so fun to watch
It's hard to say whether they want it for safety or food. As backyard aquarists like ourselves, we rarely truly understand why after something works. A lot of the hobby is this way.
@@AquariumCoop I'll have you know, my aquarium is out in the front yard, propped up on cinder blocks.
Thank you Cory! I think people are so obsessed with having spotless tanks, that alot of our grazers miss out.
otos are probably what kept me in the hobby. I couldn't do anything to get rid of brown algae/diatoms.
Silver flying foxes are also awesome for this and being larger consume a lot more, worth a thought :)
Wow! They go thru so much, just to get to a store! Thanks, Cory. This will help get them settled in at home better!
Yes, I like Otocinclus so much. Such a funny fish :) I always try to make them as comfortable as possible.
This is one of the most informative video on Otocinclus I’ve ever seen. It definitely helped me understand their habitat and how they eat. Thank you 🙂
I did this by complete accident. I put some driftwood in my tank for some shrimp I had about 2 month before i got Otos. For the first week or so that's all I would ever see them on. Now they're all over my plants and decorations.
This explains so much! I bought 6 Oto’s a couple years ago for my 75 gallon and they all died within a month. Now I know why-no wood, no plants, minimal algae, bright light, high Ph. I’ve since rectified all that but have other algae eaters at the moment. This was great info!
Great Video as always! I realized how much otos actually eat when I was ready with cycled ten gallon. All the glass/plants/decor were covered in diatom algae and the sorts. I went that day to grab 4 otos. Accilimated and dropped in and within 30 minutes my small pink flamingo was half clean. Within the hour it was fully clean. I go to sleep and overnight the entire glass front, back, left, right was completely cleaned. At that moment I realized that they need way more food and readily supplement them when I feed. They are such interesting creatures and I guess when they're happy they like to school with other fish for some reason.
Wow! Great video! Its an excellent way to inform a wide audience not about this fish, but in general how fish get to them and that is an important factor to consider when you bring a fish into your home.
Thank you for making a real honest video! I had been on the "hunt" for a pair of ottos that started about a year ago, but after watching your video, was glad I didnt find them immediately. This summer I set up a quarantine tank, and worked on getting it ready for them, or maybe a couple more catfish (I only wanted full bellies) I was lucky enough to find a fat otto and a younger one and brought them home and they've been happily (?) grazing on the rock and java fern algae plus they love uncooked vegetables and shrimp pellets. Two weeks and into the main tank they'll go where algae is abundant. I wish I knew about the wood but hey now I know. Point is it's been 2 weeks, they're still alive and eating and I have you to thank ....so props to you Corey!
Nice job on a specified species, Otos are great little fish, Good pick.
LOVE IT CORY, keep bringing that positive energy. I makes my day!
Cory thanks for doing a newer video for this. Now I feel less guilty about keeping a tiny group in my tank. But I always knew they would be well fed. As for me, it took me 3 attempts until I was finally able to raise Otocinclus successfully. I think the first time my tank wasn't established enough. Second attempt there was too drastic of water parameter changes. The third time I got it right. By this point my tank had a TON of plants, wood, and enough algae on my back and side walls for them to eat off of. I also drip acclimated them into the tank. And since then I stop doing drastic 50% water changes. I mean I still do 50% but not all at once. I take out 50%, then add 25%, wait an hour, then add the remaining 25% so that they're not shocked. They are very sensitive fish but worth all the trouble. Hopefully someone will take the advice from Cory and myself so that we don't lose any otocinclus. Enjoy!
Thanks for another great in-depth video. I don't know anyone else who would take the time to actually go see this whole process and we are all better for it.
I love this! and would love to see more like it with other species. I always thought it would be so cool if national geographic or someone did a series on all the different fish people keep in aquariums, showing where and how they really live in the wild
This was a phenomenal video! I've had issues with keeping otos alive passed 4-5 months once bought. Appreciate this knowledge
I’ve had a tough time with keeping otos alive. My last group of six is down to one. They slowly died over the course of several months. I’m going to try the painting repashy trick. Thanks for the advice.
@Seamus That's really smart, great tip!
