Omg i did a horrible thing!

1376 Views 14 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Sharkfood, Jan 9, 2011

mayanjungledog

Discussion Starter · Dec 30, 2010

I just purchased three zebra otos today from the LFS. I put them in a 2 gallon bucket and starting drip acclimation with an IV drip set at about one drop per second. About an hour later, two of the three were upside down, the third looking lethargic. Right away, I put them in the tank and did a water change and started the air pump. I suspect it was CO2 poisoning. The drop checker was lime green during drip acclimation.

It's been three hours now since being in the tank and two are hanging on to the glass and the third swimming around the tank (as opposed to sitting sideways on the floor of the tank). I feel so bad. They were active and healthy, fat and eating well, having spent the past couple of weeks at the LFS with no problems. I hope they pull through.

Are zebra otos particularly sensitive to O2 and CO2 levels? I have never experienced this before with any fish. Please send good vibes this way. Thanks.

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FDNY911

· #2 · Dec 30, 2010

Good Luck Mayan. I have been looking for Zebras but none of the LFS sell them!

kevmo911

· #3 · Dec 30, 2010

Unless you were adding CO2 directly to the bucket they were in, it wasn't CO2 poisoning. And even if you were adding CO2, lime green isn't unhealthy. Whatever the issue, it seems to have been resolved by putting them in the tank.

I'd do an ammonia/nitrite check, but my guess is that it was a reaction to a sudden pH or temp change. It still sounds weird because using drip acclimation should theoretically eliminate *any* sudden shifts in water parameters. In any case, they sound like they're doing well now, and hopefully will continue to do so.

Many folks have noted that oto deaths are fairly common when introducing them to new tanks, but if they survive the next few days, they should be fine.

mayanjungledog

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 30, 2010

Hmmm, if it was something other than CO2, would you expect a recovery this quickly? Ammonia, nitrites are zero. Nitrates 5-10. I wouldn't expect that reaction with such a slow rate of drip acclimation. I have never had issues with regular otos using this method or in my tank. Maybe it's an increased sensitivity of the zebra otos? What else would cause them to be stunned-looking like that?

The otos appear to be improving by the minute.

tuffgong

· #5 · Dec 30, 2010

I would think the CO2 would have to be super high to affect otos like that. Otos usually dart to the surface, like corys, to get air when there isn't enough oxygen in the water. Did you notice any surface darting at all?

Their quick recovery is all the more puzzling to me. Either way I hope they continue to get better and breed for you and then you can sell some to me! Keep us posted.

mayanjungledog

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 30, 2010

In the bucket, they looked dead, just laying upside down / one was on its side. When I moved them into the tank, they just sank to the bottom and stayed there with an occasional dart up to the surface. They looked paralyzed on the bottom of the tank. I turned the air pump on as soon as they were put in the tank and over the past several hours, they have come around. The drop checker is dark green now and the zebra otos are all attached to the glass just hanging out together, doing more normal oto things. We'll see how they do over the next few days. It's so weird.

On a different note, I only bought three because that's all they had. I would have bought at least 3 or 4 more. Makes me glad they didn't have anymore considering what happened to these guys.

sewingalot

· #7 · Dec 30, 2010

Sounds like co2 to me as well. I had this happen with my fish as well. A quick water change and all was well again. Glad they are fairing well now.

antbug

· #8 · Dec 30, 2010

You got my Zebra Oto's! @#%$%#$^%&

I was going to go in this weekend and get them. I guess I'll have to wait till they order more. I was the one who asked them to get them in. I was going to pick them up last week, but I was going away for the holidays and I didn't want to leave them the 1st week in my tank. One of the three was AWAMING looking with the strips. Good luck with MY oto's :biggrin:

I hope they do well for you.

Franco

· #9 · Dec 30, 2010

It could have been the temperature change from pouring them into the bucket. A cool bucket will quickly draw the heat out of the water. I always rinse mine with hot water before putting fish in to drip acclimate.

mayanjungledog

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 30, 2010

antbug said:
You got my Zebra Oto's! @#%$%#$^%&

I was going to go in this weekend and get them. I guess I'll have to wait till they order more. I was the one who asked them to get them in. I was going to pick them up last week, but I was going away for the holidays and I didn't want to leave them the 1st week in my tank. One of the three was AWAMING looking with the strips. Good luck with MY oto's :biggrin:

I hope they do well for you.

:flick:

Just kidding. I was very surprised to see them there. I've been waiting for a year to get some zebra otos. They should be getting more in the next couple of weeks once their renovation is done. I'll probably go back to get a few more. The otos are doing well this morning!

antbug

· #11 · Dec 30, 2010

I just talked to Jojo's and they are ordering more.

How about a pic of them?

mayanjungledog

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 30, 2010

I let someone borrow my camera and I should get it back Sunday. I will definitely get pics out. I'll try my crappy phone in the mean time.

mayanjungledog

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 30, 2010

2

Here are a couple of crappy phone pics. I'll try to get better ones when I get my camera back...

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antbug

· #14 · Jan 9, 2011

Great pics. They look nice and happy in your tank.

I just picked up two today. So stocked! The had 10 left at Jojo's.

Sharkfood

· #15 · Jan 9, 2011

What's the temperature in your apartment/house? Did the container you kept them in maybe get into the low 60's or even 50's? This is difficult and eventually deadly for some tropical fish, and can cause behavior like what you described.

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