Smallest tank size for a trio of otos?

[Church]

Hey everyone. In your experience, what is the smallest tank you've kept a minimum of 3 otos in, comfortably. I'm talking about a tank in which there is a small school of small fish, and the otos are the cleanup crew-- NOT a tank in which the otos are all there is.

I'm trying to find out if I can have a trio of otos in my 5 gallon bowfront, with a handful of t. hengeli....

[fishboy87]

I wouldn't recommend it as I have 4 in a 29 doing perfectly fine and they keep the tank completely bare of algae. I'd say the Absolute Minimum for 3 otos is about 15 gallons. You Might be able to do 2 in there but once the algae is gone (and to keep them happy) keep a variety of algae pellets and algae eater foods for them. By a personal recommendation, even though they are schooling fish somewhat, just keep one and he might hang around with your t. hengeli as mine do with my rummies.

[MedRed]

I think three will be perfectly fine. Just augment with some zucchini, algae wafers, etc.

I have a 25 gallon with 2 full grown SAE's, 3 Tiger/Zebra Otos, 6+ Niger Otos, 6+ Regular Otos, 2 Farlowellas, and 6 Hill stream loaches. All eat algae. The Otos are so fat they look like they want to explode.

[Church]

Thanks for your responses guys... fishboy87, I appreciate your concerns, and I see where you're coming from, but the truth is, I have 6 otos in my 10 gallon, along with 9 t. heteromorpha, and they are all very happy with their home. So I don't know that I agree with the 15g minimum... but nonetheless, I definitely appreciate your advice!

I guess then what I'm hoping for is to hear from other nano-tank havers who also have kept otos in small tanks. And if they do ok by themselves, if I can only go with one? Or should I go with a small school of pygmy cories? Or just let the snails be the janitorial crew?

[valerietheangel]

Yes otos will live by themselves, just like all other schooling fish can live by themselves. The point is that it goes against their natural survival instincts as fish and they often lead lonely skittish lives and die prematurely. You also miss seeing their true habits and personalities and IME they make for much less interesting fish than when they are kept in a school and in a more "natural" setup.

My advice would be to choose either three otos for your 5 gallon while supplementing zucchini and algae wafers OR choose three pygmy corydoras while supplementing with frozen bloodworms, sinking carnivore pellets, and/or shrimp pellets. The tank is not going to provide enough room/food to support a small group of either species without SOME sort of supplementation.

[MedRed]

Originally Posted by Church

Thanks for your responses guys... fishboy87, I appreciate your concerns, and I see where you're coming from, but the truth is, I have 6 otos in my 10 gallon, along with 9 t. heteromorpha, and they are all very happy with their home. So I don't know that I agree with the 15g minimum... but nonetheless, I definitely appreciate your advice!

I guess then what I'm hoping for is to hear from other nano-tank havers who also have kept otos in small tanks. And if they do ok by themselves, if I can only go with one? Or should I go with a small school of pygmy cories? Or just let the snails be the janitorial crew?

I think your fine. I've kept otos in a five gallon before. and actually... i've kept 2 of them in one of those azoo deco art tanks.

[Karackle]

I have 2 Otos in my 5g and they are doing great. Very chubby. I do supplement with algae wafers though, and they do get eaten, by the Otos and my Betta :-P Because the plants do well out-competing the algae, i feel they need some supplement. But they do a great job of keeping the algae off the larger leaved slower growing plants like Anubias and Crypt wedtiis.

Also, i've heard of some success of having just one, but they do seem to do better and live longer, healthier lives with at least 2.

[Breakerboy0]

hmm thanks for the replies ive been looking around for an answer to this as well.

[Natty]

Otos don't require much space at all. I've kept 3 in a 5 gallon before without much issue.

[Church]

Cool. That makes me feel better. I absolutely adore otos, and want them in every one of my tanks, if I can help it!

Thanks everyone. And yes, of course, I will supplement their diet. Mine have always loved zucchini more than anything else, but they make good use of the hikari wafers too!