Repashy? Like crested gecko diet?
@@jasminezed7839 repashy makes fish food too! Soilent Green is especially good for otos
This was one of your best videos! I love my ottos!
Thank you for addressing this in such honest way
I love your channel and Aquarium Coop! I have made several orders to your store and I think I look more forward to the stickers inside than the supplies lol Thank you (and the whole crew!) for all the time and effort you put into this. The passion shows through :-) BTW I am jealous of your travels!
This by far the absolute best species focus video I have seen. I have so much more appreciation for this fish.
Finally!! Somebody else who knows about Otos!!
thank you for having the heart to care for their wellbeing
I just got my first group of these guys this week. Love them so much! Great video
Love otos! I've had the same two for more than a year...can't get any more through the acclimation process. Thanks for bringing knowledge of the whole journey. Maybe two is the perfect number!
I just bought 3 for my established tank and really appreciate your insights! I’ve got alley wafers to ensure they get the same love and care and my other fish! Hands down my favorite fish channel!!!!!
Ottos are my favorite fish in my 75 gallon. They are adorable with funny personalities.
Thanks! This video was a great balance of in-the-wild, and in-the-economic-chain. Although having said that, it motivates me to go check out some of your wild collection videos, which I have not seen. Thanks!
I got the last four tiny, tiny otos, brought them home, and they are eating then swimming around willy nilly with the corys. They are the most chaotic fish in the tank currently 😄
Otos are such a rewarding little fish to keep in a heavily planted aquarium. They absolutely thrive on having driftwood and tannin added. If you don't like the tea color of the water you can always pre-soak your wood until it stops leaching and then add Blackwater Clear so you don't have the discoloration but still get the benefit of the tannin. The more wood and plants, the easier they are to keep. Repashy Igapo Explorer, and Sera Spirulina wafers with added wood is what mine seem to prefer in regards to food.
I've found the same thing. Otos are one of my favourite fish, adore those little guys, and I was aware of how they struggle with being caught, warehoused and shipped so made sure my tank was prepared for them. Lots of plants, over-filtered, wood and stone surfaces, almond leaves, even mulm seems to help. Never clean the back or side glass myself, that's theirs, and my six otos have been wonderful in my 15g for two years now. Living with pygmy cories that also thrive in those tank conditions and are colony breeding like mad! Haven't seen oto fry yet (I would love to!) but I have seen the females looking heavy with eggs and spawning behaviour. Various supplimental foods offered of course, but they mainly seem to live on the tank algae, and lots of plants/wood etc offers lots of surfaces for biofilm and soft algae.
Excellent information as always Corey, thank you👍👍
I have 3 in my 28 gallon planted tank. I love watching them chill out on the leaves. One of my favorite little fish.
Great info. Also good formatting as far as video editing!
I have 5 oto cats and they're all plump and happy. I have a group of 4 pygmy coreys in the same tank and the pygmies and otos love each other. They're always schooling together. Sometimes it's the pygmies schooling with the otos, sometimes it's the other way around, and sometimes they break off into smaller mixed schools.
I also feed my otos algea wafers.
Love those cute round bellies!!! Nice mix of you speaking and video of what you're speaking about - Thanks Cory and Jimmy 💕👍
Brilliant upload! I gave up on otos years ago due to their inability to stay alive longer than a few months, and they were too costly to keep in proper-sized schools. Now I've somewhat matured and can see myself owning a school of them again👍🏾.
This is amazing. Thank you so much. I wish YT would have suggested it sooner! ❤❤
This was a great and informative video! Thank you!
Great video and info. Loved the behind the scenes video. Keep it up!❤️
this was immensely helpful! Thank you so much! :)
Super informative. You solved every mystery about my Oto experience.
I love the repashy on wood idea.
Grate video keep up the good work can't get enough
Thanks for the info
Great video very informative! Thank you Cory
Yes! Love the real footage!
Always full of observations and commonsense! 👏👏👏
I’ve been too intimidated to try them since they are considered sensitive, but with this knowledge, I feel like I could be successful!
