Ottocinclus "testing"...

[Blue Ridge Reef]

I have few theories about ottos, besides the fact that they ship poorly. I am trying them in several systems, ranging from a pH of 9.0 to 6.4, temps from chilled to 84 heated, and even in goldfish "change" water -with tons of nitrogen. I have a few theories already, but will update this as I have some clear conclusions. I've often heard that they need tons of dissolved O2 (more true than false so far), cold temps (yet they are doing well at 84), flowing water (nope), and well-established tanks (no correlation yet). I had typed out several paragraphs about my findings so far, and somehow wiped it all out at a keystroke. But I figure it's best that I describe what I'm doing and results before my hypothesis, anyway.
I have four environments that I am adding ottos to currently. One is a Tanganyikan tank, one is a "hot" soft water tank, one is a chilled system that NH4NO3 builds up in, but is changed weekly -and the other(s) are new systems in which the ottos will be the first inhabitants. I will use 50% RO/DI in one, and buffer GH/KH in the other. From working with the species, I already think I know what will happen. But I'll let ya know by the exact number as the next 3-4 weeks go on. But I'm not putting many where I think they'll crash!
Will update soon!

[scolley]

I am absolutely subscribed to this! Thanks for testing this out...

I've got a "hot" soft water tank that is clearly not ideal for ottos, so I really looking forward to your results.

Thanks for testing! And thanks for sharing!

[t0p_sh0tta]

FWIW, my Ottos have been in my tank since day 1 (after a fishless cycle), and are doing great. They're the biggest Ottos I've ever seen (> ~1.25") and are ~2 months old.

[Minsc]

I thought otos are generally hardy, just don't handle transitions well?
In any case, it will be interesting.

[lauraleellbp]

Blue- would it be possible to add a setup with straight up rainwater?

I've heard from an importer that this is what he does with all WC fish shipped from Central and SAm, with incredible results (he reports 90% success rates even with cardinals and rummies!) and I'm kinda curious...

[Blue Ridge Reef]

Our rainwater is VERY acidic and polluted here, at least the first inch or so. I'm not sure how I would go about collecting, but it would be an interesting control group.
So far, so good on the ottos that made the transition into the Tanganyikan tank. I wasn't expecting that. I get 25 in tomorrow and will place 5 per system, the extra 5 will be for sale, or however many (over 20) are alive in the bag.

[BiscuitSlayer]

Originally Posted by Blue Ridge Reef

I had typed out several paragraphs about my findings so far, and somehow wiped it all out at a keystroke.

For future reference, if you wipe things out with a single keystroke hit:

Ctrl - z

It will undo your last action.

As far as prime conditions for ottos go, I am interested in this one too. Ottos are great little fish.

[Blue Ridge Reef]

One interesting finding, FWIW has come up. I have two identical MARS systems, both have similar bio-loads, both are changed 50% twice weekly, and fed similarly. Temperatures are kept at 78 on each. I have ottos from three different shipments in each, but I have far more losses in one than the other. The only difference I know of is that one has Home Depot "pea gravel" in it, and the other has Estes black gravel. All water parameters are nearly identical -0 ppm NH4, 0 ppm NO2, 0 ppm NO3, pH 7.2, GH & KH both low & identical. Both systems have identical lighting, both house only peaceful tetras, and have two sections each with live plants. I am losing ottos (and it's at a rate of 3-5 per week/compared to 0 thus far) in the one with pea gravel. The substrate seems to cause no changes in water chemistry, but is more coarse and is often broken and jagged. I have seen cory cats with abrasions kept in this system, but no evidence of cuts exists on the ottos, dead or alive. This could very well have nothing to do with the fish deaths, it's just the only difference I have observed. Probably means nothing, but thought it might be worth mention.

The ottos in the 125 Tanganyikan tank are doing well, although around 25% died within 48 hours of acclimation. The specimens that survived seem happy and have fat bellies. In the 125 planted, I have only seen one dead fish out of 30, but there are tons of places a fish could die that I'd never see. The chilled (heavily packed) goldfish system is a mystery. Last week's ottos all settled in well, except for three or four "light" ones I expected to die. This week's fish crashed! I split the bag into four systems, and all that went into it except two were dead by the next day. Those two seem strong, as do the remaining residents from the last shipments. One thing I didn't account for in my otto testing was that I would be selling some of these! I'm only selling the ones I expect to be the most healthy, but it still messes up the count!

[JoshP]

whatever became of this? Love to know

[lauraleellbp]

Me too, haven't seen BRR on in a while... hopefully he's just busy with his new store?