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Otos are fat in a tank with no visible algae?

932 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  H2Ogal, 
B
Last year I purchased several nice big otos for my 65g. I figured I would give them nori when they ran out of algae. Here's the thing; there's no visible algae in the tank, probably due to tannins limiting the amount of light, but the otos still look fat and happy. I've given them nori a few times and they seem interested, but they don't swarm it or act starved. Is it possible they're eating just the bio-film and doing fine with that? They still have their plump tummies... I'd show a picture, but they move around whenever they see me.
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S
They eat things other than algae. Diatoms are one of those things.
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C
They eat the leftover fish food also. After awhile they don't eat much algae. I'm sure they eat some, but mine go for the food.

-Chris
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H
As I understand it, yes, the bulk of an oto's diet is aufwuchs, the organisms that form biofilm. So that's the short answer I guess. Of course, it may be that you also have just the right number of otos to manage the algae in your tank, and you don't see it growing before they gobble it up. If you are concerned they don't have enough to eat, and the algae tablet doesn't appeal to them, you could slightly microwave (and cool down) a split-open green bean or a slice of zuccini. The cooking makes the veggie softer and more enticing to the oto cats.
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B
I do have a bunch of oak leaves and sticks in there... I bet there's all kinds of stuff growing on there.
Cool! I have otos who don't need extra feeding. I'll still put nori in for the tetras, but it's good to know that my ottos are going to stay fat and happy.
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H
Betta132 said:
I do have a bunch of oak leaves and sticks in there... I bet there's all kinds of stuff growing on there.
Cool! I have otos who don't need extra feeding. I'll still put nori in for the tetras, but it's good to know that my ottos are going to stay fat and happy.
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Just keep an eye on those round bellies and feel free to supplement if needed. Otherwise, sounds like you have happy otos, congrats!
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