Alright so my betta tends to rest on the bottom of the tank so he's often hanging out with the oto's. Twice now I've seen an oto jump on the betta's back and clean/suck on him. The betta doesn't really react at first and eventually he'll just scurry off. Honestly I'm not concerned because the betta seems to be acting normally and continues to goes back to the bottom and rest as if he's not concerned about the oto catching a free ride. I've heard that CAE's will get aggressive and go after fish some times, but not otos. I guess my question is should I be concerned about anything that I'm not aware of, and why would the oto do this?
Betta and otto question
- Thread starter jrawebb83
- Start date
This absolutely is something to be concerned about. The slime coat on the fish is what helps to protect it from bacterial infections and other things in the water that could be harmful, much how our outer layer of skin protects us. The otto is not "catching a free ride" it is in fact eating the slime coat of the betta.
My first though would be that the otto is starving. Ottos are vegetarian, and very non-agressive. They need to be fed a dedicated diet of algae wafers and veggies such as zucchini. There is not enough food and biofilm in the tank to feed the ottos so they are essentially eating your betta. The longer you let it go, the worse it will get.
Kristina
My first though would be that the otto is starving. Ottos are vegetarian, and very non-agressive. They need to be fed a dedicated diet of algae wafers and veggies such as zucchini. There is not enough food and biofilm in the tank to feed the ottos so they are essentially eating your betta. The longer you let it go, the worse it will get.
Kristina
well, possibly cause for concern. I'd like to know:
How big of a tank? How long has it been set up? How long have you had the oto? Do you supplement the oto's diet with veggies or other? How sure are you that the oto is getting enough to eat?
I ask because I have heard of oto's attaching themselves to bigger fish to essentially eat off of them because they are hungry/starving. I have 3 oto's that I make sure are getting enough to eat, and I've never seen them try to attachh to one of the other fish.
How big of a tank? How long has it been set up? How long have you had the oto? Do you supplement the oto's diet with veggies or other? How sure are you that the oto is getting enough to eat?
I ask because I have heard of oto's attaching themselves to bigger fish to essentially eat off of them because they are hungry/starving. I have 3 oto's that I make sure are getting enough to eat, and I've never seen them try to attachh to one of the other fish.
Well glad I posted. These are the kind of things I wasn't aware of. The tank is 29 gal and has been going for at least 4 months. I originally had three oto's and as of about a month ago got three more. No veggies but I do use algae wafers occasionally. How often should I be using wafers? I was under the impression that the wafers were supplemental not main source.
Edit: I forgot to mention that originally I got the three new oto's to go in my new 20 gal. I put them in the established tank as temporary conditions. Maybe it's time to move them.
Edit: I forgot to mention that originally I got the three new oto's to go in my new 20 gal. I put them in the established tank as temporary conditions. Maybe it's time to move them.
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I would be pretty confident saying that your oto's are starving. Have you ever actually seen them eat the algae wafers? I ask because most oto owners say their oto's won't touch algae wafers, mine included. Some do, but most don't from what I've heard. The best results come from putting blanched zucchinni in the tank a few times a week for them. I've also seen people say that their oto's will eat shrimp pellets and snail jello.
that could be. I'd still watch them; make sure they aren't going after your betta anymore.
Yea I didn't see that any more, but who knows what happens when I'm not watching. Most of the time the oto's are predictable as far as where they hang out. Most tend to just latch on to the glass. A few, which appear to be the bigger ones, are more active and hunt down algae on plants and decor. I'll definitely keep an eye out though. Like I said before I only noticed them going after the betta on two separate occasions.