adm's 1st tank

[black ghost]

What colour is the Oto poop? If it’s not green they’ll be ok.

[Martinspuddle]

Take care with Otocinclus Sp, most, if not are collected from the wild and many succumb to starvation once introduced into the home aquaria without proper feeding.

So far, so good. They seem to be eating like crazy. They are going from leaf to leaf eating algae and I can literally see the poop coming out of them as they go. I will absolutely keep an eye on them though, but I guess the fact they are eating lots means they aren't going to die of starvation short term.

That said, I can't see them all right now, but the three I can see are definitely having an all you can eat buffet!

This video will help knowing Otocinclus.

[adm]

What colour is the Oto poop? If it’s not green they’ll be ok.

It looks to be dark brown.

[adm]

I did wonder where my Bristlenose had got to, but she has found herself a nice little cave and was hiding in there, upside down, suckered onto the rock roof.

We are on the "moon cycle" of the lighting now and it looks like she is waking up and about to come out and play.

[adm]

Oh. And the snails really are just like little robot vacuum cleaners. It's going to take them a while, but it's amazing watching them. I didn't know snails had teeth until today. Apparently though, limpet snails' teeth are the strongest biological material known to man. So says Google.

[black ghost]

I guess the fact they are eating lots means they aren't going to die of starvation short term.

Not actually true. The big problem with Otos is they don’t get fed for a long time so their gut bacteria die off. Without gut bacteria you can’t digest plants, so they’ll be very hungry and eat, but they won’t be able to digest algae which is essential to them. When this happens their poop is green, because they can’t digest the algae. If yours are pooping brown they have their gut bacteria so they’ll be fine.

[adm]

I guess the fact they are eating lots means they aren't going to die of starvation short term.

Not actually true. The big problem with Otos is they don’t get fed for a long time so their gut bacteria die off. Without gut bacteria you can’t digest plants, so they’ll be very hungry and eat, but they won’t be able to digest algae which is essential to them. When this happens their poop is green, because they can’t digest the algae. If yours are pooping brown they have their gut bacteria so they’ll be fine.

Thank you. That is very interesting indeed and I totally understand it. If the intestinal flora are gone, then I see that there could be a big problem if it is unable to kickstart itself again.

I will have a very careful look at them tomorrow and check out the poop colour in more detail. I would hate for this to happen to them. They seemed happy enough earlier, and are currently actively swimming around and eating. I can't see the poop colour though as the tank is dark.

[Martinspuddle]

Not actually true. The big problem with Otos is they don’t get fed for a long time so their gut bacteria die off. Without gut bacteria you can’t digest plants, so they’ll be very hungry and eat, but they won’t be able to digest algae which is essential to them. When this happens their poop is green, because they can’t digest the algae. If yours are pooping brown they have their gut bacteria so they’ll be fine.

Damn it, so long since I've kept Otocinclus I completely forgotten about gut bacteria. Sorry @adm I blame it on my medication.

[adm]

Everything seems to have gone OK overnight....all the Tetras seem alive and happy. My BN is suspended upside down in cave, and I can see a few Otos still busily eating. I can't see them all, but there are a lot of plants and rocks for them to hide behind. Snails still busy vacuuming...

I fed the Tetras for the first time as well. They seemed pleased. Hopefully it wasn't too much. Next time I will make sure to crush up the flakes a bit better as they don't seem to be able to cope with bigger chunks well.

Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate were all zeros and pH was stable.

Amano Shrimp have arrived in the post. Amazingly well packaged at least and they all seem very active. So I am now trying to acclimatise them somewhat over the next few hours.

[adm]

wow. Those little Amano Shrimp are fun. They are just zooming about all over the tank, stopping for a quick munch and then zooming off again.

It looks to me like they are actually surfing the water flow in the tank and having fun!

I do appear to have lost a snail....but I am sure it has just wandered off somewhere and is still doing snaily stuff.