Fantastic video quality too you guys - this was top notch info and presentation 🌟
Fantastic video bubba! I love seeing the journey from river to tank! That’s the stuff you DON’T get to see, just like how sausage is made.
loved this video, would love to see more like these
I wouldn’t expect anything else from you and the co-op!
Amazing! Thank you for sharing your experience.
Thank you for sponsoring Wild Caught.
Superb video, information and guidance, thanks!
Really appreciate learning more this way. We had one given to us and I didn't much about them. Now we got more for groups and they sure are entertaining us now. Educating some of the staff when given the chance. But enjoy the different foods they eat right out of our garden. And cucumber is one of their favorites. Will try to keep learning. Sad so many get wild caught. If someone is successful in breeding them, that would make it better I would hope.
Thank you so much for this! I love your idea for the Repashy on wood etc
-- I’ve never used it but I am now! My Otos thank you!
I never thought about glazing repashy on objects, that's brilliant! I have strips of coconut shells that would be perfect for this. Thanks so much for the tip! I have 2 otos in a 15g planted tank and they always have a nice little plump belly. I add some algae wafers from time to time and just got some repashy. I want to add 1 or 2 amano shrimp once I have visible algae, so far it's too early.
Excellent information
Really loved this video and really wished I knew before I bought my ottos. I bought 6 for my 75 because I thought they needed to be in groups
I have 4 otos in my 10 gallon tank with a few Ember Tetras, I've had them for about 2 months and they are fat and sassy! They absolutely LOVE green beans I give them 2 or 3 times a week :) They also get Repashy that I dip the rocks in from the tank. I love them and I hope to see some spawning behavior soon!
I bought my first Otos a couple months ago, 6 of them, split them into 2 groups for my 2 tanks, and I thankfully haven't lost one. I take pictures of their bellies from time to time and they're huuuuge lol
Great video as always. We just got 3 for the 20 gallon long aquarium. Lots of plants and wood. I think that they will be happy 🤞
Fantastic video, I am going to share this on my Otocinclus catfish group on Facebook
Terrific video! Very entertaining and informative.
I like this kind of video. Thanks Cory!!!
This was great 👍. I really like the repashy on rock idea...thanks Cory
Great video full of helpful information!
I just got some. I really love them, and it’s amazing how effective they are at algae consumption.
Thanks great video. I went from 6 to 3 and am back at 4 oto's, so they are to breed in my tank. Have also found wood really helps.
Best vid in a while
Awesome! I love learning more about these guys, they're one of my favorites! I have them in a planted community South American tank and feed sinking algae wafers and canned green beans routinely to make sure they get enough food :-)
Thanks for the informative video! I've only had my otos about 6 months now, so I have no idea how they'll do long-term, but so far mine have been doing well. I lost one early on who seemed to have neurological problems (or something similar), but the rest have been healthy and eating a variety of foods. I'm sure it helps that both of the LFSs in my area are wonderful and already had their otos well-fed before selling them :)
My otos have largely ignored cucumber and zucchini, whether fresh or blanched, but they LOVE blanched spinach. I often see one or two otos, a snail, and a couple shrimp all eating off the same leaf. They're such cute little fish!
Hello Cory. I ordered my first batch of Oto's from Aqua Huna. I hope they do well. My tank has plenty of algae for them to eat. I've never had these fish before. I can't wait for them to come in.
Great video Corey, I was thinking about getting a few of them
And putting them in my 55, this video helped a lot thanks. 🤩
Love these guys
Bizarrely, after reading these comments, I have 10 in my 130 litre which I’ve had for almost 2 years. I lost 2 within a month then none since….which I only found out in May when I stripped and refurbed the tank! I was surprised that so many had survived (and thrived), they are plump. Not aware that I’m doing anything special so I’m clearly lucky that I’ve got tough little cookies who like my set up😃. Tons of plants, smooth river cobbles, azaelea wood and constant new catappas. I adore the little guys and have to not think about what I know they went through to arrive in my home😬
Great video Cory, thanks👍🏼
been watching for years! love how your channel has developed!
Love the tip about coating a piece of wood with Repashy for feeding. Going to try that now.