Otocinclus species breeding tank!

bushynose_cory · Post by **bushynose_cory** » 15 Feb 2007, 23:16

I wanted something cute, small and endearing to live in my 10 gallon tank, and I though, how about a tank for breeding the little otos? But before jumping into conclusions, how many otos do you think you can keep in a ten gallon tank? 5 or 7?

Any feedback will be greatly

ed.

RiC · Post by **RiC** » 16 Feb 2007, 02:02

Provided there are no other fish with them, you could even go for 10 in a 10g. But they are not easy to breed, be aware of that! It may be easier in a specific tank; in my community tank, I only got one survivor out of many spawns...

bushynose_cory · Post by **bushynose_cory** » 16 Feb 2007, 07:34

Yep, just the otos. SO it looks like there won't be too many issuse considering how many there are!(I'm gonig to keep around 6)How should I set the tank up? No gravel, a piece of driftwood with Java fern, Java moss and duckweed? With a meshing over the filter intake to prevent the loss of babies. DO you recommend the use of blackwater extract or is this unnessesary?

Mike_Noren · Post by **Mike_Noren** » 16 Feb 2007, 08:32

1) You MUST supply supplemental food. They will not be able to support themselves solely on algae in an aquarium that small. They accept pretty much anything; squash and brussel sprouts are classics, but I also feed mine e.g. european-style shrimp mix, to give them extra protein and vitamins. I'd advice against bloodworms - there's a definite risk it might be too rich for them.
Note that they often don't touch vegetables until they've been in the water for at least a day, and start to go soft, so don't remove the food too soon.

2) They're cheap & common, but really they're difficult & sensitive catfish, so you should be prepared for losses, especially in the early days.

3) The small, striped, otos of the vittatus-group are the easiest to breed, and even they are quite hard, with only accidental breedings recorded. The larger forms (mainly O. flexilis and O. cocama) are harder; to the best of my knowledge flexilis has never been bred in captivity, and cocama only a handful times.

4) Wrt decoration, you can decorate pretty much as you see fit. They like to have access to wood and to be able to hide (although they don't hide much), and the more plants you have the happier they'll be, but they're not really fussy about the decoration.

5) The small species in the vittatus group usually come from the interior of the amazon, and like warm, acidic, water. I'd recommend a temperature of 27-30 degrees.

bushynose_cory · Post by **bushynose_cory** » 16 Feb 2007, 10:13

Do they eat their own eggs? Also, how long does it take for them to hatch?

It looks like I'm going to be ready soon. I'm gonna buy 4 for $5! I'll buy some extras as to prepare for losses. Acually my brother used to keep them and they were soooo cute and endearing, and he didn't lose any of them. So after careful accmilization, I hope it'll be okay. Thanks for the advice, you've been a great help

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 16 Feb 2007, 11:29

It looks like I'm going to be ready soon. I'm gonna buy 4 for $5!

I would definitely buy more than 10. Possibly up to 15 depending on what filter you have.

You will more chance of getting a good sex ratio this way.

I would also leave them in the shop for at least a month, so only the strongest individuals are left.

If the shop does not give them the correct foods they can lose them in large numbers.

Another good food is curly kale. I microwave it for 1 minute and them freeze it.

As for decor I would go for a thin layer of sand/gravel with long bogwood branches reaching to the surface.

As for plants, java fern, anubias and vallis are good choices.

bushynose_cory · Post by **bushynose_cory** » 16 Feb 2007, 13:20

racoll wrote:
It looks like I'm going to be ready soon. I'm gonna buy 4 for $5!
I would definitely buy more than 10. Possibly up to 15 depending on what filter you have.

You will more chance of getting a good sex ratio this way.

I would also leave them in the shop for at least a month, so only the strongest individuals are left.

If the shop does not give them the correct foods they can lose them in large numbers.

Another good food is curly kale. I microwave it for 1 minute and them freeze it.

As for decor I would go for a thin layer of sand/gravel with long bogwood branches reaching to the surface.

As for plants, java fern, anubias and vallis are good choices.

1) I'll just save up then

I love the little cuties!
2)I don't know about the shops because its an online dearler. They keep the otos for several months while slowly adding more and selling them. Hardly any losses after accmilization, though. But I could always call the shop.
3) I don't know what curly kale is. Will find out soon

4)Decor, OK!
5)As for plants.....All three of those are my favorites

Thanks you! But still; will they eat their own eggs?

Bas Pels · Post by **Bas Pels** » 16 Feb 2007, 14:06

bushynose_cory wrote:Thanks you! But still; will they eat their own eggs?

My experience with Otocinclus is limited - or less, but I once read (forgot where) that Otocinclus does not protect their eggs as othe Loricarids, but breed more or less like Corydoras - sreading the eggs, and than resume normal behaviour. However, as Otocinclus are said to be mostly herbivorous, I do not expect them to eat much eggs (contrarily to Corydoras)

However, if I'm wromg, please correct me